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| Pictorial representation of Ekwensu; Igbo god of war and trickery |
Introduction
Ekwensu is a deity in
Igbo mythology who represents the forces of chaos and deception; he is a
god of War and Victory; and also the god of bargains and trade. Ekwensu is
known for his ability to disrupt the natural order of things and cause
confusion and chaos. He is frequently depicted as a mischievous and
unpredictable figure.
Despite his reputation
for mischief, Ekwensu is regarded as a powerful and significant god figure in
Igbo mythology, with a complex personality and history. He is frequently
associated with the trickster archetype, which appears in many mythologies
around the world. The trickster is well-known for his ability to bend and break
rules, as well as to challenge the status quo in unexpected ways.
The Origins of Ekwensu
In Igbo mythology,
Ekwensu is a significant and powerful god. Ekwensu was Chukwu's testing
force, and together with Ani, the Earth goddess, and Igwe, the sky god, he
formed the three highest Arusi of the ancient Igbo people. In fact, Ekwensu is
said to be feared as much as Chukwu is respected.
Ekwensu's history is
shrouded in mystery, and there are few written records of his origins. However,
he is thought to be one of the oldest deities in Igbo mythology, having been
worshiped for centuries.
Ekwensu's Character
Ekwensu is frequently
portrayed as a cunning and mischievous figure that enjoys pulling pranks and
causing mayhem. He is well-known for his unpredictability and ability to upend
the natural order of things.
Ekwensu, on the other
hand, is regarded as a powerful and significant figure in Igbo mythology. He is
frequently summoned to help restore balance to the world and to protect people
from harm. During conflict or war, he incites violence when invoked by warriors
and headhunters. As a god of trade and bargains, Ekwensu is Crafty at trade
and negotiations. He is often invoked for guidance in difficult mercantile
situations.
He is frequently
summoned to help restore balance to the world and protect people from harm.
Ekwensu is also associated with healing in some traditions and is thought to
have the power to cure illnesses and other afflictions. He is also regarded as
a child protector, and he is frequently called upon to keep an eye on and
protect children.
Despite his reputation
for mischief, Ekwensu is an important figure in Igbo society, and some
communities still worship him today. There are shrines and temples dedicated to
Ekwensu throughout Igbo Communities in Nigeria, where people come to offer
prayers and sacrifices in the hopes of gaining his favor.
The Place of Ekwensu in Igbo Society
According to elders we met
before writing this blog post; Ekwensu is a god, one of many worshiped gods in
Igbo land. He is a powerful deity- the god of war, who ranks alongside Ani,
Amadioha, Ikéngà, and others. He is also considered the Igbo trickster god. In
fact, traders admired him for his dexterity and cunning and he was invoked
during negotiations and trade. Communities named after the deity exist, such as
Ezike Ekwensu in Nsukka.
Ekwensu is frequently
asked to assist with major life events such as childbirth, weddings, and funerals.
He is also regarded as a community protector and is frequently called upon to
assist with disputes and conflicts. He is the God of War and Victory, ruling
over and combating the chaotic evil spirits.
When he's at war, he
appears playful and laughs a lot. He enjoys breaking rules, boasting, and
fooling both humans and gods. However, possession by Ekwensu can cause a person
to commit heinous crimes against Chukwu or humanity. Because of his
ferociousness when on a vengeance mission, Ekwensu is feared and avoided and is
only summoned when the situation becomes too much for the people to handle.
Ekwensu's Transformation into the Devil
The resolutions of the
Berlin Conference of 1804-1805 granted European nations the right to lay claim
to African lands and resources.
Britain, which had
engaged in trade with coastal cities before and during the nineteenth century,
declared bold intentions to covet resources and rule over indigenous peoples
all over Africa.
They arrived armed with
guns. Many African tribes resisted the British invaders, resulting in lengthy
wars. Many African tribes including the Igbo put up a valiant fight against the
British's superior firepower.
One such war was the
Ekumeku war; which lasted for over 30 years; with the British suffering so
many defeats. The Ekumeku warriors meticulously used guerrilla
tactics to attack the British Royal company, which was determined to penetrate
Igbo land.
When European
missionaries couldn't defeat us, they wondered what kind of power our
forefathers possessed that made them win their armies despite having much
superior power.
The Ekumeku warriors
were sworn to secrecy and during times of such great conflict, they like other
Igbo societies had no option but to summon the deity called Ekwensu- the god of
war, to come to possess them and help them in defeating the European invaders.
With time, they found
out about Ekwensu, and the British changed tactics. Than use guns and the army
in capturing us, they used religion. Missionaries were called in, their purpose
was to dissuade us from worshiping our gods and worship theirs instead.
They could only defeat
us after the missionaries demonized Ekwensu and our people started destroying
the shrines dedicated to it.
Misconception: Ekwensu is not Satan
We grew up hearing Ekwensu
being the Igbo interpretation of the Christian Satan. If someone did something
bad, they would be labeled as an Ekwensu; one doomed to hell; which was quite
terrifying as a kid.
With some little
research, both from books and interaction with elders in our community, we
discovered Ekwensu was viewed and revered by the ancient Igbo people
as so many things; including as the god of War who ruled over nature's chaotic
forces in his more violent aspects.
In fact, there are
people and villages in Igboland named after Ekwensu; Obiekwensu, the community of Senator Enyinnaya
Abaribe, in Abia state. In Enugu State, there is a community called umunkwensu.
He is regarded as a
violent spirit who incites people to commit violent acts when summoned. As a
result, when there is peace after a war, the chaotic aspect of Ekwensu is often
banished from the people, lest he promotes more wars. So, Ekwensu is summoned, he does not go around looking for who to tempt.
First and foremost,
Ekwensu is not in hell. In heaven, Ekwensu did not start a war. There is no
Devil, no heaven or hell, and no demons or angels in Igbo mythology. There are
only gods with varying degrees of power and characteristics. Then came the
Europeans, who believed their religion was superior to others which were viewed
as evil and pagan.
When the Europeans
brought Christianity to Africa, they ran into one problem: they couldn't find a
Devil in our mythology, because there is no devil in the African spiritual
pantheon.
The British then copied
the approach of Emperor Constantine, of Roman Empire, who infused pagan practices, festivals, and rituals into Christian religion, all in the bid to
gain more converts. Going forward, any civilization Christianity missionaries
tried to colonize and convert, they took the existing indigenous concepts that
bore only a passing resemblance to their own and distorted them to fit the mold
of the concept they were attempting to convey. As a result, Chukwu became the
supreme God. To complete the spiritual binary of the Christian faith, Ekwensu
was turned to the devil. This began the seemingly unending journey of
demonizing Ekwensu.
Maybe the
misinterpretation of Ekwensu is based on a misunderstanding of his
personality and background. While Ekwensu is associated with chaos and
deception, he is also a powerful and important god in Igbo society, with a
complex and nuanced personality. In contrast, Lucifer, or the devil, is
frequently depicted as a purely evil figure with no redeeming qualities or
positive associations. When the Igbos are going to war or face a difficult
commercial situation, they invoke the energy of Ekwensu. Ekwensu causes no
trouble; he is an obedient servant who only works when called upon, as his name
implies (Ekwe-Nsu).
Furthermore, Ekwensu is
not associated with the Christian concept of sin, nor is he regarded as a
fallen angel or a rebel against God. Rather, he is a natural and integral part
of Igbo mythology, with his own set of beliefs and practices that are
inextricably linked to Igbo culture and society.
Regardless of these
differences, the Christian interpretation of Ekwensu as a demonic figure has
persisted in some circles and remains a source of contention and
misunderstanding.
Conclusion
In Igbo mythology,
Ekwensu is a fascinating and enigmatic figure. He represents the forces of
disruption and unpredictability as the god of chaos and trickery. Despite his
reputation for mischief, Ekwensu is regarded as a powerful and important figure
in Igbo society, and many people still worship him today.
What's more surprising,
confusing, and annoying is that the Europeans who demonized our deities
venerate, promote and worship theirs. Hercules and Thor are two movies based on
their deities. Our daughters are named Diana, Helen, Cassandra, and our sons are
named Jason, Hector, and Alexander; these names are all based on Greek
mythology (Omenani ndi Greece).
It may interest you to
know that, except for Earth, the planets are named after European gods.
1. Mercury, the Roman
god of travel
2. Mars, the Roman god
of war
3. Venus, the Roman
goddess of beauty
4. Jupiter, the king of
the Roman gods
5. Saturn is the Roman
god of agriculture
6. Uranus is the ancient
Greek god of the sky
7. Neptune is the Roman
sea god
8. Pluto represents the
Roman god of the underworld, also known as Hades in Greek mythology
You may also be
interested to know that many top foreign companies are named after their
ancient gods and heritage; for example, Nike is the goddess of
speed/strength/victory in Greek religion. Hermes was the Greek god of commerce,
fertility, travel, and swindling. These people recognize the value of history,
heritage, and culture, and they find ways to honor and preserve their ancient
heritage and identity.
Be you a religious or
non-religious person, we daily call on the names of ancient gods. This is
because every day of the week has been named after pagan gods;
Sunday - Sun's day
Monday - Moon's day
Tuesday - Tiu's day
Wednesday - Woden's day
Thursday - Thursday
Friday - Freya's day
Saturday - Saturn's day
But to us Igbo and
Africans, our ancestors are demons, devils, and diabolic, not because they're
inherently diabolic, but because someone thousands of miles away with little or
no knowledge of your ancestors told you they're demonic, justified by a Bible
they wrote and gave you. You can’t venerate your ancestors, but you do
theirs.......all the Saints you pray to, it’s all ancestor worship.
Know Thyself!!!!
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