In an age of society where up to 20% of couples in America have unexplained infertility issues and that number averages between 10% and 20% globally, looking back on our ancestors and their beliefs can be beneficial. , at least in the sense of putting a different point of view on this issue. Today you are going to read about some of Africa's fertility goddesses and gods. Even if everything seems out of place, that's okay. But if nothing else, it shows us that our ancestors and those who continue to practice fertility rituals today did not take their fertility for granted, as those with infertility issues know will not appreciate. that too well.
In Africa the word fertility and the rituals associated with fertility were and are practiced with three different aspects in mind. Human fertility, in terms of breeding; the fertility of the land, in terms of seeds and agriculture being abundant; and the third aspect being their belief that the two preceding aspects are intimately linked to the spirits of the ancestors, which they maintain with the rituals during burials. Today, there are still fertility rituals and practices all over Africa.
Ala (also known as Ale, Ane, Ali, Ani) Ala is a popular Mother and Earth Goddess, who is an African goddess of fertility, earth, mortality, and death. She is the most important goddess of the Odinani system of cultural beliefs and practices, whose goal is to restore harmony, peace and love between humans and gods. Odinani is performed by the Igbo people of West Africa, and its name (Ala) in the Igbo language translates to land / or land.
Her symbol is the crescent moon and her image is often seen with a small child in her arms. The dead souls, the souls of the ancestors rest in the sacred womb of Ala. In terms of human fertility, it is in charge of the productivity of the earth.
Today, the goddess Ala is still worshiped in Nigeria by the Igbo people. She is both the queen of the dead and the creative goddess. The Igbo believe that the world is populated by forces that are both visible and invisible. They see reincarnation as a bridge between the living and deceased ancestors.
Asase Ya (also known as Asase Yaa, Aberewa Asase Ya is an Ashanti goddess, whose name means soil, earth; and she is the Earth fertility goddess of the Ashanti people. Located in the center In Ghana, the Ashanti people live in extended families and believe that the mother's family is the most important and that children inherit the flesh and blood of the mother and the soul of the father.
The Ashanti people believe in a combination of supernatural and spiritual powers. They believe that animals also have souls, just like trees and plants. They believe in the existence of witches, forest spirits or monsters and fairies.
Many rites are practiced by the Ashanti for puberty, birth, marriage and death. In their culture, the whole life of the girl was spent preparing to become a mother. Even today, the Ashanti fertility doll is used by women who wish to give birth. They make the fertility doll pray and tie it to their back as if it were a real baby, and take care of the doll as if it were alive, giving it life.
Deng (also known as Denka) Deng is the god of fertility, rain and sky of the Dinka people of South Sudan. The Dinka believe in a unique God called Nhialac whom they regard as the creator, but they consider Nhialac to be a God remote from human affairs.
They can, however, contact Nhialac through special spirit entities called Jak and Yath, which is done through a variety of different rituals. The Dinka have healers and diviners who administer these rituals.
However, war and famine have caused endless sorrow and upheaval for the Dinka. On July 9, 2011, a UN-led ceasefire resulted in the proclamation of the new Republic of South Sudan.
The hardships that the Dinka people went through led them to become a tribe that once believed to be favored by God, but these circumstances made them see themselves in a negative light, believing that God was punishing them.
Mbaba Mwana Waresa Mbaba Mwana Waresa is the Zulu goddess of fertility, rain, agriculture, rainbows and crops. She is loved for the belief that she gave humans the first beer! She is also celebrated for her search for true love, as she left her beautiful house in the clouds to find love and was so moved by the song of a shepherd that she chose him, after de numerous tests.
There are many symbols and fertility rituals practiced by the Zulus. Zulu beads have been worn since ancient times and are still a very important aspect of Zulu culture today. The pearl is based on the shape of the egg, therefore symbols of fertility.
They consider the marula tree to be the tree of marriage and will perform a purification ritual on this tree before marriage.
In order to ensure the health of many children, Zulu women make a small fertility doll, traditionally without facial features. There are examples of Zulu fertility dolls carrying babies.
These examples of African goddesses and gods exemplify the core of humanity's fertility culture. Each culture has its own version of this story.