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Africans, like all people, had to deal with the question of how the universe came to be and how humans and other creations were made. African creation myths are stories told by the ancestors about how the world came into existence; their ideas and understanding of the world and life in general. Every culture has its own story, yet across the continent, there are some shared themes across African creation myths.

African creation myths, integral to the continent’s diverse cultures, reveal profound insights into the spiritual, moral, and existential beliefs of its peoples. The stories reflect the values and norms of the people and are passed down through the generations.

While these myths vary widely among regions, ethnic groups, and languages, certain themes consistently emerge. For example, African creation myths always begin with a supreme being who goes by a different name in different cultures – a pointer to the shared belief in a supreme being across Africa. Despite the variations in the myths, the essence is often focused on balance, harmony, and interconnectedness of life – we are from the same source, and we are a part of nature.

Below, we explore these recurring themes, provide examples from specific myths, and consider their significance and implications.

Shared Themes Across African Creation Myths

1. Creation from Chaos or Nothingness

One of the most prevalent themes in African creation myths is the emergence of the world from a state of chaos or nothingness; the world proceeds from primordial chaos to a more ordered state.  This theme emphasizes transformation and order as essential to existence.

Examples:

• In the Dogon creation story from Mali, Amma, the supreme deity, creates the universe from a pre-existing chaotic void. Amma’s act of creation brings structure to the cosmos.

• The Bantu myth also tells of Bumba, the creator god who brought the world into being from nothing.

• And the Luhya people of Kenya tell the Abaluhya creation story where Wele Xakaba created heaven, the heavenly bodies, his helpers, then the earth and all in it.

Significance:

This theme underscores the importance of order and harmony, reflecting the human desire to find meaning in the universe. The creator proceeds from nothing and systematically creates the different creations – animate and inanimate. Every creation has a purpose that is aligned with nature and interacts with other creations in unique ways. The theme also highlights the transformative power of divine will or creativity.

2. Divine Intervention in Human Creation

Many African myths attribute the creation of humans to the direct intervention of gods or supernatural forces, suggesting a close relationship between humanity and the divine. This theme recurs and establishes that the African belief system in a supreme being hinges on the role of God in the creation of humanity. Research shows that in traditional Africa, there is no atheist (Ushe, 2017).

Examples:

• Among the Yoruba of Nigeria, the god Obatala is tasked with molding humans from clay. However, in one version of the myth, Obatala’s creations are imperfect due to his inebriation, leading to the existence of deformities, things we refer to as diversity.

• The Abuluiya creation story tells of how Wele Xakaba created humans to enjoy the splendor of the earth. It also explains the variation in skin colours as a result of god molding humans from black, red, and white soil. Different myths from various African cultures also explain that the creator and god (gods) taught humans how to live.

Significance:

This theme emphasizes human dependence on divine forces and explains imperfections or diversity within humanity. Therefore in Africa, humanity is inseparable from divinity as the Africans believe that humans were formed by God and the divine orders and supervises the affairs of men. It also conveys moral lessons about responsibility and humility.

More on African storytelling tradition

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The Rich Tapestry of African Storytelling

Elements of African Storytelling: Words that Define African Storytelling

3. The Role of Animals in Creation

Animals frequently play pivotal roles in African creation myths, either as helpers, intermediaries, or sources of wisdom. As messengers of god, animals are central to the construction of identities for individuals or groups of people. They possess sacred powers, covey divine messages, and perform extraordinary tasks that aided the creation and establishment of humans in the cosmos.

Examples:

• In the Bantu myth from Central Africa, a chameleon is sent by God to deliver the message of life’s creation. The slow and deliberate nature of the chameleon symbolizes careful planning and patience in creation.

• In Ashanti myth,  Anansi the spider, son of the sky god, Nyame, and the earth goddess, Asase Ya, play the role of a messenger between humans and gods. Anansi helped Nyame and the Abosom in creating all there is. The myth extends and attributes the bringing of stories to humans to Anansi, the spider. Anansi was able to provide the requirements requested by Nyame to release stories to humanity. The story of Anansi teaches about wisdom, craftiness, communication, and focus. Anansi is known as the god of stories.

• Another animal captured in the creation myth of the Ashanti people is the python, the animal that taught humans to mate. For this role in creation, the python is venerated as the ‘spirit of the river’ and ‘Clan Spirit’ of the Ashanti people, and killing the python is taboo.

• Lastly, the Yoruba creation myth explains that the god Obatala came down from heaven and created land with the help of a cockerel.

Significance:

This theme reflects the interconnectedness of all living beings and reinforces the idea that animals are integral to the balance of the natural world. It also serves as a reminder of the values of patience and deliberation.

4. Conflict as a Catalyst for Creation

Struggles or conflicts often precede the establishment of the world or human society in African myths, symbolizing growth through adversity.

Examples:

• The Zulu myth from South Africa narrates the battle between the sky god Unkulunkulu and other forces, leading to the creation of the earth and its inhabitants.

• The San creation story tells of how humans violated the instruction of Kaang not to make fire. As they set fire to see and stay warm at nightfall, the fire frightened the animals causing them to flee to the mountains and forests. This broke the relationship between humans and animals and made them unable to communicate.

• In the Berbers’ creation myth, the first man and woman who lived did not realize their difference in gender until a conflict broke out between them. As they struggled over who would drink water from a well first, the clothing of the woman fell off, exposing her nakedness. The man became curious about her body, so the two began exploring each other’s body intimately for eight days. This led to the birth of fifty sons and fifty daughters. The Berbers identify as Imazighen, descendants of the pre-Arab inhabitants of North Africa.

Significance:

Conflict in these myths highlights the dynamic nature of existence and the belief that order often arises from chaos. These misunderstandings and chaos pave the way for order and new things. It also mirrors societal struggles, emphasizing resilience and the value of overcoming challenges.

5. Sacred Dualities

Many African creation stories incorporate dualities, such as male and female, light and darkness, heaven and earth, or life and death, to illustrate balance and completeness. The deities involved in creation come in pairs – feminine and masculine. In many African creation myths, despite the polytheism nature of the divine, there is always one that rules over all, and that one of often a dual god, embodying both the feminine and masculine parts of god.

Examples:

• The Fon people of Benin describe the god Mawu-Lisa as a dual entity, representing both male and female aspects, whose union ensures harmony in the universe.

• In the Yoruba creation myth, the interaction between the gods took place in heaven and Obatala descended from heaven to create land.

• The Berbers tell how the first man and woman lived under the earth until their first act of procreation. After they had sent away their children, they came up to the surface of the earth. Their descendants also discovered the duality of the genders and began relating in ways that enabled them to multiply.

• Looking at the Dogon myth of the people of Mali, the god Amma created the cosmic egg from which light and everything proceeded into existence.

• Lastly, most African creation myths identify the sun as the light that rules the day and the moon as the light that rules the night.

Significance:

This theme promotes the idea of balance and interdependence as fundamental to existence. It portrays the harmonious relationship between opposing forces like ‘light and darkness’. It further reveals the beauty of the duality of existence and how this fosters and extends the aim of creation through procreation.  The theme of duality also reflects societal structures that value complementary roles and unity.

6. Connection to the Natural World

Nature often features prominently in African creation myths, symbolizing humanity’s reliance on and respect for the environment. Natural elements like the sky, earth, mountains, and water are often personified.

Examples:

• The San people of Southern Africa tell of Kaggen, a trickster god who created the world and filled it with animals and plants for humans to live harmoniously.

• The Maasai believe that the god Enkai created the world and living things and since the god Enkai is deeply connected with nature, they, the Maasai must honour the earth and its resources to maintain harmony.

• Abaluiya’s creation story tells of how Wele Xakaba, a god, created the earth to house his helpers and other creations. The god also fashioned mountains, valleys, trees, etc. Then humans were created to enjoy the earth’s splendour.

• Humans are believed to come from a giant tree that grew from a single seed planted by the god Ngai. This myth from the Kikuyu people of East Africa shows connections between humans and plants and the importance of nature in creation.

Significance:

This theme highlights the sacredness of the natural world and encourages sustainable living. It reinforces the idea that humanity is a steward of nature. The interconnectedness of creations shows that every aspect of creation has a role to play in maintaining balance. The cloud is to give the rain and the rainbow to stop it (Abaluiya creation myth), humans as stewards of nature, and their task is to nurture and protect it (Kikuyu creation story), etc.

Other shared themes in African Creation Myths

There are other themes that recur in African Creation myths. Some of such themes include:

–          The idea that land emerged from the sea.

–          Smaller gods work with the supreme being, supporting the creation process and maintaining order in nature.

–          Death as a punishment or an end to all mankind.

Implications of Shared Themes in African Creation Myths

The recurring themes in African creation myths reveal a shared understanding of existence, morality, and spirituality across the continent. These myths:

• Foster cultural cohesion by providing shared narratives.
• Offer moral and ethical guidelines, emphasizing values such as harmony, resilience, and humility.
• Reflect humanity’s deep connection to the divine and the natural world, promoting a worldview that values interdependence and balance.
• Shapes community and communal interactions.
• Buttress the law of cause and effect, rewards and consequences, and the role of a supreme being in setting the moral codes.

Conclusion

African creation myths are a testament to the continent’s rich oral traditions and profound philosophical insights. The shared themes reflect the peoples’ ways of life, traditions, and beliefs. By exploring their shared themes, we gain a deeper appreciation for the ways in which diverse cultures in Africa articulate universal truths about life, existence, and the human condition. We also grasp their frame of reference leading to better communication and more meaningful interactions.