Amadioha, the Igbo god of Thunder
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In Nigeria, there are over 200 ethnic groups and each has its own cultural beliefs and perception of religion. Before the advent of colonization to date, traditional religigon has been sustained from one generation to another.
Just as we have “Sango” (god of fire) in the Yoruba empire, we also have Amadioha in the Igbo ethnic group. These gods are worshipped as a result of the landmark behaviour they exhibited while they were alive.
Also, they are celebrated to date because they are relevant to the culture and tradition that make up their ethnicity.
The Igbo people of Eastern Nigeria’s Amadioha are known for their Arusi or Agbara of thunder and lightning. Amadioha is one of the most well-known Igbo gods and is also known as Amadiora, Kamalu (short for Kalu Akanu), Kamanu, or Ofufe in different areas of Igboland.
History has it that Amadioha’s planet in astrology is the Sun. Astrologers also revealed that his emblem is a white ram, and his colour is red. In a metaphysical sense, Amadioha stands for the people’s unified will.
He is frequently linked to Anyanwu, the Sun god of the Igbo people. Also, Amadioha is more dominant in the southern half of Igboland, whereas Anyanwu is more prominent in the northern section of Igbo .
To celebrate Amadioha, Eke, the first market day of the Igbo four-day week, is the day set apart to worship him.
In this piece, I will be revealing the history of Amadioha, the god of thunder of the Igbo people, his life’s experiences and why people serve him.
Amadioha is mostly regarded as a god of justice, who uses lightning to strike and thunder to converse. He sends “thunderstones” down to earth to produce thunder and lightning.
Thus, those who are found guilty by Amadioha are either struck by lightning and slain, which leaves a black mark on the forehead, or they are bee swarmed.
Since the punishment is believed to be just one from God, the property of the victim is typically collected by the priests of Amadioha, and the body is left unburied and the person unmourned.
Amadioha is not just a deity of justice but also of love, peace, and unity. He is invoked for the growth of crops, the presence of children at home, and generosity.
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Amadioha also signifies a messianic promise for those in dire circumstances, which is different from most African religious worldviews.
Amadioha is also regarded as a creator god. According to some myths, he created humans when he sent a lightning bolt to hit a silk cotton tree, causing it to split open to reveal a man and a woman.
Furthermore, as a personal shrine, Amadioha represents the spirit of enterprise that generates wealth. It also serves as the household’s head’s representative.
Because mashing the cow’s faeces causes skin peeling and widespread deaths of the populace, Amadioha (the deity god) abhors it, and as a result, the people of Ozuzu town in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State of Nigeria do not consume Etu.
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