Here are the African Gods who lived, and set us free. WE ARE THE AFRICAN GODS! WE ARE!… YOU AND ME — Abbey Lincoln
African Gods Via Lonnie Plaxico
They took this notion of Jesus Christ and enslaved people had to give up their own indigenous religion/cultures.
The Gods and Goddesses of Africa/Not Israel!..Where are the African Gods who lived, and set us free? WE ARE THE AFRICAN GODS” WE ARE!… YOU AND ME” Abbey Lincoln
2 Chronicles 15:12-13 (King James Version)12 And they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul;
13 That whosoever would not seek the LORD God of Israel should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman.
2 Chronicles 15:12-13 (The Message)10-15 They all arrived in Jerusalem in the third month of the fifteenth year of Asa’s reign for a great assembly of worship. From their earlier plunder they offered sacrifices of seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep for the worship. Then they bound themselves in a covenant to seek God, the God of their fathers, wholeheartedly, holding nothing back. And they agreed that anyone who refused to seek God, the God of Israel, should be killed, no matter who it was, young or old, man or woman. They shouted out their promise to God, a joyful sound accompanied with blasts from trumpets and rams’ horns. The whole country felt good about the covenant promise—they had given their promise joyfully from the heart. Anticipating the best, they had sought God—and he showed up, ready to be found. God gave them peace within and without—a most peaceable kingdom!
Concept of Deity by John Henrik Clarke To hold a people in oppression you have to convince them first that they are supposed to be oppressed. When the European comes to a country, the first thing he does is to laugh at your God and your God concept. And the next thing is to make…you laugh at your own God concept. Then he don’t have to build no jails for you then, cause he’s got you in a jail more binding than iron can ever put you. Anytime you turn on your own concept of God, you are no longer a free man. No one needs to put chains on your body, because the chains are on your mind. Anytime someone say’s your God is ugly and you release your God and join their God, there is no hope for your freedom until you once more believe in your own concept of the “deity.”
Most African cultures, if not all, believe in a Supreme Creator in one form or another. A God behind the Gods, a Supreme God who created everything. The Creator is thought to have once lived on Earth, but left it for His Kingdom in the Sky because of human infractions. Because he was no longer in direct contact with the people, Lesser Gods were created directly from His power to do certain jobs that were given to them. These Lesser Gods are the Gods of Earth, The Rains, Water, The Winds, Fire, etc. The Deities are capable of answering human prayers by use of their own power and can intercede on man’s behalf with the Creator Himself. Although The Supreme Creator is usually referred to by him etc. it is beyond sex, being both male and female. It has no form and is thought of in an abstract way. It is available to any human, regardless of their position. A breath of Its Divine Being is within all animate and inanimate things.
It is known as Mulungu (East Africa), Leza (Central Africa), Nyambe (West Tropics), Nyame (Ghana), the Molder, Giver of Breath and Souls, God of Destiny, One Who Exists of Himself, God of Pity and Comfort, the Inexplicable, Ancient of Days, the One Who Bends Even Kings, the One You Meet Everywhere, etc.
Among many African cultures, the creation of the Earth took four days. The fifth day was reserved for worshipping the Orisha Nla (Chief of the Deities), who actually created the Earth with the instruction and aid of the Supreme Creator. The Orisha Nla was also given the task of creating bodies out of clay. When this was complete the Supreme Creator secretly placed the spark of life within the forms. These newly created humans were then placed on the Earth to live. The African Gods and Goddesses
Adroa
Other Names: “God in the sky”, God on Earth”, Creator God, River God.
Location: The Lugbara of Zaire and Uganda.
Description: He is pictured as tall and white with only half of his body visible.
Rules Over: Social order, law, death.
Akuj
Location: The Turkana of Kenya.
Rules Over: Divination.
Ala
Other Names: Ale, Ane.
Location: The Ibo of Nigeria.
Description: Extremely popular Goddess and Earth Mother. She is a Creator Goddess and Queen of the Dead.
Rules Over: Community laws, morality, oaths, harvest.
Anayaroli
Location: The Temne.
Description: River demon.
Rules Over: Wealth.
Asa
Other Names: Father God, “the strong lord.”
Location: Akamba of Kenya.
Rules Over: Mercy, help, surviving the impossible.
Asase
Other Names: Yaa, Aberewa, Efua, “Old Woman Earth.”
Location: The Ashanti of West Africa.
Description: Goddess of creation of humans and receiver of them at death.
Rules Over: Cultivation, harvest.
Behanzin
Location: West Africa.
Description: Fish God.
Cagn
Location: South Central Africa among the Bushman.
Description: Creator God.
Rules Over: Sorcery and Shape-Shifting.
Chiuta
Other Names: Mulengi, Mwenco, Wamtatakuya Tumbuka.
Description: Creator God, Rain God. Is self-created and omniscient.
Rules Over: Rain, help, plant growth, food.
Chukwu or Chuku
Other Names: Chineke.
Location: The Igbo of East Nigeria.
Description: “The first great cause”, “Creator”, Father of Ale, The Earth Goddess. Offerings and sacrifices were done for him in groves.
Rules Over: Help, goodness.
Danh
Location: Dahomey.
Description: Snake God. Rainbow Snake shown with tail in his mouth.
Rules Over: Wholeness, unity.
En-Kai
Other Names: Parsai, Emayian.
Location: Masai.Description: Sky God. Grass is used in rituals for him.
Rules Over: Rain, vegetation, blessings.
Fa
Location: Dahomey.
Rules Over: Destiny.
Famian
Location: Guinea.
Rules Over: Protection, health, fertility.
Gauna
Other Names: Gawa, Gawama.
Location: Among the Bushmen.
Description: Leads the spirits of the deceased.
Rules Over: Disruption, harassment, death.
Ge
Location: Dahomey.
Description: Moon God.
Gu
Location: The Fon of West Africa.
Rules Over: War, smiths.
Guruhi
Location: Gambia.
Description: Evil God. Meteors are his sign.
Rules Over: Power and death over enemies.
Heitsi-Eibib
Location: The Hottentots.
Description: Sorcerer God.
Rules Over: Shape-shifting, magick.
Imana
Other Names: Hategekimana, Hashakimana, Habyarimana, Ndagijimana, Bigirimana, “Almighty God.”
Location: The Banyarwands.
Rules Over: Power, goodness, children, planning.
Ison
Other Names: Eka Obasi, Obasi Nsi, Ibibio, Ekoi.Location: West Africa.
Description: Tortoise-shelled Goddess.
Rules Over: Fertility of the Earth.
Jok
Other Names: Jok Odudu, Alur.
Location: Uganda and Zaire.
Description: Black goats were to be sacrificed to him when rain was needed.
Rules Over: Rain.
Juok
Other Names: Shilluk, Supreme God.
Location: White Nile.
Description: Created all men on Earth.
Kaka-Guia
Other Names: Nyami.
Location: The Volta areas.
Description: He brought souls to the Supreme God.
Katonda
Other Names: Lissoddene, Kagingo, Ssewannaku, Lugaba, Ssebintu, Nnyiniggulu, Namuginga, Ssewaunaku, Gguluddene, Namugereka.
Location: The Ganda of East Africa.
Description: Creator God.
Rules Over: Help, Judgment, aid when the odds are against you, control over spirits, divination, oracles.
Kwoth
Location: The Nuer of South Sudan.
Description: Great Spirit God.
Rules Over: Nature, help, compassion, judgement.
Leza
Location: Dahomey.
Description: Chameleon God/dess.
Rules Over: Protection, divination.
Mbaba Mwana Waresa
Location: The Zulu of Natal.
Description: Goddess of what she rules over.
Rules Over: Rainbows, rain, crops, cultivation, beer.
Mawu
Location: Dahomey.
Description: Supreme Goddess, creator of all things. Mawu is worshipped by The Fon of Benin in West Africa as a Moon Goddess and creatrix of everything.
Mukuru
Location: Macouas of Zambesi, Banayis.
Description: Supreme God, creator of everything.
Rules Over: Agriculture, architecture, the harvest.
Mungo
Location: Giryama of Kenya.
Description: Rain God.
Rules Over: Rain.
`Nenaunir
Other Names: The Rainbow Snake.
Location: Masai of Kenya.
Description: An Evil Storm God who was linked to the rainbow. Resided in the clouds and was a dreaded spirit.
Rules Over: Storms.
`Ngai
Location: Masai.
Description: Creator God.
Rules Over: Life and Death.
Ngami
Description: Moon Goddess.
Njambi
Location: Lele.
Description: Creator God.
Rules Over: Protection, justice, help, forests, fertility.
Nyambe
Location: Koko of Nigeria.
Description: God.
Rules Over: Restoring Life.
Nyambi
Other Names: Nyambe.
Location: The Barotse of Upper Zambesi.
Description: Gread God. Creator of everything.
Nyame
Location: The Twi of West Africa.
Description: Great God who prepared the soul to be reborn on the physical plane and gave out its fate.
Rules Over: Fate.
Nyamia Ama
Location: Senegal.
Description: God of storms, rain and lightning. A sky god.
Rules Over: Storms, rain, lightning.
Nzambi
Location: The Bankongo of the Congo.
Description: Great Goddess who created everything. She played the role of Justice and rewarded and punished according to the deeds of man.
Rules Over: Justice.
Oba
Description: Santeria river goddess.
Ochumare
Location: Yoruba.
Description: Santeria Goddess of the rainbow.
Oddudua
Location: Yoruba.
Description: Primary Mother Goddess.
Ogun
Other Names: Ogoun.
Location: The Nago and Yoruba of West Africa.
Description: God of iron and warfare.
Rules Over: Iron, warfare, removing difficulties, smoothing the path to a desired result, Justice, Smiths, Hunters, Barbers, Goldsmiths, Steel.
Olorun
Other Names: Olofin-Orun, Olodumare.
Location: Yoruba.Description: Sky God.
Rules Over: Truth, control of the Elements, Forsight, Victory when the odds are against you, Destiny.
Pan
Location: Agni.
Description: Son of the Earth.
Rules Over: Cultivation.
Rock-Sens
Location: The Serer of Gambia.
Description: Sky god, controlled the weather.
Rules Over: Rain, Thunder, Lightning.
Rugaba
Other Names: Ruhanga, Kazooba, Mukameiguru.
Location: Ankore of Uganda.
Description: Creator God, Sun God, Sky God.
Rules Over: Life, healing, death, sickness, judgement.
Ruhanga
Location: Banyoro.
Description: Great God.
Rules Over: Fertility, abundance, children, animals, harvest, health, sickness, death, judgement, rebirth.
Sakarabru
Location: Agni of Guinea.
Description: God who is strongest during the main phases of the Moon. Swift to punish wrongful deeds.
Rules Over: Medicine, justice, retribution.
Shango
Other Names: Schango.
Location: Yoruba of Nigeria.
Description: Carries a double-headed axe much like the nordic Thorr.
Rules Over: Thunder, Storm, War, Magick.
Soko
Location: Nupe of north Nigeria.
Description: Creator God.Rules Over: Control of the Elements, Witchcraft, Communication with the Deceased.
Tilo
Location: Mozambique.
Description: Sky God.
Rules Over: Sky, Thunder, Rain.
Unkulunkulu
Other Names: Nkulnkulu.
Location: The Amazulu and Ndebele of Zimbabwe.
Description: Great God, Earth God.
Rules Over: Fertility, organization, order.
Utixo
Location: The Hottentots.
Description: Sky God who speaks with a voice of thunder.
Rules Over: Rain, Storms, Thunder, Harvest, Rebirth.
Wele
Other Names: Khakaba, Isaywa.
Location: Abaluyia, Bantu.
Description: “The High One”. Sky God, Creator God.
Rules Over: Rain, storms, lightning, creation, prosperity, harvest, celestial phenomena.
Were
Location: Luo of Kenya.
Description: Great God, Father God, Creator God.
Rules Over: Birth, Death, Nature, Judgement.
White Lady
Location: Tassali of the Sahara.
Description: Agricultural Goddess.
Rules Over: Agriculture, fertility.
Xevioso
Location: West Africa.
Description: He used a thunder axe.
Rules Over: Thunder, rain, fertility.
Ymoja
Location: Yoruba.
Description: River Goddess.
Rules Over: Women, children. http://www.scns.com/earthen/other/seanachaidh/godafrica.html
AFRICAN GODS & GODDESSES
Abassi
Creator god of the Efik people in Nigeria. Following his wife Atais instructions he made the first man and woman and placed them on earth with the order not to work or have any children. When, eventually, they broke the order Atai killed the man and woman and created strife and fighting between their children.
Abuk
According to Dinka mythology, Abuk is the first woman. She is the patron of women and gardens, and her symbol is a small snake.
Adroa
God of the Lugbara people. Adroa has two aspects: one good and one evil. The creator of Heaven and Earth. He appears to those about to die. Adroa is depicted as a tall, white man with only half a body – one eye, one arm, one leg, one ear.
Adroanzi
The children of Lugbara god Adroa . They dwell near large trees, rocks and streams. The Adroanzi are fond of following people at night. If the person does not look back, they will be safe. If the person does look back, the Adroanzi will kill them.
Agé
Dahomey god of the wilderness and animals. Often worshipped by hunters.
Agwe
The mother of the sea. Affectionate and nurturing to humans who honor her.
Aha Njoku
Goddess of yams and the women who care for them. Worshipped by the Ibo tribe of Nigeria.
Aja
Forest Goddess of the Yoruba people. Teaches the use of medicinal herbs.
Ajok
God of the Lotuko tribe of Sudan. Has the power to raise the dead, but due to a bad experience vowed never to do so again.
Anansi
Trickster god of the Ashanti people. Created the sun and moon, and instituted the succession of night and day. He is the intermediary for the god of the sky Nyame. He brings rain to stop the forest fires and is in charge of the extent of floods. He taught man to sow grain and till the fields. His mother is Asase Ya.
Arebati
Sky and moon god of the Pygmies of Zaire. He created the first man from clay and brought him to life. He is referred to as afa or father.
Asa
God of the Akamba people of Kenya. A strong yet merciful lord and god of sustenance and consolation. He helps when humans can’t. Asa is also known as Mwatuangi, “distributor”, Mulungu, “creator”, and Mumbi, “fashioner”.
Banga
Ngbandi people of Zaires’ god of fresh waters.
Bomazi
Ancestral deity of the Congo.
Buku
West African sky god.
Bumba
Creator god of the Boshongo of Zaire, who vomited up the sun, earth, and all living creatures including man.
Cghene
Supreme god of the Isoko of Nigeria. Considered too remote from people to be worshipped.
Chiuta
Rain god of the Tumbuka, considered the supreme god of the tribe.
Chuku
Supreme god of the Ibo peoples, all good comes from him. The creator god, he also brings the rains which make the plants grow. His wife is Ala and his symbol is the sun.
Da
Great serpent god of the Fon peoples in Dahomey. He is the son of the supreme god Mawu. He supports creation with his giant coils, 3,500 above the earth and 3,500 below.
Deng
Creator, rain, fertility, and sky god of the Dinka tribe. His mother is the goddess Abuk.
Domfe
Kurumba god of rain, water and wind. He gave the first seeds for food plants to man.
Dongo
Songhai god of thunder.
Dziva
Creator Goddess of the Shona people in Zimbabwe. Generally benevolent, but also has a terrible aspect.
Edinkira
Tree Goddess.
Egungun-oya
An aspect of the Yoruban Goddess of divination.
Enekpe
Goddess of the family and guardian of destiny.
En-kai
Rain god of the Maasai of East Africa. En-kai, a remote deity, is Parsai, “the one who is worshipped”, and Emayian, “the one who blesses”.
Eseasar
An earth Goddess. Wife of the sky god, Ebore.
Eshu
Yoruba god of beginnings, doorways and crossroads. He rules the opportunity and potentiality of a situation, and the risks and rewards inherent in it. also known as Exu (Brazil), Eleggua (Cuba),and Esu (West Africa), is the owner of every road of life.
Faro
Sky and water god of the Bambara people. He became pregnant by the rocking of the universe, and he gave birth to various twins, the ancestors of the human race. Faro gives water to all living creatures, and taught mankind the use of words, tools, agriculture, and fishing. The omni-present spirits serve as his messengers and representatives. He is continually reorganizing the cosmos. Returns to earth every 400 years to verify that everything is still in order.
Gamab
The bushmen call him Gauna and among the Khoikhoi he is known as Gaunab. God of fate and the master of life and death. The supreme deity of the Haukoin people of southern Africa. He shoots arrows from the high heavens at Earth, and those who are hit must die.
Gbadu
Goddess of fate among the Fon people. Gbadu is the daughter of Mawu the supreme goddess of the Fon.
Gun
Fon god of iron and war. He is a son of Mawu and Lisa, and the twin of Xevioso.
Gunab
The Khoikhoi god of evil.
Gunuko
One of the principal deities of the Nupe of Northern Nigeria.
Heitsi
Khoikhoi god of the hunt. He has cycles of death and rebirth.
Huntin
A Xhosa tree spirit.
Huve
Supreme god of the Bushmen.
Imana
Creator God of the Banyarwanda people.
Jok
Creator god of the Alur tribesmen of Uganda and Zaire. He is also known as Jok Odudu, “god of birth”.
Kaang
Creator god of the African Bushmen. He is the maker of all things and is responsible for all natural phenomenon. He is part of all things but especially the mantis and caterpillar.
Kaka-Guie
Protector of men and god of death and the afterlife among the Baule Negroes of the Ivory Coast. He is present at all funerals and guides the departeds soul to the afterlife. His representation is a buffalo mask which women may not see. The punishment for breaking this taboo is death.
Kalunga
Originally the ancestral god of the Lunda people of Angola, Zaire and Zambia. Later he became the supreme being, a god of the sky and of creation. He is all-knowing and all-seeing, and a righteous judge of the dead whose decisions are characterized by wisdom and compassion. He is also the god of the sea, where the dead dwell.
Khonvoum
Hunter god of the Pygmies. The creator of mankind and the jungles. He is responsible for assuring that the sun will rise each day. He carries a bow made of two snakes that appears to be a rainbow to men.
Kombu
Creator god.
Legba
He is a Yoruba god of destiny. The first to be invoked since he holds the key to the gate separating the realms of the gods from those of man. He appears as a poorly dressed old man but is very strong. He is known for his intelligence, cunning and knowledge of all the languages of man. He is a trickster.
Leza
The creator god of the Central African people. He is the supreme god and gave the people their customs. He is also a sky god, responsible for rain, thunder, and wind.
Lisa
Fon god of the sun, sky and power. Husband of Mawu.
Mami Wata
African deity of the water and of excess, she is seen as both a mermaid and a beautiful woman walking the streets of modern Africa. Mami Wata is described as having long dark hair, very fair skin and compelling eyes. She loves all things expensive, modern and beautiful. Mami Wata’s colors are red and white.
Massim-Biambe
Omnipotent creator god of the Mundang people of the Congo.
Mawu
Supreme deity of the Fon people. She created the universe. Her husband is Lisa.
Mbaba Mwana Waresa
Goddess of the Zulu people, who gave mankind the gift of beer.
Mbomba
Creator god and ancestral deity of the Mongo people. He is master of life and death. The sun, moon, and man are his children. He is also known as Nzakomba.
Minga Bengale
Shongon god of hunters, who taught mankind how to make nets.
Mugasa
Sky god of the Bambusi people of Zaire. Associated with the moon.
Mugasha
Bazabi god of water. He is the son of Wamara.
Mukuru
The ancestral god and creator god of the Herero bushmen of Namibia. He shows his compassion by providing the rain, caring for the elderly, and healing the sick.
Mulungu
The creator god in eastern Africa, from Kamba people in the north to the Zambesi people in the south. Many peoples, such as the Nyamwezi of Tanzania, worship him as a sky god whose voice is thunder.
Musso Koroni
Goddess of discord and disorder among the Bambara people. She is the daughter of the Voice of the Void, and wife of Pemba.
Nana Buluku
Supreme god of the Fon tribe. He is the father of the twins Lisa and Mawu.
Neiterogob
Earth Goddess of the Masai.
Nyalitch
Supreme god of the Dinka. God of the sky and rain.
Nzame
Supreme god of the Fan people of the Congo.
Obassi
Supreme deity of the Ekoi and Ibibio of the Niger Delta.
Obatala
One of the major deities of the Yoruba people. With his brother Odudua he forms the primordial pair of gods. He is the creator of the human body in which his father Olorun breathes the soul. He is the sky-god and god of the North, and the first Orisha to be created. He helped to create humans.
Odudua
Yoruba god of the South. Brother Obatala. He is a son of Olokun and Olorun.
Oromila
God of divination of the Benin people.
Oshunmare
The rainbow serpent of the Yoruba people. The counterpart of the Dahomean Aido-hwedo.
Pamba
The creator deity of the Ovambo people.
Quamta
Supreme god of the Xhosa people of South Africa, a people of the Transkei. Quamta is worshipped at stone mounds to which one stone is added by each worshipper.
Raluvumbha
Supreme god of the Baventa of Transvaal in Southern Africa.
Ryangombe
Baziba god of cattle. He is the son of Wamara.
Shakpana
Angry god of the Yoruba, who inflicts man with pox and madness.
Shango
God of thunder and ancestor of the Yoruba. He is often depicted with a double axe on his head (symbol of thunder) and six eyes. His symbol is the ram and his colors are red and white. Shango (Xango) has three wives: Oya, who stole Shango’s secrets of magic; Oschun, the river goddess who is Shango’s favorite because of her culinary abilities; and Oba, who tried to win his love by offering her ear for him to eat. His symbolic animal is the ram.
Tore
Wood god of the Pygmies of Zaire. He is patron of the hunt and lord of the animals. He manifests as storms and hides in the rainbow.
Tsui
Khoikhoi god of rain, thunder and sorcerers.
Umvelinqangi
Creator god of the Zulu. He manifests as thunder and earthquakes.
Unumbotte
Creator god of the Basari of Togo.
Wele
Supreme god of the Kavirondo (Vugusu) in Kenya. Manifests as two personalities: Omuwanga, the gentle ‘white’ god and Gumali the ‘black’ god of misfortune. He first created the heavens, the sun and the moon, and the other celestial bodies. Finally he created the earth and mankind.
Woto
Shongo god of fire.
Xevioso
The Thunder pantheon of Dahomey. This is the So (the deity of Thunder) of Xevie, a small settlement in southern Dahomey, where the principal shrines of the Thunder gods are located.
Yangombi
African god of creation.
Yansan
Yoruba deity of the wind.
Yemaja
Mother Goddess of the Yoruba. Goddess of birth and fertility, and worshipped primarily by women. She is the daughter of Obatala, and her brother is Aganya
K: That is a rather feeble ‘yes’! And when you investigate into this belief, what is God? There is the Hebrew god, the Christian god, the Hindu god, the Muslim god and so on. Is it an invention of the mind, of thought? Is it a projection of thought because thought says to itself there is nothing permanent in life – my relationship, my love, my profession, my knowledge, my experience, faith, in all that there is nothing permanent. And it projects in fancy, in imagination, in hope, an idea called god. And so the projection is yourself ennobled, so you are worshipping yourself. Do you understand the significance of that? So we are not investigating into the reality whether there is god or no god, because that is fairly simple because there are so many gods, as so many beliefs – they are all projections of thought. And thought in itself, what it thinks about is reality but it is not truth. Purpose of Life and Education The basic Egyptian philosophical view was that every human’s purpose was to live righteously and become a God, so Egyptians spent much of their time developing their divinity. Formal education was one avenue Egyptians used to attain life’s purpose. Kemet’s scholars and priests taught the Seven Liberal Arts in the Mystery Schools to liberate the person’s soul from its bodily abode, which would allow the student to ultimately reach the level of Spiritual Consciousness. The intention of formal education was to bring out and develop the “good” or “divine” element already inside a person. Studying Grammar, Rhetoric and Logic, for example, would remove a person’s “irrational tendencies of behavior” because these subjects were conveyors for moral development. Furthermore, the study of math and astronomy, two of the Seven Liberal Arts, not only helped students understand the dimensions of the world and universe, but it also helped to create relationships with heavenly bodies. Egyptians believed that connected to understanding how the world and universe naturally work was goodness. In the Beginning According to Kemet’s creation story, Atum, the Supreme Being, created four other Gods in pairs: Shu (air) and Tefnut (moisture), and Geb (earth) and Nut (Sky). In turn, Geb and Nut created the first humans on earth: Osiris (male) and Isis (female). Osiris and Isis, husband and wife, were born human or mortal, and both had a piece of the Supreme Being inside them. After an eventful and interesting life, Osiris became a God after his earthly existence because he had lived righteously. The same thing happened to Goddess Isis sometime later. Once a person becomes a God, he or she lives forever, just like Atum. Embedded in Ancient Kemet’s creation story is the idea that every person born on earth is human or mortal, and the only way one could become a God like Osiris is to live a righteous life and pass Osiris’s divine evaluation. To live righteously, one had to follow the 42 Divine Principles of Maat, the Goddess of Social Justice and Peace: “I have not lied. I have not stolen. I have not murdered…” Status of Pharaohs The pharaohs, in addition to their political and economic leadership, were society’s moral and ethical leaders. They strictly followed the 42 Divine Principles of Maat and, as a result, obtained god-like status, the highest spiritual status anyone could achieve on earth. However, a pharaoh was not eligible to become a God like Osiris while physically living. The pharaoh was a human, not a God. Egyptians never worshiped humans, including pharaohs, as Gods. Since Osiris evaluated one’s life to determine his or her divine status, no one on earth knew for sure that a pharaoh would live forever as a God. Importance of Balance The effort to maintain balance and order in their lives contributed to Egyptians’ tendency to think holistically. There was no problem with simultaneously practicing monotheism and polytheism. It was an integral part of Egyptian culture. This is evident when Akenten IV (Akhenaten IV 1370 – 1352) ascends the throne. He explicitly imposed monotheism by discarding all other Gods in favor of worshiping one God, Aten. Kemet’s influential priests disagreed with Pharaoh Akenten’s actions here. They did not understand why Akenten made this decision because monotheism was already in existence. The priests probably thought that Akenten was not only losing his sense of balance, but he was also overstating his case for monotheistic practices. The people of Kemet studied the physical world and universe through understanding and applying math and science, but they paid just as much attention to the unseen world – the Gods, emotions and feelings. The unification of Amen and Ra is the personification of holistic thinking and the concept of balance in Kemet: Amen (hidden, unseen)-Ra (solar, sun, seen). Since Egyptians saw science and spirituality as complimentary, as well as other polar opposites, they always interpreted the world and universe through both entities. Sources: ben-jochannan, Yosef, A.A. Black Man of the Nile and his Family. Baltimore, Md: Black Classic Press, 1989.
