À quelle culture appartient l'ehi ?

Il relève surtout de la cosmologie edo, ou bini, du royaume du Bénin, au Nigeria, où il désigne l'esprit gardien de chaque personne. Le concept déborde parfois vers d'autres peuples nigérians, mais il n'est pas propre aux Yoruba.

Quel est le rôle de l'ehi ?

Il est le double spirituel et gardien de l'individu. Il connaît le destin annoncé devant le dieu créateur Osa, accompagne la personne dans le monde matériel et rend compte de sa conduite dans le monde des esprits.

L'ehi a-t-il un équivalent yoruba ?

Oui. Sa fonction de porteur de destinée et de guide personnel le rapproche du concept yoruba d'Ori, la tête intérieure qui porte le destin, ce qui explique les rapprochements entre les deux traditions.

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EHI

neutral

Spirit

✦ SoulYoruba →Yoruba — YorubaElder

Gender: Masculine/FeminineSign: destinée

Ehi is the name of a guardian spirit and principle of destiny present in several cultures of Nigeria, principally among the Edo (Bini) of the kingdom of Benin, and not specifically among the Yoruba. It functions as the person's spiritual counterpart, close to a guardian angel, and knows the destiny they have chosen. In Edo cosmology, every existence begins with an appearance before the creator god Osa, during which the individual states their life plan. The ehi attends this announcement and then sees to the keeping of this destiny. It accompanies the person by day in the material world (agbon) while interacting with the spirits of the invisible world (erinmwin), and returns to render account to Osa at night. A strong bond with one's ehi is judged necessary to success and fulfilment. Failure or misfortune may be attributed to it, and it is then appeased with offerings and rites. The concept is close to the Yoruba Ori, which explains certain confusions.

Powers & Attributes

destiny

Role in the ROHO universe

Voice of its pantheon. EHI carries the memory of its tradition and weaves a thread into the Mabioni. Bound to the Yoruba pantheon. Its alignment depends on the invoker's protocol.

Sacred Mask

An ancient ritual mask of vegetable ivory, amethyst and sacred wood, engraved with symbols of destiny, embodiment of the power of Ehi

Era

Ancient cycle

Frequently asked questions

To which culture does the ehi belong?

It belongs above all to the Edo, or Bini, cosmology of the kingdom of Benin, in Nigeria, where it designates each person's guardian spirit. The concept sometimes spills over to other Nigerian peoples, but it is not proper to the Yoruba.

What is the role of the ehi?

It is the individual's spiritual double and guardian. It knows the destiny announced before the creator god Osa, accompanies the person in the material world and renders account of their conduct in the world of the spirits.

Does the ehi have a Yoruba equivalent?

Yes. Its function as bearer of destiny and personal guide brings it close to the Yoruba concept of Ori, the inner head that carries destiny, which explains the parallels drawn between the two traditions.

Related spirits

EGBERE JAKUTA ORISHANLA AMIRINI

Sources and references

R. E. Bradbury, The Benin Kingdom and the Edo-Speaking Peoples of South-Western Nigeria, Ethnographic Survey of Africa, Western Africa Part XIII, International African Institute (1957)