Bambara, Dogon, Mossi and Sahel mythologies
33 spirits documented in the Kunda Codex
Along the Niger river and the Sahel, the Mande and Voltaic traditions conceived cosmogonies of dizzying depth. The Bambara tell of Faro, master of water and speech; the Dogon of Bandiagara transmit the Nommo myth; the Mossi honour Tenga, the earth of justice; the Serer of Senegal tell of the moonlit Yumboes. The entries below document these Sahel spirits with sources.
WaterallyNYA
Nyalé — Guardian of the Waters
Bambara — Mali
Spirit of the Waters
EarthallyTENGA
Tengbiiga
Mossi — Burkina Faso
Spirit of the Earth
AirneutralYAMBA
Yamba-Kuru
Bambara — Mali
Spirit of the Wind
SpiritallyAMMA
Cosmic creator
Dogon — Mali
Creator Spirit
WaterallyNOMMO
Water, speech, twinness
Dogon — Mali
Spirit of the Waters
WaterallyFARO
Water, speech, order
Bambara — Mali
Spirit of the Waters
SpiritallyCHIWARA (CI WARA)
Agriculture, labour
Bambara — Mali
Spirit of the Earth
SpiritallyKONTRON
Initiatory knowledge, ritual
Bambara — Mali
Spirit of Wisdom
SpiritallyROOG
Supreme principle, creator
Serer — Sénégal
Creator Spirit
AirallyKOOX (PANGOOL)
Intermediary spirits, ancestors
Serer — Sénégal
Spirit of the Dead
WaterallyTANO (ESPRIT DU FLEUVE)
Water, war, justice
Ouest africain — Ghana / Côte d’Ivoire
Spirit of the Waters
SpiritallyWENDE
Supreme creator
Mossi — Burkina Faso
Creator Spirit
SpiritallyLEBE
Fertility, rebirth
Dogon — Mali
Spirit of the Earth
EarthallyALATANGANA
God
Kono — Kono
Deity
AirallyBEMBA
God
Bambara — Bambara
Deity
SoulallyDINGA
Hero
Sénégal — Sénégal
Hero Spirit
WaterallyDO
God
Haute Volta — Haute Volta
Deity
SpiritneutralDUME
Demon
Mali — Mali
Demon Spirit
SpiritneutralDYINYINGA
Spirit
Mende — Mende
Spirit
EarthallyFARA MAKA
Hero
Mali — Mali
Hero Spirit
SpiritallyFATOUMA
Hero
Mali — Mali
Hero Spirit
SpiritallyGARAKHE
Hero
Sénégal — Sénégal
Hero Spirit
SpiritallyGASSIRE
Hero
Soninké — Soninké
Hero Spirit
SpiritallyLAGARRE
Hero
Afrique de l'Ouest — Afrique de l'Ouest
Hero Spirit
SpiritneutralMAHALBIYA
Spirit
Hausa — Hausa
Spirit
SpiritneutralMAKERI
Spirit
Hausa — Hausa
Spirit
SpiritneutralNANDI
Monster
Afrique Ouest — Afrique Ouest
Monstrous Spirit
AirallyNGEWO
God
Mende — Mende
Deity
SpiritallyPEMBA
God
Bambara — Bambara
Deity
SpiritneutralRAKO
Spirit
Hausa — Haoussa
Spirit
SpiritallySA
God
Kono — Kono
Deity
SpiritneutralTAIKI
Spirit
Hausa — Hausa
Spirit
SpiritallyYO
God
Bambara — Bambara
Deity