African Mythology: Myths & Stories From West Africa
In this ongoing class, students will be told stories about the myths and gods of the various regions of West Africa
Chidumebi Ikechi Njoku-Browne
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:(853)
What's included
1 live meeting
35 mins in-class hours per weekClass Experience
US Grade 4 - 7
Students will learn about the various myths, gods and folklore found all over West Africa The topics covered will be the various West African gods, monsters and spirits from West African folklore, and some funny folk tales based in those mythologies. My class will be structured along the hierarchy of stories assigned to the various pantheons. For example, with a new area we will start with stories involving the gods, then later down to spirits, then down to mythical humans. This will give an idea of how the world was observed by the cultures that produced these stories. I will teach using a mixture of images and slides as well as discussion. My teaching style can be described as interactive. I will actively tell the stories in the style of an Igbo griot (storyteller) as that is how I was raised on the stories. Students listen to each story and give their commentary at the end of each story or discussion of a god and give their thoughts on what they think the point of the story would be. Learners will get to interact with me through discussion, slides and some lectures along with discussing the essence of some of these stories. No required knowledge, only the desire to learn about new mythologies The topics covered during the fall will be as follows. Month of September: Stories from Nigeria, featuring the Igbo, Hausa, & Yoruba collections of stories & mythical figures Month of October: Stories from Benin, featuring the Fon, Aja, Gun (pronounced Guu-une), & Bariba collections of stories & figures Month of November: Stories from Mali, featuring the Fulani, Songhai, Sarakole and Dogon collections of stories & figures Month of December: Stories from Togo, featuring the Ewe, Losso, Adele and Mamprusi collections of stories and mythical figures Class will reset in the Spring starting in January with the Igbo, Hausa and Yoruba again.
Learning Goals
Students will learn about the various West African mythologies. These will range from the mythologies of the Igbo people to even the people of the ancient Songhai empire. The topic will cover their gods, their spirits, and even how some of the pantheons were even structured. Many of these stories told will also be parables in nature, stories that had life lessons, and for some stories that end with weird lessons, the context behind them will be explained.
Other Details
Parental Guidance
No parental guidance needed.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Sources
Achebe, N. (n.d.). Igbo Goddesses And The Priests And Male Priestesses Who Serve Them. Igbo in the Atlantic World, 28-45. doi:10.2307/j.ctt2005rxf.7
Afigbo, A. E. (n.d.). Prolegomena to the Study of the Culture History of the Igbo-speaking Peoples of Nigeria. West African Culture Dynamics. doi:10.1515/9783110800685.305
Agbogu, H. T. (1974). The art of Nri: A heritage of the philosophy, aesthetics and socio-ritual motifs-symbols in the function of art as a translation of life in an Igbo traditional society.
Aguwa, J. C. (1995). The Agwu deity in Igbo religion: A study of the patron spirit divination and medicine in an African society. Enugu, Nigeria: Fourth Dimension Pub.
Aguwa, J. C. (1995). The Agwu deity in Igbo religion: A study of the patron spirit divination and medicine in an African society. Enugu, Nigeria: Fourth Dimension Pub.
Chapter 3: African Traditional Religions and Igbo Objects of Worship. (n.d.). Authenticity of Belief in African (Igbo) Traditional Religion. doi:10.3726/978-3-653-04879-7/16
Dickson, S. (n.d.). History and Origin of Igbo people in Nigeria. Retrieved from http://www.academia.edu/6442785/History_and_Origin_of_Igbo_people_in_Nigeria
Ihekwaba, F. N. (2016). Struggle for control of the hinterland of the Bight of Biafra. Bloomington, IN: AuthorHouse.
Isichei, E. (1976). A History of the Igbo People. doi:10.1007/978-1-349-15621-4
Isichei, E. (1976). Igbo Resistance to Colonial Conquest. A History of the Igbo People, 119-139. doi:10.1007/978-1-349-15621-4_9
Isichei, E. (1976). Igbo Society in the Middle Years. A History of the Igbo People, 19-41. doi:10.1007/978-1-349-15621-4_2
Isichei, E. (1976). Igbo Warfare in the Nineteenth Century. A History of the Igbo People, 75-93. doi:10.1007/978-1-349-15621-4_6
Isichei, E. (1976). The Dawn of Igbo History. A History of the Igbo People, 3-16. doi:10.1007/978-1-349-15621-4_1
Jell-Bahlsen, S. (2008). The water goddess in Igbo cosmology: Ogbuide of Oguta Lake. Trenton NJ: Africa World Press.
Jester, J. S., Rance, D., Johnson, A., & Newberry, W. (2014). Pentecostal Church Planting As Power To Belong: Assemblies of God Church Planting Narratives From West Africa Since 1990. Springfield, Missouri publisher not identified.
Kalu, O. U. (2003). The embattled gods: Christianization of Igboland, 1841-1991. Trenton, NJ: Africa World Press.
Ndiukwu, A. (2015). Authenticity of Belief in African (Igbo) Traditional Religion. doi:10.3726/978-3-653-04879-7
Nigeria and Biafra [Motion picture]. (1969). New York, NY: Carousel Films, Inc.
Njoku, O. N. (1991). Magic, Religion and Iron Technology in Precolonial North-Western Igboland. Journal of Religion in Africa, 21(3), 194-215. doi:10.1163/157006691x00023
Njoku, R. (n.d.). Chinua Achebe and the Development of Igbo/African Studies. The Igbo Intellectual Tradition. doi:10.1057/9781137311290.0014
Nweze, N. O. (2006). Ani Ọkpọsi: Eka-nesi mmahi = from our fathers to our children. Abakaliki, Ebonyi State: Saltcoast Treasures Organisation.
Nwosu, I. N. (1983). Ndi Ichie Akwa mythology and folklore origins of the Igbos. Nigeria: I.N.C. Nwosu.
Odita, E. O. (1973). Universal Cults and Intra-Diffusion: Igbo Ikenga in Cultural Retrospection. African Studies Review, 16(1), 73. doi:10.2307/523734
Ogbuene, C. G. (n.d.). The concept of man in Igbo myths.
Okpewho, I. (1998). Once upon a kingdom: Myth, hegemony, and identity. Bloomington (Ind.): Indiana University Press.
Onega, S. (2005). Of goddesses and stories: Gender and a new politics in Achebe. Stories of Women, 54-63. doi:10.7228/manchester/9780719068782.003.0004
Onwukwe, S. O. (1995). Rise and fall of the Arochukwu Empire, 1400-1902: Perspective for the 21st century. Nigeria: Fourth Dimension Pub.
Onwukwe, S. O. (2002). Re-discovering Arochukwu: The Arochukwu saga: 1000 years of unbroken monarchy: Public enlightenment. Owerri: S.O. Onwukwe.
Onyesoh, O. O. (2000). Nri: The cradle of Igbo culture and civilization. Onitsha, Nigeria: Tabansi Press.
Onyesoh, O. O. (2000). Nri: The cradle of Igbo culture and civilization. Onitsha, Nigeria: Tabansi Press.
Opata, D. U. (2005). Ekwensu in the Igbo imagination: A heroic deity or christian devil. Nsukka, Nigeria: Great AP Express.
Osaghae, E. E. (n.d.). IV. IGBO Migrant Ethnic Empire: The Eze IGBO. Trends of Migrant Political Organization in Nigeria, 54-69. doi:10.4000/books.ifra.896
Peek, P. M. (2011). Twins in African and diaspora cultures: Double trouble, twice blessed. Bloomington: Indiana University Press.
Preston, G. (2007). The Four Legs of the Great Ikenga. Dialectical Anthropology, 31(1-3), 319-319. doi:10.1007/s10624-007-9012-y
Preston, G. (2007). The Four Legs of the Great Ikenga. Dialectical Anthropology, 31(1-3), 319-319. doi:10.1007/s10624-007-9012-y
Struggle for Control of the Hinterland of the Bight of Biafra The Untold Story of the British Military Expedition to Igbo Land (1830-1930). (2016). Authorhouse.
Timeline of Igbo history. (2017, October 06). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_Igbo_history
Joined June, 2019
4.9
853reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
I am a researcher of African History and Mythology since 2011. I have been at the research department of the African History section of the Smithsonian for 3 years. I myself am West African and have collected some of the stories from the actual locations they are from. I have been educating on these myths for 2 years on other platforms. Reviews
Live Group Class
$11
weekly1x per week
35 min
Completed by 258 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 9-14
1-13 learners per class
Financial Assistance
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