Alukwusi or Alushi (also spelled Arukwusi or Arushi) are a pantheon of spirits and deities that are worshiped and served in the Igbo religion Odinani. There are many different Alusi and each has its own purpose and function.
Overview[]
The Alusi all spring from Ala the Earth goddess and Goddess of Fertility, who embodied the workings of the World. They are lesser deities in Odinani, each of whom are responsible for a specific aspect of nature or abstract concept. According to Igbo lore, these lesser deities as elements of Chukwu have their own specific purpose. They exist only as long their purpose does, thus many Alusi die off save for those who represent universal concepts. The Cosmos itself is divided into "four constituent complexes" known as Okike, Alusi, Mmuo, and Uwa. Okike is the event of "Creation", the Alusi are the lesser deities, Mmụọ are the spirits of the Ancestors and all other beings, and Uwa is the World.
Alusi manifest in natural Elements and their shrines are usually found in forests in which they are based around specific trees. At shrines, íhú mmúọ́, an object such as a hung piece of cloth or a group of statues, are placed at an Alusi's group of trees to focus worship. Deities are described as 'hot' and often capricious so that much of the public approaches shrines cautiously and are advised to avoid them at most times; priests are entrusted with the maintenance of these shrines. Many of these shrines are by the roadside in rural areas. Tender palm fronds symbolize spiritual power and are objects of sacred power. Shrines are cordoned off with ọmu to caution the public of the deity's presence. Larger clay modeling's in honor of an Arusi also exist around forests and rivers. Other Arusi figures may be found in and around peoples' homes and the shrines of Dibia. Much of these are related to personal chi, cults, and ancestral worship.
The Igbo world is divided into several interconnected Realms, principal among them being the realm of the living, the realm of the dead or the ancestors, and the realm of the unborn. Individuals who led an honorable life and received a proper burial proceeded to the ancestral realm to take their place among the ancestors ("Ndichie"), who are separate from the Alusi. From there they kept a watchful eye on the clan and visited their loved ones among the living with blessings such as fertility, good health, longevity, and prosperity. In gratitude the living offered sacrifices to them at the family hearth, and sought their counsel.
Notable Alusi[]
Some of the more notable male Alusi include: Amadioha the God of Thunder and Lightning, popular among the Southern Igbo; Ikenga the horned god of Fortune and Industry; Agwu the God of Divination and Healing; Njoku Ji the God of Yam, and Ogbunabali the God of Death. In southern Igbo dialects especially, ágbàrà is the term for these forces.
- Igwekaala
- Ala
- Ikenga
- Igwe
- Anyanwu
- Idemmili
- Agwu
- Ahobinagu
- Ahia Njoku
- Amadioha
- Ekwensu
- Aro
- Njoku Ji
- Ogbunabali
- Agbala
- Eke
- Oye
- Afo
- Nkwo
- Onyemuo