African Folklore - Duality of Self and Gods

Duality of Self and Gods

Most indigenous African religions have a dualistic concept of the person. In the Igbo language, a person is said to be composed of a body and a soul. In the Yoruba language, however, there seems to be a tripartite concept: in addition to body and soul, there is said to exist a spirit or an ori, an independent entity which mediates or otherwise interacts between the body and the soul.

Some religious systems have a specific devil-like figure (e.g. Ekwensu) who is believed to be the opposite of God.

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