Ala- Igbo, Nigeria
Ala is a female deity and one of the most popular revered of all the Igbo deities. In Igbo, ‘Ala’ literally translates to earth in English, depicting her power over the earth.
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Regarded as the wife of Amadioha, the sky god, Ala is the deity of the earth, morality, fertility and creativity. Also pronounced as Ale, Ani or Ana in the various dialects of the Igbo language, she is one of the oldest deities and is worshipped, especially by women, as part of the traditional Odinani religion.
She is the protector of women and children and sacrifices are offered to her if someone breaks a taboo or is seeking fertility of the womb or soil for a great harvest. During the annual yam festival, she is honoured and remembered.
It is believed that if she is angry, she not only convinces her husband to deprive the people of rain but also causes natural disasters.
