Diala – The Son of the Soil and the Protector of the Land

Diala – The Son of the Soil and the Protector of the Land

The diala are business men and women and known as the descendants of Amadioha (God of Thunder and Lightning), with magical powers, believed to have been created on Nkwo market day in Ụ́tụ́rụ́, by Elu (Heaven) and Ala (Mother Earth), where Igbo creation happened. This is in relation to the creation of:

1. Uhammiri (Goddess of the Lake)

2. Urashi (God of the Lake – who is believed to be a Third Gender and the most handsome of all Gods)

3. Ogwugwu (God of Confusion)

4. Agwu (God of Possession)

5. Anyanwu (God of the Sun)

6. Nwanyianyanwu (Goddess of the Sun)

7. Okeohia (God of the Forest)

8. Chukwuabiama (God of Reconciliation)

9. Ekwensu (God of Mystery)

10. Ugwu (God of Pride)

11. Ikenga (God of War)

12. Onuma (God of Mercy)

13. Ororonjo (God of Ugliness)

14. Nma (Goddess of Beauty and Wealth)

15. Arusi (Karma)

The Diala and Dibia are the King Makers and the Rain-Makers. In Igbo traditions, rituals are not complete without libations and sacrifices to Ala (Mother Earth) and the performer, looking up to Elu(also known as Chi Ukwu, the Great God or Chineke, the Creator) or Orisa/Olisah (The Universe), for the sacrifice to be truly accepted and appreciated. There are Creators in the Earth and in the Heavens. There is no One Creator in Igbo cosmology.

This is why every Igbo has his own chi, what he believes in. It is deepened in the Igbo religion, which involves a lot of sacrifices.

It is ironical that no matter how Christian an Igbo is, he goes at night, to revere the Igbo deities, because deep down their hearts of hearts, they strongly believe in these deities, knowing how powerful they are.

All the Gods and Goddesses have different recipes integral to worshipping them. The God of Thunder, Amadioha, loves the sacrifice of a ram to appease Him, as it is symbolic to Him. The Goddess of the Lake loves the sacrifice of a white chicken, as it is also symbolic.

A mirror can be placed under the sun to appease Nwanyianyanwu, the Goddess of the Sun. Each deity plays an important role in the life of the Igbo. Each deity has a shrine and anyone can choose each of them to worship or reverence all. There are no written rules on how they are worshipped and revered. No monolithic form of praise.