Origin[]

According to the griot spirits of the Djalia, the Orisha originated during immemorial times in the land that would become Wakanda. When the pilgrims who traveled to this land entered in conflict with the native beasts that lived on it, the Originators, the heroes that rose among the humans were ascended to gods on faith. These gods, the Orisha, were Thoth, Kokou, Mujaji, Ptah, Nyami, and Bast. The humans and the Orisha defeated the originators and banished them to the Nether-Realms beyond a group of gates. As part of their duty, the Orisha became guardians of these gates.^[3]

Eons ago, Varnae (the first vampire) stole Vibranium ore from the fires of Ptah and used it to construct a temple in the lands that would one day become Wakanda in an attempt to ascend to godhood.^[2] The moon god Khonshu (another member of the Egyptian Ennead) learned of Varnae's scheme after one of his worshippers was killed, but was advised against swift retaliation by his sister Bast, who believed such unilateral action by a member of the Ennead in an unclaimed land such as Wakanda would spark a war between the Ennead and the gods worshipped in western Africa.^[2] As such, Khonshu convened a meeting among the gods of the surrounding realms as a show of respect, and Ghekre volunteered to act as the Orisha's representative on Khonshu's quest to vanquish Varnae.^[2] Ghekre joined Khnoshu, Bast, and Kokou in confronting Varnae in his lair while Bast freed the mortal captives, promising to them that the Ennead and the West Africa gods would never allow the people of Wakanda to be enslaved again.^[2]

Modern Era[]

Schism[]

After the attack led by Tetu's army on Birnin Zana, T'Challa wondered where the Gods had been in those times of trouble, so he started to investigate the matter.^[1]

In Kinamasi, a faction of protesters abandoned their worship to the Orishas and preached the coming of a new god, Sefako. Counselor Yao of Kinamasi was certain that a schism was brewing.^[4] Others in Wakanda, such as in the Alkama Fields chose, on her return, to worship Hadari Yao (the "Walker of Clouds" in the old Alkamite tongue), the Goddess who preserves the balance of all natural things: Storm, for her to defeat the Anansi, man-spiders of myth and legend. Once the Anansi were repelled, Ororo used the belief in her from the Alkamites to once again inspire confidence in their king and country,^[5] ultimately ascending to godhood herself.^[6]

• Both Black Panther (Vol. 6) #13 and #15 depict the Orishas of Wakanda as a group of five including Thoth, Bast, Kokou, Mujaji and Ptah. Yet, in #15, T'Challa mentions Nyami, who could be Nyame, another name of Vodū Sky Father Buluku.
• The previously introduced Orishas are part of the Ennead (Bast and Ptah) and related gods (Thoth), forming the Gods of Egypt, and not of the "classical" Orishas of Africa, the Vodū.
• Others first appeared as Gods of Wakanda, and haven't been confirmed as any known groups, though they are inspired by beings from our reality's African mythologies, such as:
  • Kokou is a "warrior Undergod" for the Yoruba faith of Benin.^[7]
  • the Modjadji are "rain queens" from the Balobedu's mythology.^[8][9],the mutant Ororo Munroe, known as Storm of the X-Men descended from Ayesha of Balobedu, the rain queen from Hyborian Age,^[10] she was queen of Wakanda and was identified as a goddess of Wakanda named Hadari Yao/Hadari-Yao ("Walker of Clouds" in ancient Alkamite).^[5][11]
• In addition to the main pantheon, other gods from Egypt are worshiped in Wakanda like the Sekhmet (as Lion God) ^{[12][13][14][15]} and Sobek (Crocodile Cult), the Hyena god worshiped by Hyena Clan,^[15] the gorilla gods worshiped by the Jabari tribe come from elsewhere in Africa: Before being Jabari, they worshiped Ngi from Yaoundé people (Cameroon).^[16][17][18] Currently, the tribe is known to worship Ghekre from Baoulé people (Ghana and Ivory Coast).^{[15][19][20][21]}
• There are two other rival gods who have no identified origin in the real world: Bast's sister, K'Liluna the Betrayer^[22] and Magba.^[23]
• In Black Panther: Protectors of Wakanda, a text attributed to Changamire introduces some new details to Originators and the Wakandan mythology:
  • The Vanyan race, which resemble gorillas, descend from Ghekre.
  • The names of the two unidentified races are revealed and inspired by orishas from Yoruba mythology: the sea-creatures are called the Children of Olokun and the two-headed creatures are called the Ibeji.^[24] Olokun is an orisha of the seas^[25] and Ibeji is an orisha representing a pair of twins.^[26]
  • The Simbi race, descended from the Elder God Set, an underground temple of Set has been found in Wakanda.^[27][28]
  • According to the Appendix to the Marvel Universe, Olokun is Avlekete's husband.^[29]
• Eshu refers to Ptah as Ptah-Ogun,^[30] the orisha Ogun is also a Smithing deity.^[31]