Akwaba is the Ashanti Goddess of fertility and welcome. Symbols of her are placed over doors, and are given to maidens when they come of age, to welcome them into the next stage of life, that of mother. Akwaba is also known as Akuaba.

Erzulie Dantor is the Vodoun Goddess of jealousy and vengeance. Vodou has three sets of deities or lwas--Rada, Ghede, and Petro--each with their own associations. Erzulie Dantor is the Petro aspect of the Goddess Erzulie, and she is the patron lwa of women who have been abused. She is fiercely protective of her children and her followers. In her arms she holds her daughter Anais, who relays messages to and from Erzulie Dantor. While she is a strict mother, she will go to any lengths to protect her children and to seek vengeance on those who have wronged them. Erzulie Dantor is also the patron Goddess of lesbians.

Erzulie Freda is the Vodoun Goddess of love and beauty. Vodou has three sets of deities or lwas--Rada, Ghede, and Petro--each with their own associations. Erzulie Freda is the Rada aspect of the Goddess Erzulie, and she represents romantic love, sweetness, and luxury. She loves perfume, the color pink, fancy clothes, and the good life, and she wears three wedding rings, one for each of her three husbands. Erzulie Freda can be called upon to bring love and luxury to one's life, but she is a little spoiled. She always wants more from her followers--fancier clothes, more champagne, more designer shoes. When she doesn't get what she wants, she bursts into tears, and plunges a sword into her heart. Even in the midst of her wealth, the world disappoints her, and she reminds us that material wealth is not the only wealth we must strive towards. She is also known as Erzulie Freda Dahomey, because she originated from Dahomey (now the West African country of Benin).

This is for Chuks--I hope it answers your questions. Uhamiri is the Ibo Goddess of the lake Oguta in Nigeria. She is one of the Mami Wata, water spirits known throughout western and central Africa. Uhamiri, like most of the Mami Wata, is usually represented as either a mermaid or a very beautiful woman. She has long black hair that she combs with a golden comb. Although the Mami Wata appear as women, their beauty shows them to be more than mortal: they have hair longer, darker, and finer than mortal women, and their jewelry is so bright that it can blind the viewer. Uhamiri brings health and well-being to her followers, but it often comes with a price. To women who seek her, she will bring either fertility or beauty and wealth, but not both. When she appears to a man, she may ask him to promise to be faithful to her. If he is, she will bring him wealth and prominence. If he betrays her, she will take away everything he has worked for and leave him broken.

Ala is the Ibo Goddess of the earth. The Ibo people of Nigeria call her the mother of all things, but she is both the fertile earth and the empty field after the harvest. She is present at the beginning of the cycle of life, making children grow in their mother's womb, and she is there at the end of the cycle, to receive the souls of the dead into her own womb. Ala also gives laws to the people, emphasizing the importance of honesty and respect. Temples to Ala called mbari are built in the center of villages, and contain a mud statue of Ala which is then painted in bright colors. These statues usually show Ala with a long torso and long thick neck, which are considered to be signs of beauty among the Ibo. She is joined by other deities and animals. Ala is also known as Ale, Alla, and Ane.

Not a lot of time today, so just a short one! Nomkhubulwane is the Zulu Goddess of rain, nature, and fertility. She is the great Earth Mother, and she was believed to be capable of changing her shape to that of any animal, bird or fish whenever she chose. Her name means "she who chooses the state of an animal".

Here's another of the "no pretty white dress" set.  When your life needs a little shaking up, she's the one to call on. Oya (pronounced OH-yah) is the Yoruban Goddess of the wind, fire, thunder, and earthquakes. She is the force of change---with her power over storms and her sword of truth, she clears the path for growth and action. In her role as Goddess of the wind, she is the breath in our bodies, and the one who carries us away to the otherworld when our breath ceases. Oya is also known as Oya-Yansan which means "mother of nine"; the nine tributaries of the Niger River are her children, and she represents the power of all women to create life. She is a warrior Goddess, strong and courageous. Variations on her name include Oia, Iansa, and Iansan, and epithets associated with her are "the one who puts on pants to go to war" and "the one who grows a beard to go to war".

Just a short one today, but a nice story for a change. Mbaba Mwana Waresa is the Zulu Goddess of rain, agriculture, and the harvest. She is one of the most beloved Goddesses of Southern Africa, largely because she is credited with the invention of beer. Mbaba Mwana Waresa is also the Goddess of rainbows, a symbol of the link between heaven and earth, the Gods and man. Mythology says that she could not find a suitable husband in heaven, so she came to look on earth. She came across a herdsman named Thandiwe, whose song moved her so much that she chose him to be her companion. Being mortal, he had to face many tests to prove himself, but he was at last accepted by Mbaba Mwana Waresa as her husband.