Cosmology

EJAGHAM COSMOLOGY

Mone Nyam Akpaghe se ngun Afrinofri

INTRODUCTION

The sky, earth, and underground make up Ejagam universe. God, spirits and human beings are believed to interact with one another. In Ejagham oral tales, we have images of the interaction of these three realms. It is common to see Obassi seeking marriage partner from the earth, and human beings going up to the sky- the village of Obassi Osaw using a rope. Ghosts and spirits are frequent visitors to the earth, and occasionally human beings stray in the forest and arrived in the land of ghosts.

Structure of Ejagham Universe

Mfam Obasi-‘Heaven’

Osaw- Sky

Nsii- Earth

Etimi Nsii-Underground

Mfam Obasi

Mfam Obasi is believed to be the abode of Obasi Osaw. The idea of ‘heaven’ as place of reward for a good life on earth is a later Christian concept that has made its way into Ejagham thought. Mfam Obasi in Ejagham folktales operates and functions very much like an Ejagham village, where people marry, celebrate, grow old, die etc.

Osaw-sky

Osaw literally means ‘up.’ Osaw is the realm of the clouds, moon, sun, stars and rain. Obasi is believed to dwell in this realm too. ‘Obasi mbi ore na ka osaw’- God who is in the sky. Ejagham people believe that there is Obasi Osaw and Obasi Nsi- God who is on the earth.

Nsi-Earth

Nsii is primarily the dwelling of human beings. It is also the abode of Obassi Nsii. Nsii means ‘land’ in Ejagham language. It is the place which supports life. In Ejagham folklores, Nsii is associated with food, water, and medicine. These are given by Obasi for the wellbeing of human beings.

Etimi Nsii

This is the realm of spirits. Akiba Nsii-ghosts are believed to live in this realm. Folktales depict this sphere as a kind of hole or cave in the ground that leads to the world of ghosts.