Ehi (spirit)

Ehi is the name of a personal spirit in some West African religious beliefs, especially in Edo Nigeria and Benin. Ehi means "genius",^[1] but it also means "angel" in some Nigerian languages and refers to a spirit possessing a man, similar to a guardian angel. Furthermore, Ehi means "gift" in the Idoma language of Nigeria.

Ehi is a component of a person that remains with the supreme deity Osa. A person's ehi guides them through their life in the agbon, or material world, while interacting with other spirits in the erinmwin, or spirit world.^[2] The ehi remains with the person during the day, and returns to report to Osa at night.^[3] Ehi is viewed as a cult in parts of western Africa with a "moderated initiative" where many believe that lack of success can be blamed on the Ehi possessing a man.^[4] The Ehi is said to be "constantly sacrificed" in gratitude for success or for guidance in difficult times.^[5] Bradbury says of it, "Close as a man and his ehi are they are yet thought of as being independent agents and so there is a possibility of conflict between them. Ehi must, therefore, be propritiated in much the same way as other supernatural entities and failure to do this results in trouble.^[5]

References

^ Jacobs, Joseph; Nutt, Alfred Trübner; Wright, Arthur Robinson; Crooke, William (1969). Folklore. Folklore Society. p. 218. Retrieved 5 February 2013.
^ Ehi is a component of a person that remains with the supreme deity Osa. A person's ehi guides them through their life in the agbon, or material world, while interacting with other spirits in the erinmwin, or spirit world.
^ A Concise Dictionary Of The Bini Language Of Southern Nigeria. Taylor & Francis. p. 51. Retrieved 2013-02-05.
^ May, Brian (1981). The Third World Calamity. Routledge & Kegan Paul. p. 28. ISBN 978-0-7100-0764-3. Retrieved 5 February 2013.
^ ^a ^b Okpewho, Isidore (1998). Once Upon a Kingdom: Myth, Hegemony, and Identity. Indiana University Press. p. 64. ISBN 978-0-253-21189-7. Retrieved 5 February 2013.

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[JacobsNutt1969-1] Jacobs, Joseph; Nutt, Alfred Trübner; Wright, Arthur Robinson; Crooke, William (1969). Folklore. Folklore Society. p. 218. Retrieved 5 February 2013.

[2] Ehi is a component of a person that remains with the supreme deity Osa. A person's ehi guides them through their life in the agbon, or material world, while interacting with other spirits in the erinmwin, or spirit world.

[3] A Concise Dictionary Of The Bini Language Of Southern Nigeria. Taylor & Francis. p. 51. Retrieved 2013-02-05.

[May1981-4] May, Brian (1981). The Third World Calamity. Routledge & Kegan Paul. p. 28. ISBN 978-0-7100-0764-3. Retrieved 5 February 2013.

[Okpewho1998-5] Okpewho, Isidore (1998). Once Upon a Kingdom: Myth, Hegemony, and Identity. Indiana University Press. p. 64. ISBN 978-0-253-21189-7. Retrieved 5 February 2013.

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