In the neighbouring Benin Republic, there is a temple in Ouidah where it is a taboo to kill pythons and the slithering creatures are allowed to move around freely with members of the community. In Nigeria, however, there are communities where it is not only a taboo to kill or eat a python, these giant snakes are worshipped. Here are five of them.
1. Nembe in Bayelsa State
Though the majority of the people of Nembe are Christians, you cannot separate them for the python worship. The people of the Nembe Kingdom in Bayelsa State have long protected and worshipped pythons as a deity.
This relationship between the python and the Nembe people is believed to be deeply rooted in their customary and traditional belief that the python has played a key role in the unification of the Nembe kingdom. Reports have shown that Nembe, which is surrounded by mangrove forest, is commonplace to find the python in their different sizes.
Nembe people see the python as a manifestation of a spirit being. When a python is seen in a home or on the road, it is not killed but simply removed through a traditional means. A dead python is mourned and buried respectfully like a human being if found dead in Nembe.
2. Enugwu Ukwu in Anambra State
All over Enugwu Ukwu town, in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State and beyond, pythons are treated like beautiful brides. It is a taboo to hurt or killed python in Enugwu Ukwu town. The consequences of hurting or killing the reptile are dire.
The Sun Nigeria spoke with Pa Francis Anisiobi, from Urunnebo village. He is a traditional doctor and chief priest of the Ngene deity, which owns the pythons. According to him, the pythons are seen as members of the community.
“It does not bite,” he said. “It can even go and lie with children so that it can experience some heat. Some people will take it out with bare hands, telling it that the children are afraid. If it comes into a house, you just gently take it out. During the rainy season, it usually looks for a warm place. It could enter the kitchen if it is open. It does not bite. I have not seen or heard about anybody bitten by a python in my village. It does bite anybody in Umunri as a whole. Even if you step on it, it would jump up and continue moving.”
3. Idemili in Anambra State
In Idemili local government area of Anambra state, the python is loved, respected and worshipped. The snake, popularly called in Igboland as Eke, lives in harmony with the members of these towns. The python is a respected deity in these parts of Anambra State, and there are shrines dedicated to the worship of Eke. It is a taboo to kill a python here, as it has grave consequences.
As odd as it may sound to people who aren’t familiar with any other religion apart from Christianity or Islam, there are communities in Nigeria that place snakes as their gods
4. Mgbidi in Imo State
Indigenes of Mgbidi of Oru West Local Government of Imo State regards the python as their god. All the eleven clans that made up of Mgbidi, including Imeoha, Eziali, Umuekwe, Okwudor, Umuorji, Umuokpara, Umuehi, Umuabiahu, Uziaumu, Ihitte and Ugbele worship python.
According to one of the priests, who identified himself as Ngozi Obiwuru, he boasted that no amount of civilization can change that part of their culture and tradition; worshipping of python. In his words, “Several churches have come to deliver this community but have failed to stop the worship of snakes. I used to be a Christian before my father whom I inherited this job from died. I had to relocate to the village and learn the traditions of our people”.
5. Ujevwu in Delta state
It is also a taboo to kill a python in Ujevwe community in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State. Reports have it that this snake helped natives Ujevwu community escape during inter-tribal wars. The python did this by going after the people and erasing their footprints which prevented their enemies from tracing where they went. The descendants of these people show their gratitude by refusing to kill or eat the python even till date.
As such, it is forbidden to kill pythons. On the rare occasion when a python is accidentally killed, the person responsible faces very serious penalties including human-like funeral rites for the dead snake.
6. Machina In Yobe State
Snakes of unknown species are very revered and worshipped in Machina, Yobe state. The snake is believed to be part of the royal family so it is forbidden to kill this type of snake. The snakes come out to join the royals whenever they are celebrating or when they are mourning. They have venom but do not harm people when they come out
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