alūsị

Meanings

1. 1.

   spirit; divinity; deity; invisible supernatural ‘being-force’, divided by Nri into four types those directly established by Chukwu such as Igwē, the firmament those established by Eri such as Ànì, Ajaànà, Ìfèjiọkū, Onuebo, and the market days Èke, Oyè, Àfò, and Ǹkwọ; those established by the ancestors such as Idemmīli, Udō, Arò, Àkwalị Òmùmù, Ǹgènè, Ògwùgwù, and Òrìmmìlì; those called Agwù. The market-days and the alūsị of the third and fourth types have human temperaments and are represented by nkwu (images). Others are regarded as forces rather than beings and so can be represented only symbolically in shrines (Onwuejeogwu 1974:85 ff.)

   Noun