These 15 superstitious beliefs in Nigeria, have been around for as long as mankind itself and have in many ways controlled the thoughts, actions, and character of humans.
Superstitions, otherwise known as Myths or Fables have been a crucial part of human existence in one way or the other.
This superstition informs people’s ideology, way of life and in a greater way, beliefs. There are very many superstitious beliefs around the world which have governed people’s character and way of life even in ways they do not understand.
However, the Oxford Advanced learner’s dictionary defines Superstition as an excessively credulous belief and reverence for the supernatural, or a widely held but irrational belief in supernatural influences, especially as leading to good or bad luck, or a practice based on such beliefs.
We will be listing a few of those common yet perceived strongest superstitious beliefs and their meaning;
- A baby must never fall from its mother’s back: It is believed that if the baby falls he/she might die. But the essence is to ensure that mothers are more careful with handling their babies.
- Hitting your left leg on a stone is a bad omen: It is believed that if you hit your left leg on a stone, a bad or terrible thing is about to happen to you or someone around you. But the main essence is so that you’re more careful not to wound yourself.
- Whistling at night means you’re inviting evil spirits: This myth made people believe that if you wanted the evil spirits in your home, you just needed to whistle but the question we’ve never bothered to ask is why just evil spirits? Moreover, the main essence is so that you don’t disturb others who might be trying to catch some sleep.
- If an owl is in your compound, death will visit your home soon: it is believed that when an owl visits your compound, then you or someone in your family will die soon. But the idea is basically for you to keep your compound clean because owls are only found in dirty environments.
- Hitting a man with a broom will render him impotent: We grew up hearing the fable that when you hit a man with a broom, he will become impotent but that’s not the case because nobody can be rendered impotent by hitting him with a broom. It is just to prevent you from hitting a man with a broom so that he won’t sustain injuries in the process.
- Answering your name without seeing someone: It is believed that when you answer your name without seeing who called you, could mean you just answered a ghost and you might die soon. But it actually means you should be very observant and cautious of your environment.
- Sleeping and facing up: When you sleep and face up, it is believed that you give spirits access into your life. But the actually means is for you to maintain a good sleeping position.
- If you bite your tongue while chewing: Biting your tongue while chewing is believed to mean that someone is calling you somewhere. But it just means that you were rushing the food or eating too fast.
- Eating in a dark room: This is believed to mean that you’d be eating with ghosts and spirits. But it is meant to ensure that you eat in a well-lit environment where you can see bones and other kinds of stuff.
- Bending down to peer between your legs: It is believed that when you Bend down to peer between your legs, you’d see a ghost or a spirit but in an actual sense It prevents blood from flowing into your head when you peer your legs.
- Walking through the market at night: It is believed that witches, spirits and ghost come out at night to buy and sell in the market hence if you pass through the market at night, you’d possibly die. But it actually means you should avoid late nights, especially around quite areas.
- Pounding at night: It is believed that pounding at night invites evil spirits and tells them where you are. But in the actual sense, it is meant to discourage you from cooking late into the night.
- Looking into the mirror at night: This is one of the oldest and most revered superstitious beliefs in Nigeria. The actual meaning is that you shouldn’t keep your mirror facing you at night because your image might scare you in the middle of the night with an unclear eye.
- Drinking coconut water: This is believed that if a child drinks coconut water, he or she will become a dullard. But it is actually meant to prevent a child from getting injured while trying to drink the water.
- Bury the egg of a lizard in your goal post: This has to be the most unrealistic and untrue fable that we have ever heard because it is believed to prevent the opponent from scoring you during a football tournament. This is very untrue because they still get to score you.
There are many other superstitious beliefs in Nigeria that have governed our way of life as humans. It is important to know that they are basically told to prevent some actions and to instil discipline because they do not connote what they mean.
