#tiv

1.) Anyam / Leopard

"Anyam (leopard) is so revered among the Tiv. To this end, the progenitor of the Tiv is named Takuruku Anyam Azenga, meaning Takuruku, the Leopard son of Azenga." (Waapela, 2013.)

2. Ikyalem / Green Snake

"...[In] the beginning of movement by the Tiv from Congo... they had to cross the River Congo which was almost in impossible task. Thus, a mysterious snake called Ikyalem (green snake) formed a bridge across the River Congo to help all the members of The Tiv family cross the river. ...The oral traditions of the Tiv account that... the Ikyalem enabled the Tiv people to proceed on their journey through many forests [to reach] a place called "Swem". The Tiv people to this day regard the Swem as their ancestral homeland." (Nomishan 2020)

3.) Iwya / Dog

"A village elder picked up a white stone and threw it for his dog to retrieve. The stone rolled into a witch's abode. The dog followed it and mistook a burning fire-brand for the white stone. He seized the fire-brand and raced back to his master and from then on the Tiv had fire." (M.D.W. Jeffreys, 1972)

4.) Avungu / Owl

Further in Tiv society, the departed are believed to keep in touch with the living part of their families through their visits in forms of the avungu birds. [...]Under the category of avungu (owls) which are common to the people and are harnessed for such divine purposes are the Akiki (pearl spotted owl), Ivungu (Abyssinian spotted owl), Kpile (barred owl), Mtsaan (African scoop owl). [...T]hese animals are grafted with spiritual powers and are intermediaries between God and ritual experts. (Waapela 2013)

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