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5 Animals Nigerians Believe Are A Bad Omen

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picture showing animals Nigerians believe are a bad omen

Nigerian culture and tradition have no manuscripts; they are passed down from generation to generation through folktales and folklore. One Special thing about our folklore is the role animals play. The tortoise is the wisest and the hare the fastest, the dog could talk until men betrayed it and so many other stories.

However, in most  Nigerian folklore and tales, we always have some animals which we refer to as bad omens and usually when a real Nigerian sees one, the ancestral urge to  ‘run ooo’ is always there. It’s not that these animals are bad in themselves but our sentiments have influenced our perspective. How do we know you are Nigerian when a black bird flies over your head and you don’t run for safety! Ooops! I just let the cat out of the bag!. Well let’s get down to business, here are 5 of the most prominent animals which mean bad omen in most parts of Nigeria:

Birds-Owls, Ravens, Crows, Vultures, etc

picture showing 5 animals Nigerians believe are a bad omen

I wouldn’t be Nigerian if I didn’t begin with birds, especially the big, black or weird looking ones. Any bird that isn’t particularly colorful falls in this category..lol. Sighting an owl during the day is a strange sight as it is mostly believed that owls are birds that stay out of sight and belong in thick forests. However, sighting an owl at any time of the day in Nigeria, regardless of where you stay (whether you live in the village/city) is a red flag. It is believed that evil spirits have possessed the bird and that something evil is going to happen to you if you don’t catch the bird and kill/burn it.

Bats

picture showing 5 animals Nigerians believe are a bad omen

Next on the list, is this half-bird, nightcrawler. What have we not heard about this nocturnal creature, from its hunger for blood and how visiting your house meant that something evil is about to go down. They have been identified as the harbinger of witchcraft and whenever you find them on a tree, you’ll notice the Nigerian in you telling you to be wary of a witch coven in that tree.

Black Cats (at night).

picture showing 5 animals Nigerians believe are a bad omen

Well anyone who is truly Nigerian would usually be wary of cats, not to talk of a black cat. Black cats seem to know the aura they carry.  If not, why will a black cat see you on the road and start staring you straight in the eyes? (Did I hear you say God forbid). If you did, it’s you I am talking about. The Nigerian who believes in the witchcraft of a black cat. If a pregnant Nigerian woman isn’t supposed to see something, well, a black cat is one of them.

Black Goats (with a red collar).

picture showing 5 animals Nigerians believe are a bad omen

We all know the concept of the goat of a witch or the goat sacrificed to an idol. It is believed that the owners of these goats possess (like an evil spirit) them and use them as a camouflage to spy on people in their homes or other places. These kind of goats become a bad omen when you touch them or eat them. The spirits will torment you.

Reptiles -Snakes, Monitor Lizards, Chameleons, etc.

The reptiles aren’t left out, there’s tons of stuff about them too. It is believed that monitor lizards should not see your belly otherwise something evil would happen to you. So if you need to go out rocking your favorite crop top, make sure you avoid the “unsuspecting” monitor lizards.

Swarm of flies.

picture showing swarm of flies

Well, let me just throw this one in for good measure. When you notice a large swarm of flies around a house, our people believe it’s a very bad omen and it means someone is about to die. You might see a swarm of big green flies gather without course in a particular house and assume it’s just the natural thing that flies do when they find free food but not a Nigerian. The spiritualist is on redial, no one wants a dead body in their hands.

There’s no end to these superstitious beliefs as the stories were cleverly crafted and handed down from generation to generation. Whether you believe them or not, we can appreciate the minds behind these stories knowing they have played a significant role in shaping culture and customs for the longest time. 

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Kanyinsola Nwaizu
Kanyinsola Nwaizu

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