yam rituals in,2:731,2: 733
Yoruba people of,1:34–35
Zarma people of,2: 741
See alsoYoruba;specific people
Nkisi, 2:450–452
carved wooden figure of,2: 451
as cosmos in miniature form,2:450,2: 452
forms of,2:450,2: 452
functions of,2:450,2: 452
healing and,2:450,2: 518
Palo religion and,2: 518
sacred medicine and,2: 450
vessels or sculptures as,2: 450
Nkrumah, Kwame,2: 522
Nkulunkulu, 2:452–453
creation story and,2: 452
maker of good things for humans and,2: 452
moralvs.immoral anger and,2: 453
names of,2: 452
Unthlanga“Great Father” and,2: 453
Usondoand,2:452–453
Zulu supreme deity, “old one” and,2: 452
Nkwa, 2:453–454
ahonyade,possessions, prosperity and,2: 464
Akan concrete reference to life and,2: 453
ancestor ritual and,2: 464
asomdwei,peace, tranquility and,2: 464
Chi and,1:160–161
See alsoChi; Ka
Nommo, 2:454–456
Ashe and,1: 75
Dogon-Tellem water nommo forms and,2: 653
morality, oratory and public discourse
and,2: 455
naming and,2:455–456
power of the spoken word concept and,2:454,
2:498,2:499,2: 725
rainbow as serpent of,2: 608
spiritual harmony goal and,2: 455
word changes nature of existences and,2: 455
Word magic and,2:454,2:455,2:499,2: 726
North America, African religion in, 2:456–460
Oba Oseijaman Adefumi I and,2:457–458
Afro-Cuban music and,2: 457
Akan-Guan traditions and,2: 458
Asuar Auset Society and,2: 458
Asuarian (Osirian) traditions and,2: 458
Bantu religious traditions and,2: 459
Black church religious practices and,2: 456
Nana Dinizulu and,2: 458
Euro-American Southern culture and,2: 457
European slave trade and,2: 456
geographic areas of,2: 456
Zora Neale Hurston and,2:457,2: 458
“New School African Religious and Cultural
Practice” and,2: 459
Vodu, Vodun and,2: 456
VoduVodu tradition and,2:458–459
Yoruba orisha and Ifa traditions and,
2:457–458
See alsoCandomblé; Diaspora; Hoodoo;
Laveau, Marie; Santeria; Vodou in Haiti
Nuer, 2:460–462
ancestor communication and,2: 461
cattle importance to,2:460–461
devil living in the sun belief of,2: 637
gaarfacial markings, sacrifications of,2: 461
geographic location of,2: 460
ghost marriage custom of,2:460–461
initiation rites of,2: 461
marriage stages of,2: 460
number 6 symbolism of,2: 464
ritualized libations of,1: 48
Western influence resisted by,2: 460
Number symbolism, 2:462–464
gender represented by,2: 462
number 2 meanings and,2: 462
number 3 meanings and,2: 463
number 4 meanings and,2:463–464,2: 637
number 5, 6, 7, 8 meanings and,
2:464,2:629–630,2: 736
number 9 meanings and,2:515,2:516,2: 662
scarab, dung beetle reproduction cycle
and,1: 57
twin births and,2: 462
See alsoSeven; Three
Nun deity of primal waters,1:77,1:303,2:474,
2:481,2:544,2:545,2:556,2:603,2:617,
2:650–651,2: 707
Nut,1:293–294,2:618,2: 637
Nyambe
Barotse people and,1: 430
Lozi creation story and,1: 185
mountains and,1: 430
Nyame
abosom and,1:3–5
adinkra symbols and,1:7–10,1:9–10 (figures)
Akan people and,1:24–26,1:70–71,2: 464
Asase Yaa and,1:73–74,1: 294
birth process and,1: 125
eternal life and,1: 248
God Amen and,2:465–466Index 841