Certain animals have a major role to play in the African tradition and culture. The python is regarded as an ancestral spirit or deities by a division of the Igbo tribe found in the eastern part of Nigeria. While some of the Igbos worship and hold the python sacred, some see it as a dreadful animal and others eat it. 

To the Igbos from Anambra state, this pythons must not be killed or injured because they are believed to be the reincarnation of ancestors.  Killing of pythons attracts severe punishment as the perpetuator of such act would be banished from that land. However, mistakenly killing python requires that the animal would be given a befitting burial as if it were a human.  

I am from the Igbo tribe in Nigeria, but not from the division that holds pythons sacred. My maternal aunt is married to a man from Anambra state. It is very common to find these snakes in people’s houses; surprisingly the serpents do not harm them.  I do visit my aunt regularly, one day, while I was there, this serpent crawled in into their house, it was an unforgettable scene as I saw my  aunt’s husband shower  the python with special names, like “my great ancestor” “the beautiful one”  “my great father” and so on. As he kept on hailing the python, it peacefully turned and crawled out of the house. It is generally believed by these people that the visit of the python is a sign of good omen.  

If you ever visit the southeastern part of  Nigeria, be careful not to speedily kill a snake because you might attract the wrath of the people there. 

Photo credit:   yen.com.gh, nairaland.com, dailypost.ng  

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