Nigeria is home to hundreds of ethnic groups, each with its own traditional religious beliefs featuring a wide range of deities and spirits. The most well-known are the pantheons of the three largest groups: the Yoruba, the Igbo, and the Hausa.

Here are some of the most prominent deities from these traditions:

1. Yoruba Traditional Religion (Ìṣẹ̀ṣe)

The Supreme God is Olódùmarè (or Ọlọ́run), who is the creator and ultimate source of power but is distant from human affairs. Worship is primarily directed at the Òrìṣà (or Orishas), who are divine emissaries and personifications of natural forces or deified ancestors.

Deity (Òrìṣà)	Domain/Role
Ọbàtálá	Creator of human bodies, god of purity, peace, and wisdom.
Ọrúnmìlà	God of wisdom, knowledge, divination (Ifá), and destiny.
Èṣù (Eshu/Elegua)	The divine messenger, god of crossroads, duality, and trickery. Must be appeased first in rituals.
Ògún	God of iron, war, metalworkers, hunters, and technology.
Ṣàngó (Shango)	God of thunder, lightning, justice, fire, and virility.
Ọ̀ṣun (Oshun)	Goddess of love, beauty, sensuality, fertility, and the Osun River.
Yemọja	Mother goddess, patron deity of women, and the Ogun River (often associated with the ocean).
Ọya	Goddess of storms, wind, the Niger River, and the transition between life and death.
Olókun	Deity of the deep sea/ocean, and the source of wealth and health.

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2. Igbo Traditional Religion (Ọdịnanị)

The Supreme God is Chukwu (or Chineke), the Great Spirit and Creator. The lesser deities are known as Àlúsị (or Arusi) and are spirits that enforce moral laws, protect communities, and govern natural elements.

Deity (Àlúsị)	Domain/Role
Àlà (Ani/Ana)	The Earth Goddess, goddess of fertility, creativity, and morality. The most respected Àlúsị.
Àmádịọ̀ha	God of thunder, lightning, and justice. He is often associated with the collective will of the people.
Anyanwu	The sun god/goddess, representing light and productivity.
Agwụ Nsị	God of health, divination, and medicine (often seen as a trickster who causes and cures madness).
Njọkụ Ji (Ahiajioku)	God of yams and the harvest, essential to Igbo agriculture.
Ikenga	The horned deity of strength, personal achievement, and success.
Ekwensu	The trickster spirit of war and bargaining, sometimes associated with the devil in Christian contexts.

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3. Hausa Animism (Maguzanci)

The traditional Hausa religion, largely practiced before the widespread adoption of Islam, involves the worship and appeasement of spirits known as Bòrí or Iskoki (singular: Iska). These spirits inhabit the world and can be benevolent or malevolent.

Deity (Bòrí/Iskoki)	Domain/Role
Sarkin Aljan	The King of the Jinn (Spirits) who rules the spirit world.
Sarkin Ruwa	The King of the Water.
Ba-Toye	A malevolent spirit associated with fire and burning houses.
Dodo	A general term for a spirit or monster, often associated with protection and fear.

Note: The vast majority of Nigerians today practice Christianity or Islam, but the influence and memory of these traditional deities remain a vital part of the nation’s culture, art, and identity.