Mbuti (Bambuti) mythology is the mythology of the African Mbuti (also known as Bambuti) Pygmies of Congo.
The most important god of the Bambuti pantheon is Khonvoum (also Khonuum, Kmvoum, Chorum), a god of the hunt who wields a bow made from two snakes that together appear to humans as a rainbow. After sunset every day, Khonvoum gathers fragments of the stars and throws them into the Sun to revitalize it for the next day. He occasionally contacts mortals through Gor (a thunder god who is also an elephant) or a chameleon (similar to the divine messenger used by Orish-nla of Yoruba mythology). Khonvoum created mankind from clay. Black people were made from black clay, white people came from white clay, and the Pygmies themselves came from red clay. He also creates the animals that are needed by hunters (Polygenism).
Arebati is a lunar deity and Sky Father. In some sources, he was said to have created humanity from clay, instead of Khonvoum.
Tore is a god of the forests who supplies animals to hunters. He is also a thunder god who appears as a storm and hides in rainbows. Most importantly, Tore appears as a leopard in the initiation rites. The first Pygmies stole fire from Tore; he chased them but could not catch them, and when he returned home, his mother had died. As punishment, he decreed that humans would also die, and he thus became the death god.
Negoogunogumbar is a child-eating giant. Obrigwabibikwa is a dwarf who can change himself into a reptile.
A Mbuti soul is called a megbe. When a man dies, his son places his mouth over his to draw in part of the megbe. Another part inhabits the man's totem animal. If the son does not inhale the megbe or the totem animal is later killed, the megbe may escape into the forest, where it becomes a semi-visible being called a Lodi and lives forever with others like it.[1]
Referencesedit
^"Children of the Forest: Africa’s Mbuti Pygmies", page 120, by Kevin Duffy
External linksedit
African Pygmies Culture and mythology of Pygmies, with photos and ethnographic notes
Religions and cultures of moon worship
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mbuti, mythology, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, 2010, lea. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Mbuti mythology news newspapers books scholar JSTOR May 2010 Learn how and when to remove this message Mbuti Bambuti mythology is the mythology of the African Mbuti also known as Bambuti Pygmies of Congo The most important god of the Bambuti pantheon is Khonvoum also Khonuum Kmvoum Chorum a god of the hunt who wields a bow made from two snakes that together appear to humans as a rainbow After sunset every day Khonvoum gathers fragments of the stars and throws them into the Sun to revitalize it for the next day He occasionally contacts mortals through Gor a thunder god who is also an elephant or a chameleon similar to the divine messenger used by Orish nla of Yoruba mythology Khonvoum created mankind from clay Black people were made from black clay white people came from white clay and the Pygmies themselves came from red clay He also creates the animals that are needed by hunters Polygenism Arebati is a lunar deity and Sky Father In some sources he was said to have created humanity from clay instead of Khonvoum Tore is a god of the forests who supplies animals to hunters He is also a thunder god who appears as a storm and hides in rainbows Most importantly Tore appears as a leopard in the initiation rites The first Pygmies stole fire from Tore he chased them but could not catch them and when he returned home his mother had died As punishment he decreed that humans would also die and he thus became the death god Negoogunogumbar is a child eating giant Obrigwabibikwa is a dwarf who can change himself into a reptile A Mbuti soul is called a megbe When a man dies his son places his mouth over his to draw in part of the megbe Another part inhabits the man s totem animal If the son does not inhale the megbe or the totem animal is later killed the megbe may escape into the forest where it becomes a semi visible being called a Lodi and lives forever with others like it 1 References edit Children of the Forest Africa s Mbuti Pygmies page 120 by Kevin DuffyExternal links editAfrican Pygmies Culture and mythology of Pygmies with photos and ethnographic notes Religions and cultures of moon worship nbsp This article relating to an African myth or legend is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mbuti mythology amp oldid 1205754589, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
