African Creation Myths
http://www.dreamscape.com/morgana/miranda.htm
African
[These African Creation Myths were found at The Mining Company]
Zulu
The Ancient One, known as Unkulunkulu, is the Zulu creator. He came from the
reeds (uthlanga, means source) and from them he brought forth the people and
the cattle. He created everything that is: mountains,streams, snakes, etc. He
taught the Zulu how to hunt, how to make fire, and how to grow food. He is
considered to be the First Man and is in everything that he created.
Boshongo
(Bantu tribe of Central Africa) In the beginning there was only darkness,
water, and the great god Bumba. One day Bumba, in pain from a stomach ache,
vomited up the sun. The sun dried up some of the water, leaving land. Still
in pain, Bumba vomited up the moon, the stars, and then some animals: the
leopard, the crocodile, the turtle, and, finally, some men, one of whom, Yoko
Lima was white like Bumba.
Efik
(Nigeria) The creator, Abassi, created two humans and then decided to not
allow them to live on earth. His wife, Atai, persuaded him to let them do so.
In order to control the humans, Abassi insisted that they eat all their meals
with him, thereby keeping them from growing or hunting food. He also forbade
them to procreate. Soon, though, the woman began growing food in the earth,
and they stopped showing up to eat with Abassi. Then the man joined his wife
in the fields, and before long there were children also. Abassi blamed his
wife for the way things had turned out, but she told him she would handle it.
She sent to earth death and discord to keep the people in their place.
Ekoi
(Southern Nigeria) In the beginning there were two gods, Obassi Osaw and
Obassi Nsi. The two gods created everything together. Then Obassi Osaw
decided to live in the sky and Obassi Nsi decided to live on the earth. The
god in the sky gives light and moisture, but also brings drought and storms.
The god of the earth nurtures, and takes the people back to him when they
die. One day long ago Obassi Osaw made a man and a woman, and placed them
upon the earth. They knew nothing so Obassi Nsi taught them about planting
and hunting to get food.
Fans
(Bantu) In the beginning there was nothing but Nzame. This god is really
three: Nzame, Mebere, and Nkwa. It was the Nzame part of the god that created
the universe and the earth, and brought life to it. Whle the three parts of
Nzame were admiring this creation, it was decided to create a ruler for the
earth. So was created the elephant, the leopard, and the monkey, but it was
decided that something better had to be created. Between the three of them
they made a new creature in their image, and called him Fam (power), and told
him to rule the earth. Before long, Fam grew arrogant, he mistreated the
animals and stopped worshipping Nzame. Nzame, angered, brought forth thunder
and lightning and destroyed everything that was, except Fam, who had been
promised immortality. Nzame, in his three aspects, decided to renew the earth
and try again. He applied a new layer of earth to the planet, and a tree grew
upon it. The tree dropped seeds which grew into more trees. Leaves that
dropped from them into the water became fish, those that dropped on land
became animals. The old parched earth still lies below this new one, and if
one digs deep enough it can be found in the form of coal. Nzame made a new
man, one who would know death, and called him Sekume. Sekume fashioned a
woman, Mbongwe, from a tree. These people were made with both Gnoul (body)
and Nissim (soul). Nissim gives life to Gnoul. When Gnoul dies, Nissim lives
on. They produced many children and prospered.
Bassari
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Unumbotte made a human being. Its name was Man. Unumbotte next made an
antelope, named Antelope. Unumbotte made a snake, named Snake. At the time
these three were made there were no trees but one a palm. Nor
had the earth been pounded smooth. All three were sitting on the rough
ground, and Unumbotte said to them: "The earth has not yet been pounded. You
must pound the ground smooth where you are sitting." Unumbotte gave them
seeds of all kinds, and said: "Go plant these.'' Then Unumbotte went away.
Unumbotte came back. He saw that the three had not yet pounded the earth.
They
had, however, planted the seeds. One of the seeds had sprouted and grown. It
was a tree. It had grown tall and was bearing fruit, red fruit. Every seven
days Unumbotte would return and pluck one of the red fruits.
One day Snake said: "We too should eat these fruits. Why must we go
hungry?" Antelope said: "But we don't know anything about this fruit." Then
Man and his wife took some of the fruit and ate it. Unumbotte came
down from the sky and asked: "Who ate the fruit?" They answered: "We did."
Unumbotte asked: "Who told you that you could eat that fruit?" They replied:
"Snake did . " Unumbotte asked: "Why did you listen to Snake?" They
said: "We were hungry." Unumbotte questioned Antelope: "Are you hungry,
too?" Antelope said: "Yes, I get hungry. I like to eat grass." Since then,
Antelope has lived in the wild, eating grass.
Unumbotte then gave sorghum to Man, also yams and millet. And the people
gathered in eating groups that would always eat from the same bowl, never
the bowls of the other groups it was from this that differences in language
arose. And ever since then, the
people have ruled the land.
But Snake was given by Unumbotte a medicine with which to bite people.