Mande Mythology

Mande Creation Account :

Mangala, the Creator, created an egg containing a pair of twins, Pemba and his brother, Faro (see also cosmic egg). Pemba was a rebel who left the egg ahead of time, carrying part of his placenta with him. This became the Earth. Pemba then mated with the Earth, causing it to become impure. Pemba’s actions destroyed his brother, Faro, whose placenta became Earth’s trees. Mangala restored Faro to life and turned him into a human being. He sent Faro to Earth in an ark made out of the placenta. Along with Faro, Mangala sent the first ancestors and the first animals and plants. After the ark landed, a blacksmith who was on board struck a rock with his hammer, and the first rain fell. Faro and his people planted the Earth with seeds, and humanity flourished. However, Faro’s struggle with his evil brother, Pemba, continued. For another creation account involving Pemba and Faro, see Bambara creation account.