Amma

Amma Dogon (Burkina Faso, Mali) The Creator, a deity who in some versions of the Dogon creation account was male and in others was female. Amma created the universe and everything in it. He created the Earth by throwing a lump of clay into the heavens. He created the Sun and Moon by shaping two earthenware bowls, one wrapped in red copper (the Sun) and the other wrapped in white copper, or brass (the Moon). He created the stars by breaking off a piece of the Sun, shattering it, and casting the pieces into space. (In a different version of the myth, he created the stars by throwing bits of clay into the heavens.) For the Dogon, the universe was centered on a world axis pillar called Amma’s House Post. The post supported the sky, which the Dogon thought of as the roof of Amma’s house.

Taken from African Mythology A to Z – Library Binding – May 1, 2010- Second Edition – Written by Patricia Ann Lynch (Author), Jeremy Roberts Dr (Editor) – Copyright © 2004, 2010 by Patricia Ann Lynch