Baatsi – Mbuti (Democratic Republic of the Congo)

The first man, who was created by the Supreme God, Tore, with the help of the Moon. (See also humans, origin of.) Tore made Baatsi by kneading clay into the shape of a man, which he covered with a skin. When Tore poured blood into the skin, the man came to life. The Creator told Baatsi that he would live in the forest and produce many children. Baatsi’s children could eat the fruit of every tree but one, the tahu tree. Baatsi warned his many children of this prohibition and then went to live with Tore in the sky. One day, however, a pregnant woman had such a craving for tahu fruit that she could not resist. Her husband got the fruit for her and hid the peel, but the Moon saw him. When the Moon told Tore what the humans had done, Tore became so angry that he sent death as a punishment. (See also death, origin of.) In Efe tradition, Baatsi was another name for the Supreme God Arebati.

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