Zulu Mythology

According to Zulu tradition, life began in Uthlanga (or Uhlanga), a vast primordial swamp. Umvelinqangi, the sky Father, descended from the heavens to Uthlanga. He created the reeds on which the Supreme God and creator of humanity, Unkulunkulu, and all the people and animals grew. Unkulunkulu grew upon a reed until he became too heavy. Then he broke off from the reed and fell to Earth. (In a different version of the myth, Unkulunkulu and a woman emerged from a reed together.) Unkulunkulu created all the things of the world—mountains, lakes, and rivers. He broke off all the other people and the animals from the reeds, and they followed him out of the swamp. He taught the Zulu how to hunt, make fire with sticks, and cultivate grain.

Abatwa

Abatwa

In Zulu folkloric tradition, the Abatwa of South Africa are tiny, peaceful, humanlike beings. Abatwa are described as living in ...
Amadlozi

Amadlozi

amadlozi Zulu (South Africa) The spirits of the ancestors of the Zulu people. Humans could invoke the help of the ...
Imilozi

Imilozi

Imilozi (whistlers) In African mythology (Zulu), ancestral spirits who whistle when they speak to man. SOURCE: Encyclopedia of World Mythology ...
Mbaba Mwana Waresa

Mbaba Mwana Waresa

mbaba mwaNa waresa (Lady Rainbow) Zulu (South Africa) The goddess of the rainbow, rain, harvest, and agriculture. She was especially ...
Unkulunkulu

Unkulunkulu

uNkuluNkulu (NkuluNkulu, The Great Oldest One, Ancestor) Zulu (South Africa) The Supreme God and Creator of all things. Unkulunkulu grew ...

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