Mbuti mythology
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (May 2010) |
| Part of a series on |
| Traditional African religions |
|---|
 |
Mbuti (Bambuti) mythology is the
The most important god of the Bambuti pantheon is
Tore is a god of the forests who supplies animals to hunters. He is also a thunder god who appears as a storm and hides in rainbows. Most importantly, Tore appears as a leopard in the initiation rites. The first Pygmies stole fire from Tore; he chased them but could not catch them, and when he returned home, his mother had died. As punishment, he decreed that humans would also die, and he thus became the death god.
A Mbuti soul is called a megbe. When a man dies, his son places his mouth over his to draw in part of the megbe. Another part inhabits the man's totem animal. If the son does not inhale the megbe or the totem animal is later killed, the megbe may escape into the forest, where it becomes a semi-visible being called a Lodi and lives forever with others like it.[1]
References
External links
- African Pygmies Culture and mythology of Pygmies, with photos and ethnographic notes
- Religions and cultures of moon worship
 | This article relating to an African myth or legend is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |