BAATSI
allyHero
Baatsi is, in the creation narratives of the Efe and the Mbuti, hunter-gatherers of the Ituri forest in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the first man. According to tradition, the creator god — called Tore or Arebati depending on the version, and associated with the moon — shaped his body by kneading the matter, covered it with a skin and then filled it with blood to give it life. The creator allowed Baatsi and his descendants to eat the fruits of all the trees of the forest, with the exception of one, the tahu tree. After handing this prohibition on to his children, Baatsi joined his creator in the sky. The later transgression of the prohibition, by a pregnant woman, is said to have brought death among humans. This narrative, close to the motif of the original fault, is known through oral tradition and the ethnographic records.
Powers & Attributes
Role in the ROHO universe
Founding presence. BAATSI stands at the root of the world and sustains the weave since before the beginning. Bound to the Mbuti pantheon.
Sacred Mask
An ancient ritual mask of sacred wood, old metal and black stone, engraved with symbols of first man, embodiment of the power of Baatsi
Era
Ancient cycle
Frequently asked questions
Who created Baatsi?
The creator god of the Efe and Mbuti, named Tore or Arebati depending on the version, and bound to the moon. He is said to have modelled Baatsi's body before animating it with blood.
What prohibition does Baatsi receive?
That of not eating the fruit of the tahu tree. Its transgression by a pregnant woman is presented as the origin of death among humans.
Where does this narrative come from?
From the oral tradition of the Efe and Mbuti, peoples of the Ituri forest in the DRC, collected by ethnographers. The creator's name varies with the versions.
Related spirits
Sources and references
- Wikipedia (en), Arebati
- Occult World, Baatsi (Mbuti)