DENG
allyGod
Deng is a celestial deity of the Nilotic Dinka and Nuer peoples of present-day South Sudan. Among the Dinka, he is the god of rain, storm and fertility: he brings the lightning, the thunder and the rains that feed the earth. The word deng in fact means "rain" in the Dinka language (thuɔŋjäŋ). Son of the goddess Abuk, the first woman to make the soil fruitful, he is closely associated with the supreme god Nhialic, whose son he is sometimes said to be, and serves as intermediary between humans and the divine. Rainmaker ceremonies are dedicated to him to obtain water and good harvests. Among the neighbouring Nuer, by contrast, Deng is perceived as a foreign deity and a bringer of diseases, his daughter being identified with the moon. This double reading illustrates the circulation of divine figures among related Nilotic peoples.
Powers & Attributes
Role in the ROHO universe
Weaver of the currents. DENG watches over the flow of the waters and the fluid memory that binds the worlds within the Mabioni. Bound to the Nuer pantheon.
Sacred Mask
An ancient ritual mask of polished ebony, mother-of-pearl and shells, engraved with symbols of rain, fertility and disease, embodiment of the power of Deng
Era
Ancient cycle
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Deng mean?
In the Dinka language, deng means "rain", reflecting his function as god of the storm and of the fertilising rains.
Why do the Dinka and the Nuer see him differently?
Among the Dinka, Deng is a benevolent god of fertility. Among the Nuer, he is regarded as a foreign deity associated with diseases. This divergence shows the circulation of divine figures among related Nilotic peoples.
Who are his parents?
Dinka tradition makes him the son of the goddess Abuk and associates him with the supreme god Nhialic, whose son he is sometimes presented to be.
Related spirits
Sources and references
- Wikipedia (en), Deng (god)
- Encyclopedia.com, Nuer and Dinka Religion