DUNGU
allyGod
Dungu, also written Ddungu, is the protective spirit of hunters in the kingdom of Buganda, among the Baganda of present-day Uganda. Tradition has him come from the neighbouring kingdom of Bunyoro, then settle in the Mabira forest, in Kyaggwe. Before going hunting, the men offered him a bundle of wood, tobacco, beer and a share of the game, to obtain his favour; to neglect these attentions was to risk returning empty-handed or getting lost in the bush. It is said that the tinkling of bells and the barking of dogs in the wild signal that Dungu is hunting himself — an omen of a happy hunt: to hear his bells near a trap is an invitation to go and collect one's catch. Dungu takes his place in the Baganda pantheon beside the supreme god Katonda and the powers called lubaale, such as Mukasa or Kiwanuka, each bound to a domain of life. He embodies the spiritual dimension of the hunt and the respect owed to the forces of the forest.
Powers & Attributes
Role in the ROHO universe
Voice of the forest. DUNGU watches the spirits of the woods and negotiates with the hunters the respect of the places. Bound to the Buganda pantheon.
Sacred Mask
An ancient ritual mask of fired clay, bronze and fossilised roots, engraved with symbols of hunting, embodiment of the power of Dungu
Era
Ancient cycle
Frequently asked questions
Who is Dungu?
The tutelary spirit of hunters in the kingdom of Buganda, among the Baganda of Uganda.
How did the hunters win his favour?
By offering him a bundle of wood, tobacco, beer and a share of the game before going hunting.
What did hearing his bells mean?
The tinkling of bells and the barking of dogs indicated that Dungu was hunting — an omen of a successful hunt.
Related spirits
Sources and references
- John Roscoe, The Baganda: An Account of Their Native Customs and Beliefs, 1911
- Apolo Kagwa, The Customs of the Baganda (trad. Ernest B. Kalibala, ed. May Mandelbaum Edel) (1934)