Qu'est-ce que l'ehlose ?

L'ehlose est un esprit gardien dans la religion traditionnelle des Zoulous. On le decrit comme l'esprit qui veille sur une personne, la protege et l'avertit des dangers. Les dictionnaires le donnent comme une forme du mot idlozi, l'esprit ancestral, envisage sous son angle protecteur.

Quelle difference entre ehlose et idlozi ?

Les deux termes renvoient au meme fond de croyances. Idlozi designe l'esprit ancestral, dont ehlose est une variante mettant l'accent sur la fonction de gardien et de veilleur. Dans les deux cas, l'esprit procede des ancetres, les amadlozi, qui protegent leurs descendants et les guident.

L'ehlose est-il une divinite ?

Non, ce n'est pas un dieu autonome mais un esprit protecteur issu des ancetres. Dans la vision zoulou, les defunts continuent de veiller sur les vivants. Son role de veilleur qui previent le danger l'a fait comparer au genie tutelaire ou a l'ange gardien des traditions occidentales, sans se confondre avec eux.

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EHLOSE

neutral

Spirit

☥ SpiritZoulou →Zoulou — ZoulouElder

Gender: Masculine/FeminineSign: protection

Ehlose is a term of the religious system of the Zulu of South Africa that designates a guardian spirit. Dictionaries and ethnographic sources make it a form of the word idlozi, the ancestral spirit, considered under its protective aspect. The ehlose is the spirit that watches over a person, guards them and warns them of the dangers that threaten them. An old attestation, recorded at the end of the nineteenth century, reports the prayer of a devotee to his ehlose, the spirit that watches me. In Zulu thought, this protective spirit is not separate from the lineage: it proceeds from the ancestors, the amadlozi, who remain present beside the living and intervene in their health, fortune and safety. The role of the ehlose brings this figure close to the notion of a tutelary genius or a guardian angel, while keeping it within the frame of the ancestor cult proper to the Nguni peoples. It is thus attached to the vast ensemble of the Zulu ancestral spirits rather than to an autonomous deity.

Powers & Attributes

protection

Role in the ROHO universe

Armed sentinel. EHLOSE stands between the community and the threat, and decides when the balance is broken. Bound to the Zulu pantheon. Its alignment depends on the invoker's protocol.

Sacred Mask

An ancient ritual mask of sacred wood, old metal and black stone, engraved with symbols of protection, embodiment of the power of Ehlose

Era

Ancient cycle

Frequently asked questions

What is the ehlose?

The ehlose is a guardian spirit in the traditional religion of the Zulu. It is described as the spirit that watches over a person, protects them and warns them of dangers. The dictionaries give it as a form of the word idlozi, the ancestral spirit, considered under its protective angle.

What is the difference between ehlose and idlozi?

The two terms refer to the same body of beliefs. Idlozi designates the ancestral spirit, of which ehlose is a variant stressing the function of guardian and watcher. In both cases, the spirit proceeds from the ancestors, the amadlozi, who protect their descendants and guide them.

Is the ehlose a deity?

No, it is not an autonomous god but a protective spirit issued from the ancestors. In the Zulu vision, the dead continue to watch over the living. Its role of watcher who warns of danger has had it compared to the tutelary genius or the guardian angel of Western traditions, without merging with them.

Related spirits

ABATAWA IDLOZI INTULO PUKQILI

Sources and references

Dictionary of South African English, entree idlozi (dsae.co.za)
Henry Callaway, The Religious System of the Amazulu (1870)