IMANA
allyGod
Imana is the supreme creator god in the traditional religion of the Banyarwanda of Rwanda and the Barundi of Burundi, as well as of related peoples of the Great Lakes region. At the summit of this cosmology, he is conceived as all-powerful, good, just and eternal, the source of all things: he shaped the sky, the earth, the waters, the animals and human beings, and grounds the moral order that governs society. His name, which in Kinyarwanda means the Almighty, unfolds into several epithets praising his nature: Rurema the Creator, Rugira the Sovereign or Rugaba the generous provider. A benevolent deity, Imana can intervene in human affairs, protect from death and grant fecundity, as expressed by the many Rwandan and Burundian first names formed on his name. He nevertheless remains distant, little solicited by a direct daily cult: it is said that he spends the day watching over the world and returns to rest in Rwanda at night. The oral narratives attribute great myths to him, such as the one that tells of death's entry into the world, when death, hunted by Imana, found refuge with an old woman. With the Christianisation of Rwanda and Burundi, the name of Imana was taken up to designate the one God, proof of the depth of this figure in the religious thought of the region.
Powers & Attributes
Role in the ROHO universe
Weaver of the currents. IMANA watches over the flow of the waters and the fluid memory that binds the worlds within the Mabioni. Bound to the Banyarwanda pantheon.
Sacred Mask
An ancient ritual mask of sacred wood, old metal and black stone, engraved with symbols of supreme and creation, embodiment of the power of Imana
Era
Ancient cycle
Frequently asked questions
Who is Imana?
Imana is the supreme creator god in the traditional religion of the Banyarwanda of Rwanda and the Barundi of Burundi. All-powerful, good and just, he is at the origin of the sky, the earth and all living beings, and grounds the moral order of society. A benevolent but distant deity, his name means the Almighty in Kinyarwanda.
What does the name Imana mean?
In Kinyarwanda, Imana means the Almighty. The creator god also receives many epithets describing his nature: Rurema the Creator, Rugira the Sovereign, Iyakare the one who is at the origin, or again Rugaba the generous provider. His name enters into a great many Rwandan and Burundian first names, by which families place their children under his protection.
Is Imana still venerated today?
With the Christianisation of Rwanda and Burundi, the name of Imana was taken up by the Churches to designate the one God, so that it remains in common use today. The figure of the traditional creator, all-powerful and benevolent, has thus been partly absorbed by Christianity, while remaining present in the language, the proverbs and the first names of the region.
Related spirits
Sources and references
- William A. Lessa et Evon Z. Vogt, Reader in Comparative Religion: An Anthropological Approach (1972)
- Philip Briggs et Janice Booth, Rwanda: The Bradt Travel Guide (2006)