LONKUNDO
allyHero
Lonkundo is the founding hero and cultural ancestor of the Mongo and Nkundo peoples of the central basin of the Congo river, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He holds a central place in the great epic cycle known under the name of Nsong'a Lianja, handed down orally then transcribed by ethnographers in the twentieth century. Tradition tells that his father taught him the art of making hunting traps. One day, Lonkundo dreamt that he captured the sun; on waking, his trap had caught Ilankaka, the solar young woman, a radiant being whom he married. From their lineage are born the major figures of Mongo mythology, including the hero Lianja and his sister Nsongo, destined to guide humankind. A narrative of origin, of hunting and of foundation, the story of Lonkundo articulates the genealogy of the Nkundo people and serves as a prologue to the epic of Lianja, one of the great narrative ensembles of Central Africa.
Powers & Attributes
Role in the ROHO universe
Bearer of dawn. LONKUNDO opens the passage of day and holds the warmth of the beginning. Bound to the Zaire pantheon.
Sacred Mask
An ancient ritual mask of sacred wood, old metal and black stone, engraved with symbols of culture, embodiment of the power of Lonkundo
Era
Ancient cycle
Frequently asked questions
Who is Lonkundo?
The founding hero and ancestor of the Mongo and Nkundo peoples of the Congo basin, the opening figure of the epic of Lianja.
Who is Ilankaka?
The solar young woman whom Lonkundo caught in his trap believing he had taken the sun, and whom he married.
What link unites Lonkundo and Lianja?
Lianja, the central hero of Mongo mythology, belongs to the descendants of Lonkundo, whose story serves as a prologue to the epic Nsong'a Lianja.
Related spirits
Sources and references
- Édouard Boelaert, Nsong'a Lianja, l'épopée nationale des Nkundo
- Gustaaf Hulstaert, études ethnographiques sur la tradition orale mongo