Une figure divine du folklore des Ngonde, encore veneree par les Kinga, ou Wakinga, dans la region du nord du lac Malawi et du sud-ouest de la Tanzanie. Il est l'un de trois freres mythiques.

Pourquoi Lyambilo veut-il tuer Ngeketo?

Par jalousie. Ngeketo fut le premier a planter du mais dans le pays; Lyambilo et son frere Mbasi, hostiles a cette innovation, conspirerent pour le supprimer, mais Ngeketo ressuscita a plusieurs reprises.

Que devient Ngeketo apres sa mort?

Il revient a la vie plusieurs fois, notamment sous la forme d'un serpent, chaque tentative de le tuer echouant, avant de finir par gagner la cote, selon la tradition rapportee par Alice Werner.

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LYAMBILO

ally

Hero

☥ SpiritBantou →Bantou — BantouElder

Gender: MasculineSign: jalousie

Lyambilo is a divine figure of the folklore of the Ngonde and the neighbouring peoples of the region lying between the north of Lake Malawi and the south-west of present-day Tanzania. The narrative, collected by Alice Werner in Myths and Legends of the Bantu, presents him as one of three brothers, alongside Mbasi and the youngest, Ngeketo. Lyambilo is described as a god still venerated by the Kinga, also called Wakinga. According to the legend, Ngeketo was the first to plant maize in the land; jealous of this innovation, Lyambilo and Mbasi, with the support of the elders hostile to novelties, conspired to kill him. But Ngeketo rose again several times, notably in the form of a serpent, before making his way to the coast. Lyambilo thus embodies the figure of the jealous elder brother in a myth where the themes of fraternal rivalry, resistance to change and the final triumph of the innovator are knotted together.

Powers & Attributes

jealousy

Role in the ROHO universe

Voice of its pantheon. LYAMBILO carries the memory of its tradition and weaves a thread into the Mabioni. Bound to the Bantu pantheon.

Sacred Mask

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

Era

Ancient cycle

Frequently asked questions

Who is Lyambilo?

A divine figure of the folklore of the Ngonde, still venerated by the Kinga, or Wakinga, in the region of the north of Lake Malawi and the south-west of Tanzania. He is one of three mythical brothers.

Why does Lyambilo want to kill Ngeketo?

Out of jealousy. Ngeketo was the first to plant maize in the land; Lyambilo and his brother Mbasi, hostile to this innovation, conspired to do away with him, but Ngeketo rose again several times.

What becomes of Ngeketo after his death?

He returns to life several times, notably in the form of a serpent, every attempt to kill him failing, before finally making his way to the coast, according to the tradition reported by Alice Werner.

Related spirits

NGEKETO LIKUBALA CHILUBE LOMO

Sources and references

Alice Werner, Myths and Legends of the Bantu (1933), chapitre III (Legends of the High Gods)
Duncan R. Mackenzie, The Spirit-Ridden Konde (1925)