MAINA
allyHero
The entry associates the name of Maina with the Luyia, also called Luhya, an ensemble of Bantu peoples of western Kenya, and with a narrative of the origin of death. In the Luyia religion, the creator god is called Were or Wele, honoured above all through the intermediary of the spirits of the ancestors. The motif attached to Maina, that of a man who refuses to feed or welcome a chameleon and thus brings about death's entry into the world, belongs to a tradition widely spread in Bantu Africa. In its most common form, a chameleon is charged with announcing to men that they will not die, but it lingers on the way, while a lizard, bearer of the opposite message, arrives first: death thenceforth becomes the lot of humans. The precise attribution of this narrative to a figure named Maina could not be confirmed by reliable sources, and the motif of the chameleon remains a common stock of many peoples of the region rather than a myth proper to a single identified character.
Powers & Attributes
Role in the ROHO universe
Ferryman of souls. MAINA ensures the circulation of souls and prevents stagnation between the worlds. Bound to the Luyia pantheon.
Sacred Mask
An ancient ritual mask of vegetable ivory, amethyst and sacred wood, engraved with symbols of death, embodiment of the power of Maina
Era
Ancient cycle
Frequently asked questions
Who are the Luyia?
An ensemble of Bantu peoples of western Kenya, whose traditional religion recognises a creator god named Were or Wele.
What is the myth of the chameleon and death?
A chameleon was to announce to men that they would not die, but it lingered; a lizard bearing the opposite message arrived first, making humans mortal.
Is the character of Maina well documented?
No. The attribution of this narrative to a precise figure named Maina could not be confirmed by reliable sources; the motif of the chameleon is pan-Bantu.
Related spirits
Sources and references
- Gideon S. Were, A History of the Abaluyia of Western Kenya, c. 1500-1930 (1967)