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East African mythologies: from the Great Lakes to the Nile

45 spirits documented in the Kunda Codex

From the Swahili coast to the Great Lakes kingdoms and the White Nile pastures, East Africa weaves a mosaic of traditions. Buganda tells of Kintu, the first man; the Dinka and Nuer think the world through Nhialic; Swahili imagination blends Bantu spirits with ocean djinns. The entries below document them with sources.

KATONDASpiritally

KATONDA

Supreme god, creator

BagandaOuganda

Creator Spirit

GGULUSpiritally

GGULU

Sky, supreme deity

BagandaOuganda

Creator Spirit

MUKASAWaterally

MUKASA

Waters, prosperity, fishing

BagandaOuganda (Lac Victoria)

Spirit of the Waters

KIBUKASpiritally

KIBUKA

War, protection

BagandaOuganda

Warrior Spirit

NHIALICSpiritally

NHIALIC

Sky, creator

DinkaSoudan du Sud

Creator Spirit

ABUKSpiritally

ABUK

First woman, agriculture

DinkaSoudan du Sud

Spirit of the Earth

WAAQ / NGAISpiritally

WAAQ / NGAI

Sky god, rain

Oromo / KikuyuÉthiopie / Kenya

Creator Spirit

SHIDASoulally

SHIDA

Misfortune, wandering spirit

SwahiliTanzanie / Kenya

Ancestral Spirit

NYARAIWaterally

NYARAI

Justice, beauty

Afrique de l’EstKenya / Tanzanie

Spirit of the Waters

ADROAEarthally

ADROA

God

LugbaraLugbara

Deity

AJOKSpiritally

AJOK

God

LotukoLotuko

Deity

CANDITWaterally

CANDIT

Goddess

DinkaDinka

Goddess

DENGWaterally

DENG

God

NuerNuer

Deity

DIANGSpiritally

DIANG

Goddess

ShillukShilluk

Goddess

DJOKSoulneutral

DJOK

Spirit

AlurAlur

Spirit

DUNGUEarthally

DUNGU

God

BugandaBuganda

Deity

EDEKESpiritally

EDEKE

God

TesoTeso

Deity

GARANGSpiritally

GARANG

Hero

DinkaDinka

Hero Spirit

HABYARIMANASpiritally

HABYARIMANA

God

BanyarwandaBanyarwanda

Deity

HIRASpiritneutral

HIRA

Monster

ShillukShilluk

Monstrous Spirit

IBILISISpiritneutral

IBILISI

Demon

SwahiliSwahili

Demon Spirit

IMANASpiritally

IMANA

God

BanyarwandaBanyarwanda

Deity

INTARESpiritally

INTARE

Hero

BurundiBurundi

Hero Spirit

IRUVAFireally

IRUVA

God

Chaga/MeruChaga/Meru

Deity

JOKSpiritally

JOK

God

AlurAlur

Deity

JUOKSpiritally

JUOK

God

ShillukShilluk

Deity

KAIKARASpiritally

KAIKARA

Goddess

BayoroBayoro

Goddess

LISASpiritally

LISA

God

SwahiliSwahili

Deity

LOMASpiritally

LOMA

God

BongoBongo

Deity

LONGARSpiritneutral

LONGAR

Animal/Hero

DinkaDinka

Animal / Hero Spirit

LUBANGASpiritally

LUBANGA

God

BunyoroBunyoro

Deity

MACARDITSoulally

MACARDIT

God

DinkaDinka

Deity

MAINASoulally

MAINA

Hero

LuyiaLuyia

Hero Spirit

MBALEEarthally

MBALE

God

BagandaBaganda

Deity

MISEKEFireally

MISEKE

Hero

BanyarwandaBanyarwanda

Hero Spirit

NDULI MTWAA ROHOSoulneutral

NDULI MTWAA ROHO

Spirit

SwahiliSwahili

Spirit

NGOMASpiritneutral

NGOMA

Spirit

KiluyuKiluyu

Spirit

NYIKANGSpiritally

NYIKANG

Hero

Afrique de l'EstAfrique de l'Est

Hero Spirit

RANGEarthally

RANG

God

SoudanSoudan

Deity

RUHANGAEarthally

RUHANGA

God

BanyoroBanyoro

Deity

RUWASpiritally

RUWA

God

ChaggaChagga

Deity

RYANGOMBESoulally

RYANGOMBE

God

RwandaRwanda

Deity

TAMIKUJENSpiritally

TAMIKUJEN

God

DidingaDidinga

Deity

WELESpiritally

WELE

God

AbaluyiaAbaluyia

Deity

WERESpiritally

WERE

God

LuoLuo

Deity