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Kongo and Bantu mythologies of Central Africa

36 spirits documented in the Kunda Codex

The Bantu world of Central Africa, from the Kongo kingdom to the river basin forests, shares a spiritual vision where the living constantly converse with the dead. Nzambi a Mpungu, the distant creator, leaves the world to ancestors and spirits that initiates mobilise through minkisi power objects. The entries below document these figures with sources.

ELOKOSpiritantagonist

ELOKO

The Devourers

KongoRD Congo

Guardian Spirit

NZAMBI A MPUNGUSpiritally

NZAMBI A MPUNGU

Supreme god, life-death cycle

KongoRDC / Congo / Angola

Creator Spirit

MEBEGESpiritally

MEBEGE

Creator, order

FangGabon / Guinée équatoriale / Cameroun

Creator Spirit

NZAMBICISpiritally

NZAMBICI

Nature, femininity, consort

KongoRDC / Congo / Angola

Spirit of the Forest

SIMBI BIA MAZAWaterally

SIMBI BIA MAZA

Waters, destinies

KongoCongo

Spirit of the Waters

MUKISIWaterally

MUKISI

Waters, healing

Afrique centraleCongo

Spirit of the Waters

JENGUWaterally

JENGU

Waters, beauty, wealth

CamerounCôte camerounaise

Spirit of the Waters

BAATSISpiritally

BAATSI

Hero

MbutiMbuti

Hero Spirit

CHIBINDA ILUNGASpiritally

CHIBINDA ILUNGA

Hero

LubaLuba

Hero Spirit

CHILUBEEarthneutral

CHILUBE

Monster

BantouBantou

Monstrous Spirit

CHINAWESHISpiritneutral

CHINAWESHI

Spirit

LundaLunda

Spirit

DIBOBIASpiritneutral

DIBOBIA

Spirit

Congo/GabonCongo/Gabon

Spirit

EFESpiritally

EFE

Hero

PygméePygmée

Hero Spirit

FENDA MARIASpiritally

FENDA MARIA

Hero

AngolaAngola

Hero Spirit

HUVIEarthally

HUVI

God

OvimbunduOvimbundu

Deity

KABUNDUNGULUWaterally

KABUNDUNGULU

Hero

MbunduMbundu

Hero Spirit

LIANJISpiritally

LIANJI

God

NkundoNkundo

Deity

LIBANZASpiritally

LIBANZA

God

BangalaBangala

Deity

LIKUBALASpiritally

LIKUBALA

God

BantouBantou

Deity

LIKUNDUSpiritally

LIKUNDU

God

BangalaBangala

Deity

LOBAFireally

LOBA

God

DualaDuala

Deity

LOMOSpiritally

LOMO

Goddess

NgbandiNgbandi

Goddess

LONKUNDOSpiritally

LONKUNDO

Hero

ZaïreZaïre

Hero Spirit

LONTSINGOFireally

LONTSINGO

The smallest of the first creatures, companion of the bearer of the sun

ZaïreZaïre

Hero Spirit

LOVASpiritally

LOVA

God

CamerounCameroun

Deity

LUEJISpiritally

LUEJI

Hero

LundaLunda

Hero Spirit

LUMBUSpiritally

LUMBU

Hero

BakongoBakongo

Hero Spirit

LYAMBILOSpiritally

LYAMBILO

Hero

BantouBantou

Hero Spirit

MAHUNGUSpiritneutral

MAHUNGU

Being

BakongoBakongo

Primordial Being

MAKISHISpiritneutral

MAKISHI

Monster

AngolaAngola

Monstrous Spirit

MAWEJASpiritally

MAWEJA

God

CongoCongo

Deity

MENGISpiritally

MENGI

Hero

CongoCongo

Hero Spirit

MFUZIFireally

MFUZI

Hero

FjortFjort

Hero Spirit

NGEKETOSpiritally

NGEKETO

Hero

BantouBantou

Hero Spirit

NJAMBISpiritally

NJAMBI

God

LeleLele

Deity

PHEBELESpiritally

PHEBELE

Hero

MundangMundang

Hero Spirit