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Kongo and Bantu mythologies of Central Africa

37 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

Kongo, RD Congo

Guardian Spirit

NZAMBI A MPUNGUSpiritally

NZAMBI A MPUNGU

Supreme god, life-death cycle

Kongo, RDC / Congo / Angola

Creator Spirit

MEBEGESpiritally

MEBEGE

Creator, order

Fang, Gabon / Guinée équatoriale / Cameroun

Creator Spirit

NZAMBICISpiritally

NZAMBICI

Nature, femininity, consort

Kongo, RDC / Congo / Angola

Spirit of the Forest

BUNZIWaterally

BUNZI

Rain, fertility

Kongo, Congo / Bénin

Spirit of the Waters

SIMBI BIA MAZAWaterally

SIMBI BIA MAZA

Waters, destinies

Kongo, Congo

Spirit of the Waters

MUKISIWaterally

MUKISI

Waters, healing

Afrique centrale, Congo

Spirit of the Waters

JENGUWaterally

JENGU

Waters, beauty, wealth

Cameroun, Côte camerounaise

Spirit of the Waters

BAATSISpiritally

BAATSI

Hero

Mbuti, Mbuti

Hero Spirit

CHIBINDA ILUNGASpiritally

CHIBINDA ILUNGA

Hero

Luba, Luba

Hero Spirit

CHILUBEEarthneutral

CHILUBE

Monster

Bantou, Bantou

Monstrous Spirit

CHINAWESHISpiritneutral

CHINAWESHI

Spirit

Lunda, Lunda

Spirit

DIBOBIASpiritneutral

DIBOBIA

Spirit

Congo/Gabon, Congo/Gabon

Spirit

EFESpiritally

EFE

Hero

Pygmée, Pygmée

Hero Spirit

FENDA MARIASpiritally

FENDA MARIA

Hero

Angola, Angola

Hero Spirit

HUVIEarthally

HUVI

God

Ovimbundu, Ovimbundu

Deity

KABUNDUNGULUWaterally

KABUNDUNGULU

Hero

Mbundu, Mbundu

Hero Spirit

LIANJISpiritally

LIANJI

God

Nkundo, Nkundo

Deity

LIBANZASpiritally

LIBANZA

God

Bangala, Bangala

Deity

LIKUBALASpiritally

LIKUBALA

God

Bantou, Bantou

Deity

LIKUNDUSpiritally

LIKUNDU

God

Bangala, Bangala

Deity

LOBAFireally

LOBA

God

Duala, Duala

Deity

LOMOSpiritally

LOMO

Goddess

Ngbandi, Ngbandi

Goddess

LONKUNDOSpiritally

LONKUNDO

Hero

Zaïre, Zaïre

Hero Spirit

LONTSINGOFireally

LONTSINGO

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

Zaïre, Zaïre

Hero Spirit

LOVASpiritally

LOVA

God

Cameroun, Cameroun

Deity

LUEJISpiritally

LUEJI

Hero

Lunda, Lunda

Hero Spirit

LUMBUSpiritally

LUMBU

Hero

Bakongo, Bakongo

Hero Spirit

LYAMBILOSpiritally

LYAMBILO

Hero

Bantou, Bantou

Hero Spirit

MAHUNGUSpiritneutral

MAHUNGU

Being

Bakongo, Bakongo

Primordial Being

MAKISHISpiritneutral

MAKISHI

Monster

Angola, Angola

Monstrous Spirit

MAWEJASpiritally

MAWEJA

God

Congo, Congo

Deity

MENGISpiritally

MENGI

Hero

Congo, Congo

Hero Spirit

MFUZIFireally

MFUZI

Hero

Fjort, Fjort

Hero Spirit

NGEKETOSpiritally

NGEKETO

Hero

Bantou, Bantou

Hero Spirit

NJAMBISpiritally

NJAMBI

God

Lele, Lele

Deity

PHEBELESpiritally

PHEBELE

Hero

Mundang, Mundang

Hero Spirit