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.
SpiritantagonistELOKO
The Devourers
Kongo — RD Congo
Guardian Spirit
SpiritallyNZAMBI A MPUNGU
Supreme god, life-death cycle
Kongo — RDC / Congo / Angola
Creator Spirit
SpiritallyMEBEGE
Creator, order
Fang — Gabon / Guinée équatoriale / Cameroun
Creator Spirit
SpiritallyNZAMBICI
Nature, femininity, consort
Kongo — RDC / Congo / Angola
Spirit of the Forest
WaterallySIMBI BIA MAZA
Waters, destinies
Kongo — Congo
Spirit of the Waters
WaterallyMUKISI
Waters, healing
Afrique centrale — Congo
Spirit of the Waters
WaterallyJENGU
Waters, beauty, wealth
Cameroun — Côte camerounaise
Spirit of the Waters
SpiritallyBAATSI
Hero
Mbuti — Mbuti
Hero Spirit
SpiritallyCHIBINDA ILUNGA
Hero
Luba — Luba
Hero Spirit
EarthneutralCHILUBE
Monster
Bantou — Bantou
Monstrous Spirit
SpiritneutralCHINAWESHI
Spirit
Lunda — Lunda
Spirit
SpiritneutralDIBOBIA
Spirit
Congo/Gabon — Congo/Gabon
Spirit
SpiritallyEFE
Hero
Pygmée — Pygmée
Hero Spirit
SpiritallyFENDA MARIA
Hero
Angola — Angola
Hero Spirit
EarthallyHUVI
God
Ovimbundu — Ovimbundu
Deity
WaterallyKABUNDUNGULU
Hero
Mbundu — Mbundu
Hero Spirit
SpiritallyLIANJI
God
Nkundo — Nkundo
Deity
SpiritallyLIBANZA
God
Bangala — Bangala
Deity
SpiritallyLIKUBALA
God
Bantou — Bantou
Deity
SpiritallyLIKUNDU
God
Bangala — Bangala
Deity
FireallyLOBA
God
Duala — Duala
Deity
SpiritallyLOMO
Goddess
Ngbandi — Ngbandi
Goddess
SpiritallyLONKUNDO
Hero
Zaïre — Zaïre
Hero Spirit
FireallyLONTSINGO
The smallest of the first creatures, companion of the bearer of the sun
Zaïre — Zaïre
Hero Spirit
SpiritallyLOVA
God
Cameroun — Cameroun
Deity
SpiritallyLUEJI
Hero
Lunda — Lunda
Hero Spirit
SpiritallyLUMBU
Hero
Bakongo — Bakongo
Hero Spirit
SpiritallyLYAMBILO
Hero
Bantou — Bantou
Hero Spirit
SpiritneutralMAHUNGU
Being
Bakongo — Bakongo
Primordial Being
SpiritneutralMAKISHI
Monster
Angola — Angola
Monstrous Spirit
SpiritallyMAWEJA
God
Congo — Congo
Deity
SpiritallyMENGI
Hero
Congo — Congo
Hero Spirit
FireallyMFUZI
Hero
Fjort — Fjort
Hero Spirit
SpiritallyNGEKETO
Hero
Bantou — Bantou
Hero Spirit
SpiritallyNJAMBI
God
Lele — Lele
Deity
SpiritallyPHEBELE
Hero
Mundang — Mundang
Hero Spirit