Nzame Re-creates the World
This is the ancient story of (Fang/Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon) origins.
(Bantu) In the beginning there was nothing but Nzame. This god is really three: Nzame, Mebere, and Nkwa.
Mebere made the 1st human out of clay, but in the form of a lizard. He put the lizard in the sea and left him there for 8 days, after which he emerged as a man. It was the Nzame part of Nzame that created the earth and blew life into it.
While the three parts of Nzame were admiring this creation, it was decided to create a ruler for the earth. So was created the elephant, the leopard, and the monkey, but it was decided that something better had to be created. Between the three of them they made a new creature in their image, and called him Fam (power), and told him to rule the earth. Before long, Fam grew arrogant, he mistreated the 1st chiefs, the animals and stopped worshipping Nzame.
Nzame, angered, brought forth thunder and lightning and destroyed everything that was, except Fam, who had been promised immortality.
Nzame, in his three aspects, decided to renew the earth and try again. He applied a new layer of earth to the planet, and a tree grew upon it. The tree dropped seeds which grew into more trees. Leaves that dropped from them into the water became fish, those that dropped on land became animals.
The old parched earth still lies below this new one, and if one digs deep enough it can be found in the form of coal.
Nzame made a new man, one who would know death, and called him Sekume. Sekume fashioned a woman, Mbongwe, from a tree. These people were made with both Gnoul (body) and Nissim (soul). Nissim gives life to Gnoul and is its shadow. When Gnoul dies, Nissim lives on. It is the little shiny spot in the middle of the eye. This spot is like the star in the sky or the fire in the hearth.
Sekume and Mbonge prospered and produced many children. Their only worry was the original Fam, who sometimes tunneled up from where Nzambe left him under the erath and did evil things to them.
Story: A Dictionary of African Mythology by Harold Scheub
Art: http://www.art-poster-shop.com/poster/12351031/An+African+Warrior
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To Cross The River
In one village, there was a old woman of more than 80 years. She lived alone, without children or husband. She could not walk. She had to drag herself on the ground in order to get around.
Villagers wondered how does she take care of herself. She refused the help of all youths of village who often wanted to help her with cooking, cleaning and her personal care.
This was very strange to the young people so they decided to spy her when she went to the plantation . They hid in the bushes early in the morning because they knew she went to the plantation at 6a.m .
In order to go to the plantation, you had to cross the river. How could she do it if she couldn't walk? The villagers wanted to know.
They remained hidden in the bushes ... the old woman was slowly approaching ... she arrived on the banks of the river. She said "You, I see you! You, hiding in the bushes there, what do you want? Go away! "
They went running away and never knew how this old woman crossed this river.
The old insiders said that this old woman, when she arrived near the river, she flew across!
When she arrived to the other side of the river, she would take on the appearance of a young woman. She would get up and walk like everyone else.
In Africa, the "wizards" take appearance of anything that they want.
Some hunters …. when they wanted to hunt a panther they would change into a panther!.
Don't believe it can be done?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tW6pVFOpE6Q&feature=related
Picture by :
http://www.kwamenyongo.com/character-design.htm
