Name ▲▼ | Origin ▲▼ | Description ▲▼ |
---|---|---|
God name "Faro" | Bambara / Mali, West Africa | River god. Regarded as the deity who brought order to the world at the time of creation. He impregnated himself and gave birth to twins who were the first human beings. He is also the progenitor of fish stocks in the river Niger. His chief adversary is the god of the desert wind, TELIKO. Faro is propitiated annually by a Komo society of men in a ritual of dancing. They use a special mask which is created anew each year. According to legend Faro came to earth after a long period of drought during which most of the living things died. He also gave mankind the gift of speech.... |
God name "Faro Bambara" | W Africa | A river god that brought order to the world when it was created |
Goddess name "Muso Koroni (the pure woman with the primeval soul)" | Bambara / Mali, West Africa | Chthonic fertility goddess. The mother of all living things, she introduced mankind to the principles of farming. She has a terrifying appearance, depicted either in human form, sometimes with many breasts (cf. ARTEMIS at Ephesus), or as a panther. In the latter guise she uses her claws to bring on menstruation in women and to cirçúɱcise both sexes. Prior to cirçúɱ cision a youth is said to possess wanzo, an untamed wildness. Muso Koroni is pursued by the Sun god, PEMBA, who impregnates her in the form of a tree (Acacia albida). Also Mousso Coronie.... |
God name "Pemba (great thing)" | Bambara / Mande / Mali, West Africa | Creator god. He was created out of the empty or Fu and his first task was to form the egg of the world. He descended to earth as an acacia seed (Acacia albida) which first grew to a mighty tree and then died. From the wood Pemba generated human souls and a female being whom he impregnated to engender all human and animal life. His brother is the god FARO, creator of the river Niger.... |
God name "Teliko" | Bambara / Mali, West Africa | God of hot winds. According to tradition the water god FARO challenged him in a primordial struggle and smashed him against a mountain.... |
God name "Teliko Bambara" | Africa | God of hot winds Africa(west) |