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Uncama
Uncama is a mythical hero in the Zulu traditional religion. He is known for his journey to the underworld and subsequent return upon discovering it. Representation Depiction of Uncama is mainly attributed to his underworld experience, which he underwent due to his anger at a porcupine who had been messing with his millet garden. It is known that he had a wife, though her name is not disclosed in his myths. Journey to the underworld Uncama lived in a village with his wife and took care of his millet garden daily. One day, he found out that his millets, which are supposed to be ready for harvest, had all been eaten by a porcupine. This continued for several days, and Uncama became increasingly angry towards the porcupine. After a while, he decided that he’s going to wake up as early as he could and follow the porcupine back to where it came from. He managed to do this with the help of the morning dew Dew is water in the form of droplets that appears on thin, exposed obj ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Culture Hero
A culture hero is a mythological hero specific to some group (cultural, ethnic, religious, etc.) who changes the world through invention or discovery. Although many culture heroes help with the creation of the world, most culture heroes are important because of their effect on the world after creation. A typical culture hero might be credited as the discoverer of fire, agriculture, songs, tradition, law, or religion, and is usually the most important legendary figure of a people, sometimes as the founder of its ruling dynasty. Culture heroes in mythology History of a culture hero The term "culture hero" was originated by historian Kurt Breysig, who used the German word ''heilbringer,'' which translates to ''savior''. Over the years, "culture hero" has been interpreted in many ways. Older interpretations by Breysig, Paul Ehrenreich, and Wilhelm Schmidt thought that the journeys of culture heroes were ways in which humans could attempt to understand things in nature, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Zulu Traditional Religion
Zulu traditional religion contains numerous deities commonly associated with animals or general classes of natural phenomena. Unkulunkulu is the highest god and is the creator of humanity. Unkulunkulu ("the greatest one") was created in Uhlanga, a huge swamp of reeds, before he came to Earth. Unkulunkulu is sometimes conflated with the sky god Umvelinqangi (meaning "he who was in the very beginning"), god of thunder, earthquake whose other name is Unsondo, and is the son of Unkulunkulu, the Father, and Nomkhubulwane, the Mother. The word ''nomkhubulwane'' means the one who shapeshifts into any form of an animal. Another name given for the supreme being Unkulunkulu is uSomandla, the ultimate source of all existence. According to Irvin Hexham (1981), "there is no evidence of belief in a heavenly deity or sky god in Zulu religion before the advent of Europeans". However, other scholars such as Eileen Jensen Krige, Isaac Schapera, Axel-Ivar Berglund (1976), Hammond-Took, and J ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Underworld
The underworld, also known as the netherworld or hell, is the supernatural world of the dead in various religious traditions and myths, located below the world of the living. Chthonic is the technical adjective for things of the underworld. The concept of an underworld is found in almost every civilization and "may be as old as humanity itself". Common features of underworld myths are accounts of living people making journeys to the underworld, often for some heroic purpose. Other myths reinforce traditions that entrance of souls to the underworld requires a proper observation of ceremony, such as the ancient Greek story of the recently dead Patroclus haunting Achilles until his body could be properly buried for this purpose. Persons having social status were dressed and equipped in order to better navigate the underworld. A number of mythologies incorporate the concept of the soul of the deceased making its own journey to the underworld, with the dead needing to be taken ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Porcupine
Porcupines are large rodents with coats of sharp spines, or quills, that protect them against predation. The term covers two families of animals: the Old World porcupines of family Hystricidae, and the New World porcupines of family, Erethizontidae. Both families belong to the infraorder Hystricognathi within the profoundly diverse order Rodentia and display superficially similar coats of rigid or semi-rigid quills, which are modified hairs composed of keratin. Despite this, the two groups are distinct from one another and are not closely related to each other within the Hystricognathi. The largest species of porcupine is the third-largest living rodent in the world, after the capybara and beaver. The Old World porcupines (Hystricidae) live in Italy, Asia (western and southern), and most of Africa. They are large, terrestrial, and strictly nocturnal. The New World porcupines (Erethizontidae) are indigenous to North America and northern South America. They live in wooded a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Millet
Millets () are a highly varied group of small-seeded grasses, widely grown around the world as cereal crops or grains for fodder and human food. Most species generally referred to as millets belong to the tribe Paniceae, but some millets also belong to various other taxa. Millets are important crops in the semiarid tropics of Asia and Africa (especially in India, Mali, Nigeria, and Niger), with 97% of millet production in developing countries. This crop is favored due to its productivity and short growing season under dry, high-temperature conditions. Millets are indigenous to many parts of the world. The most widely grown millets are sorghum and pearl millets, which are important crops in India and parts of Africa. Finger millet, proso millet, and foxtail millet are also important crop species. Millets may have been consumed by humans for about 7,000 years and potentially had "a pivotal role in the rise of multi-crop agriculture and settled farming societies." ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kwase Benefo
Kwase Benefo, or Kwasi Benefo, is a mythic hero featured in the mythology of Ashanti people in Ghana. He is well known for his encounter with Amokye, the Ashanti psychopomp, during his journey to the underworld ''(asamando)'' to be reunited with his wives. Representation Kwase Benefo is depicted as a man who owns a fertile land. He became a farmer and rancher, and was successful in his endeavors. Prior to the tragedy which led him to travel to the underworld, Kwase Benefo was unmarried and lived alone. Role in myths Journey to the underworld Kwase Benefo had a relatively prosperous life as a farmer and a rancher, and was missing only a few things, which he greatly wanted: a wife and children. So, he set out to a nearby village to find himself a woman to marry. His efforts paid off, and he returned to his home with a beautiful woman, which he later married. Unfortunately, tragedy struck—his wife became sick and died soon after. Kwase Benefo grieved for her deeply; to the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Uhlakanyana
Uhlakayana, also known as Hlakayana, is a trickster figure featured in Xhosa and Zulu mythologies. Representation In Xhosa mythology, Uhlakayana is depicted as a child who was born with supernatural powers, including being able to shapeshift into different forms, and often appeared as both male and female. However, in Zulu mythology, Uhlakayana is portrayed as a dwarf Dwarf or dwarves may refer to: Common uses *Dwarf (folklore), a being from Germanic mythology and folklore * Dwarf, a person or animal with dwarfism Arts, entertainment, and media Fictional entities * Dwarf (''Dungeons & Dragons''), a humanoid ...-like figure in the same category as Tikdoshe. Uhlakayana also tends to take actions based on their malevolent urges. This interpretation differs slightly in Xhosa mythology, where Uhlakayana’s intentions are described as neutral rather than intentionally malicious, though they are capable of great cruelty. Legends According to Xhosa myths, Uhlakayana was the c ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Zulu Mythology
Zulu may refer to: Zulu people * Zulu Kingdom or Zulu Empire, a former monarchy in what is now South Africa * Zulu language, a Bantu language spoken in southern Africa * Zulu people, an ethnic group of southern Africa Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Zulu'' (1964 film), a war film starring Stanley Baker and Michael Caine * ''Zulu'' (2013 film), a French crime film starring Forest Whitaker and Orlando Bloom Music * "Zulu" (song), a 1981 dance single by British funk duo The Quick * "Zulu", a song by Blink-182 from the 1996 EP ''They Came to Conquer... Uranus'' * Zulu Records, a record store in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Other uses in arts, entertainment, and media * Zulu (Pillow Pal), a Pillow Pal zebra made by Ty, Inc. * TV 2 Zulu, a Danish television station * Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club, a Carnival krewe in New Orleans People * Zulu (surname), a surname (including a list of people with the name) * Gilbert Lani Kauhi (1937–2004), stage name Zulu, w ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
