Precolonial Beliefs in God, Nzambi, and Chthonic Beings: Evidence from Kongo Texts
Manuscripts in their own language by indigenous ethnographers at the beginning of the colonial period, not hitherto examined in detail, give unique insight into precolonial beliefs in the Kikongo-speaking region of what was then Belgian Congo, and the transition to Christianity. That transition depe...
| Published in: | Journal of religion in Africa |
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| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Brill
2022
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| In: |
Journal of religion in Africa
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| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Congo (People)
/ Präkolonialzeit
/ Idea of God
/ Creation theology
/ Semantic change
/ Translation
/ Christianization
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| RelBib Classification: | AD Sociology of religion; religious policy AG Religious life; material religion BB Indigenous religions BS Traditional African religions CC Christianity and Non-Christian religion; Inter-religious relations KAH Church history 1648-1913; modern history KBN Sub-Saharan Africa NBC Doctrine of God NBD Doctrine of Creation |
| Further subjects: | B
Belief
B Nzambi B Translation B Morality B earth spirits B God B Congo |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | Manuscripts in their own language by indigenous ethnographers at the beginning of the colonial period, not hitherto examined in detail, give unique insight into precolonial beliefs in the Kikongo-speaking region of what was then Belgian Congo, and the transition to Christianity. That transition depended in large part on translation, giving new meanings to old words. The texts suggest that Nzambi, now the Kongo name for the Christian God, was originally a personification of death. The power of life, on the other hand, was credited to bisimbi, chthonic forces that are simultaneously both material and immaterial. Although scholars have generally overlooked this issue, belief in these forces is foundational to what has usually been called traditional religion and its rituals, most of them now extinct. This Kongo configuration exemplifies, on a small scale, one that is found generally in West and Central Africa. |
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| ISSN: | 1570-0666 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Journal of religion in Africa
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1163/15700666-12340224 |