Candomblé Bantu (also called Candomblé Batuque or Angola) is one of the major branches (''nations'') of the
Candomblé
Candomblé () is an African diasporic religion that developed in Brazil during the 19th century. It arose through a process of syncretism between several of the traditional religions of West Africa, especially that of the Yoruba, and the Roman ...
religious belief system. It developed in the
Portuguese Empire
The Portuguese Empire ( pt, Império Português), also known as the Portuguese Overseas (''Ultramar Português'') or the Portuguese Colonial Empire (''Império Colonial Português''), was composed of the overseas colonies, factories, and the l ...
among
Kongo
Congo or The Congo may refer to either of two countries that border the Congo River in central Africa:
* Democratic Republic of the Congo, the larger country to the southeast, capital Kinshasa, formerly known as Zaire, sometimes referred to a ...
and
Mbundu slaves who spoke
Kikongo
Kongo or Kikongo is one of the Bantu languages spoken by the Kongo people living in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of the Congo, Gabon and Angola. It is a tonal language. It was spoken by many of those who were taken from th ...
and
Kimbundu languages. The supreme and creative god is Nzambi or
Nzambi a Mpungu
Nzambi a Mpungu is the Kongolese name for a high creator god. The idea of such a god spread from Central Africa into other Kongo related religions.
History
He is mentioned as the name for God as early as the early sixteenth century by Portugue ...
. Below him are the Jinkisi or Minkisi, deities of Bantu mythology. These deities resemble
Olorun and the other
orisha
Orishas (singular: orisha) are spirits that play a key role in the Yoruba religion of West Africa and several religions of the African diaspora that derive from it, such as Cuban, Dominican and Puerto Rican Santería and Brazilian Candomblé. T ...
s of the
Yoruba religion
The Yoruba religion (Yoruba: Ìṣẹ̀ṣe), or Isese, comprises the traditional religious and spiritual concepts and practice of the Yoruba people. Its homeland is in present-day Southwestern Nigeria, which comprises the majority of Oyo, Ogu ...
. Minkisi is a Kongo language term: it is the plural of
Nkisi
or (plural varies: , , or ) are spirits or an object that a spirit inhabits. It is frequently applied to a variety of objects used throughout the Congo Basin in Central Africa, especially in the Territory of Cabinda that are believed to conta ...
, meaning "receptacle". Akixi comes from the
Kimbundu language
Kimbundu, a Bantu language which has sometimes been called Mbundu
or 'North Mbundu' (see Umbundu), is the second-most-widely-spoken Bantu language in Angola.
Its speakers are concentrated in the north-west of the country, notably in the Lu ...
term Mukixi.
Etymology
The word "Bantu" means "people"; it is a combination of ''ba'', a plural noun marker and ''-ntu'', meaning "person". "Banto" was a generic term used by the Portuguese in Brazil to describe people who spoke
Bantu languages
The Bantu languages (English: , Proto-Bantu: *bantʊ̀) are a large family of languages spoken by the Bantu people of Central, Southern, Eastern africa and Southeast Africa. They form the largest branch of the Southern Bantoid languages.
The t ...
.
Pantheon
*
Nzambi
Nzambi a Mpungu is the Kongolese name for a high creator god. The idea of such a god spread from Central Africa into other Kongo related religions.
History
He is mentioned as the name for God as early as the early sixteenth century by Portugues ...
is the "sovereign master"; he created the earth, then withdrew from the world. Nzambi Mpungu remains responsible for rainfall and health.
*
Aluvaiá (also Bombo Njila, Pambu Njila, Nzila, Mujilo, Mavambo, Vangira, Njila, Maviletango) is an intermediary between human beings and other Nkisi; he is additionally the protector of the houses.
*
Nkosi Mukumbe (also Hoji Mukumbi, Panzu, Xauê) is the Nkisi of roads, agriculture, and iron. He is associated with
Ogun
Ogun or Ogoun (Yoruba: Ògún, Portuguese: Ogum, Gu; also spelled Oggun or Ogou; known as Ogún or Ogum in Latin America) is a spirit that appears in several African religions. He attempted to seize the throne after the demise of Obatala, who re ...
in Yoruba religion.
*
Mutalambô
*
Gongobira
*
Katendê
*
Loango
*
Kaviungo
*
Angorô and
Angoroméa
*
Kitembo
*
Matamba
The Kingdom of Matamba (1631–1744) was an African state located in what is now the Baixa de Cassange region of Malanje Province of modern-day Angola. It was a powerful kingdom that long resisted Portuguese colonisation attempts and was only in ...
*
Kisimbi
*
Kaitumbá
*
Zumbarandá
*
Wunje
*
Lembá Dilê
References
See also
*
Candomblé Ketu
Candomblé Ketu (or Queto in Portuguese) is the largest and most influential branch (''nation'') of Candomblé, a religion practiced in Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay. The word Candomblé means "ritual dancing or gather in honor of gods" and Ketu ...
*
Candomblé Jejé
Candomblé Jejé, also known as Brazilian Vodum, is one of the major branches (''nations'') of Candomblé. It developed in the Portuguese Empire among Fon and Ewe slaves. Vodums
Jejé spirits are called ''Voduns'' (sing. ''Vodum''). Accordin ...
*
Kongo religion
Kongo religion ( KiKongo: BuKongo) is a broad set of traditional beliefs from the KiKongo speaking peoples. The faith bases itself on a complex Animistic system and a Pantheon of various gods and spirits. The idea of a high god named Nzambi Mpu ...
External links
Ritos de Angola
Candomblé
Bantu mythology
Kongo culture
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