Nzambi a Mpungu is the Kongolese name for a high

creator god A creator deity or creator god (often called the Creator) is a deity responsible for the creation of the Earth, world, and universe in human religion and mythology. In monotheism, the single God is often also the creator. A number of monolatri ...

. 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 Portuguese visitors to the

Kingdom of Kongo The Kingdom of Kongo ( kg, Kongo dya Ntotila or ''Wene wa Kongo;'' pt, Reino do Congo) was a kingdom located in central Africa in present-day northern Angola, the western portion of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Republic of the ...

. This deity has been known as the high and creator god from before this time until today. European missionaries along with Kongo intellectuals (including King

Afonso I of Kongo Mvemba a Nzinga, Nzinga Mbemba, Funsu Nzinga Mvemba or Dom Alfonso. (c. 1456–1542 or 1543), also known as King Afonso I, was the sixth ruler of the Kingdom of Kongo from the Lukeni kanda dynasty and ruled in the first half of the 16th century ...

) set out to render European

Christian Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι� ...

religious concepts into Kikongo and they chose this name to represent God. Jesuit missionaries in the 1540s noted the acceptance of this relationship as well, and it was probably included in the now lost catechism produced by

Carmelites , image = , caption = Coat of arms of the Carmelites , abbreviation = OCarm , formation = Late 12th century , founder = Early hermits of Mount Carmel , founding_location = Mount C ...

in Kikongo in 1557. Certainly it was used for God in the catechism of 1624, a translation by the "best masters of the church" in Kongo under the supervision of the Jesuit priest Mateus Cardoso. It is not clear if the elevation of Nzambi a Mpungu to the status of creator god and equivalent to the Christian God by priests and missionaries was the reason that he is regarded as such by modern Kongo cosmology, or whether he was always considered the creator. However, in the

Kingdom of Loango The Kingdom of Loango (also ''Lwããgu'') was a pre-colonial African state, during approximately the 16th to 19th centuries in what is now the western part of the Republic of the Congo, Southern Gabon and Cabinda. Situated to the north of the ...

, a Kikongo-speaking area that never accepted Christianity as its national religion, reports by Dutch visitors also gave this as the name for God.

Theology

Kongo mythology

Nzambi a Mpungu is the creator of the universe. After creation he became bored with the world and mostly withdrew from it. However, Nzambi Mpungu still animates the natural occurrences of the world. Another related deity is Nzambi the god of Earth's mystery. She was sent to Earth by Nzambi Mpungu who then is married to him making him the father of all creation. Nzambi gave the humanity its laws, arts, and games, as well as settled quarrels between animals. She would also steal some of Nzambi Mpungu's fire.

Candomblé Bantu

In the religion of Candomblé Bantu, Nzambi is the "sovereign master". He created the earth and then withdrew from the world. Nzambi Mpungu remains responsible for rainfall and health.Asante, Molefi Kete; Mazama, Ama, eds. (2009). "Creation and Cosmology". ''Encyclopedia of African Religion''.

Kumina

In the religion of Kumina there is a high creator god is known as "King Zombi" which is a derivative of Nzambi Mpungu.

Palo

In the religion of Palo, "Nzambi" is the god who created the universe and animates it. Nzambi resides in all natural things, and the spirits of the dead. Long deceased ancestors who have become spirits will over a long period of time become enveloped in the natural elements and thus Nzambi himself. The natural powers of Nzambi can be harnessed by a Nganga and in common ceremonies.

References

{{reflist * Thornton, John K. "The Development of an African Catholic Church in the Kingdom of Kongo, 1491–1750," ''Journal of African History'' 25 (1984) Creator deities Kongo language Names of God in African traditional religions