| Nzambi Mpungu | |
|---|---|
| Venerated in | Kongo religion |
| Symbol | Sun |
| Ethnic group | Bakongo |
| Consort | Nzambici |
| Equivalents | |
| Roman equivalent | Jupiter • Sol |
| Igbo equivalent | Chukwu |
| Nubian equivalent | Apedemak |
| Egyptian equivalent | Amun • Ra |
| Bantu equivalent | Nyambe |
Nzambi a Mpungu (also Nzambi and Nzambi Mpungu) is the Supreme God, eternal Sky Father and God of the Sun (fire) in traditional Kongo spirituality.[1] His female counterpart is Nzambici, the Sky Mother and Goddess of the Moon. Among other Central African Bantu peoples, such as the Chokwe, and in the Kingdom of Ndongo, Nzambi Mpungu was also called Kalunga, the god of fire and change. This may have a connection to an element of Bakongo cosmology called Kalûnga. It was seen as the spark of fire that begot all life in the universe.[1] After Portuguese colonization, Nzambi Mpungu became synonymous with the Christian God and existed chiefly as the Creator God.[2]
- ^ a b Asante, Molefi; Mazama, Ama (2009). Encyclopedia of African Religion, Volume 1. ISBN 9781412936361.
- ^ Brown, Ras Michael (2012). African-Atlantic Cultures and the South Carolina Lowcountry (1st ed.). New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. pp. 26, 27, 90–102, 106–110, 119–121, 123. ISBN 978-1-107-66882-9.