Qamata
Topic: Religion
From HandWiki - Reading time: 2 min
Qamata, also called Mdali or Thixo is the sole deity that is worshipped by the Xhosa people of Southeast Africa. Qamata is believed to be the benevolent creator of the heavens and earth, and is regarded as the supreme and omnipresent God.[1][2]
History and description
Qamata was originally called Mdali, but that name is not used as commonly anymore. Some believe that the name "Mdali" comes from the cave in the east he emerged from, called Daliwe ("creator").[3] Despite being referred to as "he", Qamata is described as neither male nor female. It is believed that Qamata does not have a physical form in the same way humans do.[2]
MDALI (Music, Drama and Literature Institute) was also the name of a Johannesburg cultural organization during the 1980s.[4][5][6]
Mythology
Qamata is said to have created the first three humans, a man and two women, by splitting a reed. He then sent Nwabi, the chameleon, to tell the humans that they would live forever, but changed his mind and sent Ntulo, the much quicker salamander, to tell the humans that they would be mortal. Ntulo got to them first, which is why humans are not immortal.[3]
Worship
No sacrifices are made to Qamata, with the primary form of worship being prayer.[2] He is frequently called upon during times of hardship[2] or in exclamation (ie. Qamata ndincede, "Qamata help me").[7]
References
- ↑ Scheub, Harold (2000). A dictionary of African mythology : the mythmaker as storyteller. Oxford ; New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 127, 213-214. ISBN 978-0-19-512456-9. https://archive.org/details/dictionaryofafri00sche/page/146/mode/2up?q=Qamatha. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Theal, George McCall (1886) (in English). Xhosa Folk-Lore: Introductory Chapter Regarding The Kaffirs. https://www.sacred-texts.com/afr/xft/xft03.htm. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Scheub 2000, p. 147.
- ↑ (in en) Africa Today. Indiana University Press. 1982. https://www.google.com/books/edition/Africa_Today/QM9JAQAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=Mdali&dq=Mdali&printsec=frontcover. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
- ↑ Kruger, Loren (November 2005) (in en). The Drama of South Africa: Plays, Pageants and Publics Since 1910. Routledge. p. 131. ISBN 978-1-134-68086-3. https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Drama_of_South_Africa/LbeEAgAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Mdali&pg=PA131&printsec=frontcover. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
- ↑ Rugg, Akua (1984) (in en). Brickbats & Bouquets: Black Womanʾs Critique, Literature, Theatre, Film. Race Today Publications. p. 95. ISBN 978-0-947716-00-4. https://www.google.com/books/edition/Brickbats_Bouquets/wEZZAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=Mdali&dq=Mdali&printsec=frontcover. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
- ↑ (in en) Report of the Annual Meeting of the South African Association for the Advancement of Science. South African Association for the Advancement of Science.. 1918. p. 418. https://www.google.com/books/edition/Report_of_the_Annual_Meeting_of_the_Sout/zxCz_P9U8dEC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Qamata&pg=PA418&printsec=frontcover. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
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