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Ruhanga

Topic: Religion

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Ruhanga (lit. He Who Creates) features in Bantu spirituality as the remote creator and sky-God, recognized among the Rutara people (Banyoro, Banyankore, Batooro, Bahaya, Bakiga, Bahema and all other groups referred to in general as Banyakitara). The Bahima further recognise him as the arbiter of life, sickness, and death. However, unlike creator figures in other religious systems, Ruhanga is generally not a focus of worship.[1][2][3]Cite error: Closing </ref> missing for <ref> tag[4][5][6]

Etymology

The name Ruhanga means “Creator” in the Rutara languages. The name reflects Ruhanga’s role as the supreme creator of everything in the universe, including the other gods, spirits, humans, animals, and plants.[7]

The word comes from the Proto-Bantu verb "Panga", which meant 'to create'. By regular processes of phonetic change the original Bantu word had become "Hanga" in the Rutara languages.[8]

Mythology

According to the mythology, Ruhanga is considered to be the founder of the Batembuzi dynasty of the Empire of Kitara.[9] Ruhanga created the first three human beings from clay: Kairu, the farmer; Kakama, the king; and Kahima, the herdsman. He gave them different gifts and tasks, and assigned them different lands to live in. Kairu received a hoe and was sent to cultivate the land; Kakama received a spear and a shield and was made the ruler of the land; and Kahima received a stick and a rope and was given the task of keeping cattle. Ruhanga also created the first woman, Nyamata, and gave her to Kakama as his wife. Nyamata bore three sons, who became the ancestors of the Banyankore, Banyoro, and Batooro people.[10]Cite error: Closing </ref> missing for <ref> tagCite error: Closing </ref> missing for <ref> tag[11]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Dictionary of Gods
  2. ↑ Webster’s Online Dictionary
  3. ↑ Karamura, Grace Patrick (1998). The interplay of Christianity, Ethnicity and Politics in Ankole, Uganda, 1953-1993 (Thesis).
  4. ↑ Asante, Molefi; Mazama, Ama (2009). "Ruhanga". Encyclopedia of African Religion. pp. 580–596. doi:10.4135/9781412964623. ISBN 978-1-4129-3636-1. https://sk.sagepub.com/reference/africanreligion/n361.xml. 
  5. ↑ Cotterell, Arthur (2003). A dictionary of world mythology. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-172693-4. 
  6. ↑ Mwambutsya, Ndebesa (June 1990). "Pre-Capitalist Social Formation: The Case of the Banyakole of Southwestern Uganda". Eastern Africa Social Science Research Review 6 (2): 78. ProQuest 1294934026. 
  7. ↑ Ukah, Asonzeh (3 July 2018). "Emplacing god: the social worlds of miracle cities – perspectives from Nigeria and Uganda". Journal of Contemporary African Studies 36 (3): 351–368. doi:10.1080/02589001.2018.1492094. 
  8. ↑ Kingship and State: The Buganda Dynasty. Cambridge University Press. 16 May 2002. p. 82. ISBN 978-0-521-89435-7. https://books.google.com/books?id=nWKAFW9oVJcC. 
  9. ↑ Uganda Travel Guide: The Bachwezi
  10. ↑ Nantare, Hadija (October 2019). A critical analysis of images of women and gender roles in Ankole proverbs and folktales (Thesis).
  11. ↑ Karamura, Grace Patrick (1998). The interplay of Christianity, Ethnicity and Politics in Ankole, Uganda, 1953-1993 (Thesis).



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