Ruhanga

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]

Ruhanga is also considered to be the founder of the Batembuzi dynasty of the Kingdom of Kitara.[3]

According to Bahaya and Banyankore belief, humans originally came back to life on earth after dying, but Ruhanga took away this ability after a woman refused to properly celebrate the return of a human after the death of her pet dog.[4][5]

References

  1. ^ Dictionary of Gods
  2. ^ Webster’s Online Dictionary
  3. ^ Uganda Travel Guide: The Bachwezi Archived 2007-10-11 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ Asante, Molefi Kete; Mazama, Ama (January 26, 2009). Encyclopedia of African Religion. Thousand Oaks, California: SAGE Publications, Inc. ISBN 9781412964623.
  5. ^ Cotterell, Arthur (2003). A Dictionary of World Mythology. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780191726934.