The Basenji dog Rukuba was a famed Nyanga culture hero
The Nyanga people are a small Bantu ethnic group in the Kivu region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Historically farmers, they supplemented their diet through hunting. The Nyanga are organized into chiefdoms and possess a number of initiation societies. Their mythology is often expressed in the form of heroic songs called Karisi. The foundation of Nyanga myth lies with the Twa Pygmies of Kivu. It is acknowledged that their heroic poetry tradition came from the local Twa. Many of the deities or “Bashumbu” worshipped by not only the Nyanga but related ethnic groups such as the Hunde, Kumbure, Tembo, and Shi are of Twa origin.
The jungle was the world of the Nyanga and the village existed at the center of that world. The rainforest was a benevolent being to the Twa, but for the Bantu it was a hostile place full of malevolent beings. At the same time the jungle was seen as a place where the Nyanga could find privacy and fulfillment. Nyanga country is mountainous rainforest crisscrossed with many rivers. Villages were usually located on hilltops to further demarcate the bush-village dichotomy. People climbed the hill to one guarded entrance and descended from the single exit in order to leave.
The Twa pygmies were highly regarded by the Nyanga for their hunting skill, generosity, musical talent, and extensive knowledge of divination. As such they were afforded many privileges over other people. The Twa had many ritual responsibilities and as the original owners of the land legitimized Nyanga chiefs. As a result of their joking relationship (a phenomenon found across much of sub-saharan Africa) the Twa freely referred to all Nyanga save the chief as “Barimi” or ignorant. Since Nyanga chiefs were forbidden to hunt, the Twa were expected to hunt in his stead. In return the chiefs were expected to lavish the Twa with gifts and recognition.
Tropes from Nyanga myth include:
- Adorably Precocious Child: Mwindo is born ready for adventure. Before bringing himself into the world he would leave his mother’s belly at night to do chores while she slept.
- An Arm and a Leg: In one tale Mwindo cuts off two of Itewa’s fingers, his tongue, and his penis after vanquishing him.
- Androcles' Lion: Shekaruru saved a hawk from being eaten alive by red ants. In turn the hawk saved Shekaruru from being eaten by furious warthogs who had chased him up a tree during a hunt gone bad. Hawk dropped Shekaruru safely into Mwindo’s village.
- Animal Espionage: Crickets are malicious spies who pass on everything they hear to their master Kintundukutu. He gladly informs others of things meant to be secret in order to cause strife.
- Animal Motifs: Nyamurairi is associated with hunting dogs, particularly black ones.
- Nkuba manifests as sheep, white herons, white roosters, monkeys, and a mysterious animal called an Ngere.
- Appease the Volcano God: Subverted. Women were offered to Nyamurairi as spirit-wives. They could bear children with any man they wished, albeit this decision was heavily influenced by male relatives. All children born to these women were considered the offspring of the volcano god.
- Arranged Marriage: Mwindo is given wives from his uncles, his Twa companions, his father, and Shemwami.
- Shemwindo gives Nkuba a wife for returning Mwindo to earth in one peace.
- Mwindo’s sister Nyamitondo brings her husband Nkuba two new wives as gifts from her father.
- Shekaruru the Pygmy gains a wife from a grateful chief after healing his son.
- Nyamurairi gives Mwindo his daughter for completing his labors.
- Mwindo promises a spirit-wife to Nkuba after defeating him and getting his allegiance.
- Mutero Murimba gets seven wives as coronation gifts.
- In some tellings Mwindo’s aunt Iyangura is given to the river god Mukiti by her brother Shemwindo.
- Baddie Flattery: The warthogs sing praises and compliments at hawk hoping he will drop Shekaruru from the tree for them to eat. Hawk sings back that he cannot betray the one who saved him.
- Blood Knight: Nkuba was highly aggressive and Nyanga men invoked him to crush their enemies. He became blood-brothers with the monsters called Kirimus because of their violent tendencies.
- Buried Alive: Shemwindo buried Mwindo alive. But the plucky newborn freed himself before two nights had even passed.
- Death Is Cheap: Mwindo instantly kills entire enemy tribes and brings them back to life on a whim with his magic Conga scepter.
- Delicate and Sickly: The beautiful Kahindo is described at different points as the daughter of Nyamurairi or Muisa. She usually meets Mwindo while afflicted with illness like Yaws or Scabies, which he subsequently heals with his Conga scepter.
- The Discovery of Fire: Nkango the Twa god set out to take fire from Nyamurairi. He found a Basenji napping in front of the mighty flame god’s home. The dog’s name was Rukuba. Nkango promised he would be friends with Rukuba forever and take care of him if he helped him get fire. So Rukuba stole the fire of his old master and gave it to Nkango.
- Dishing Out Dirt: Nyamurairi was said to cause earthquakes.
- Ancestor spirits could cause earthquakes as well. Large tremors were annoyed recently dead. Small tremors were the annoyed long dead.
- Disproportionate Retribution: People die because a trapper ran across Ongo sitting in a tree causing a thunderstorm. Ongo was angry about a food eating human seeing him, so he cursed everyone to eventually die. Then he withdrew from earthly activities.
- Elite Four: Itewa the rodent, Mburu the monkey, Munkonde the bat, and Nteta the duiker were all great chiefs gifted scepters by Mwindo. But the animal lords secretly hated Mwindo out of jealousy due to his fame. So they made war on him.
- Giant Flyer: Ongo’s home is guarded by gigantic birds.
- Kinkobongo was a birdlike Kirimu which hatched itself.
- God of Thunder: Nkuba was the god of lightning.
- Grandpa God: How the Nyanga envision Nyamurairi. An old man with a long white beard smoking a huge pipe.
- Hellhound: Nyamurairi also likes to manifest himself as a large black dog sleeping in a pile of ashes.
- Heroes Love Dogs: Dogs (particularly hunting dogs) were highly regarded in Nyanga culture. Among other treasures heroes were often gifted dogs.
- Hope Spot: Mwindo frequently exploits this trope. His entire army is often annihilated to the last as he watches just so he can make a more impressive comeback.
- Journey to the Sky: Shemwindo planted a ficus tree which grew high enough to reach the heavenly abode of Nkuba.
- "Just So" Story: The Hunde say there was once a wealthy man named Nyamulagira. After being hounded for gifts by relatives he settled in a place called Mulamba where he met Ongo. They became good friends but Ongo could be quite lazy. Nyamulagira became increasingly frustrated by this until he fought Ongo. Their battle left a huge gaping pit in the earth and nonstop rain. The people of Mulamba came praising the power of Nyamulagira and promised baskets of eleusine in exchange for better weather. The people never made good on this promise so Nyamulagira and Ongo agreed to destroy Mulamba. Nyamulagira blew his whistle which created a volcano. He blew again and made another erupt. The two pals settled in a volcano each, Nyamulagira and Nyiragongo.
- Hawks grab chickens because Shemwindo rewarded their ancestor with chickens after it saved Shekaruru from the warthogs.
- Mage Tower: Ongo lives in an elevated hut in his domain of Sheburungu at the core of the earth.
- Magic Wand: Mwindo was born with a magic flyswatter he uses to overcome his foes.
- The Maker: Ongo, Sheburungu, or Ongomana was the creator god. He lets Nyamurairi run things largely because he’s so aloof.
- Meaningful Name: Shekaruru means “Father/Master of Karuru”. Karuru is the call of encouragement or warning Nyanga hunters give their dogs through cupped hands.
- Music Soothes the Savage Beast: Mukiti absolutely loves music.
- Kill It Through Its Stomach: Nkuba told Nyamitondo to allow herself to be swallowed by Kinkobongo and carve her way out of it.
- Odd Job Gods: Ongo was the god of children, and as such is the god of all games.
- Our Demons Are Different: Mpacas are evil bush spirits. They resemble emaciated human beings with long unkempt hair, big clawlike fingernails, and snouts. They also have the ability to shapeshift into beautiful young men and women. They prefer to target women as they’re easier prey. Mpacas like to attach themselves to the backs of their victims and insert their long claw into the back of the neck to mind control them. This claw can stretch very far to meet a target. They use humans for slave labor and devour them once they’re satisfied. Fortunately for mortals Mpacas are alcoholics and easily distracted with beer. They’re also not very bright on top of being cowards: Mpacas are terrified of dogs. They will rarely if ever try attacking an armed adult man head on.
- Our Dragons Are Different: Kirimus are monsters usually translated into western languages as dragons. They have several heads with one eye each and dog teeth, thick black hide, a rotund belly, and the tail of an eagle. In some tellings they coil around victims like snakes.
- Pet Monstrosity: Mwindo refused to let the villagers kill the Kinkobongo despite it devouring everyone’s livestock, threatening to kill anyone who dared slay it. He and his sister Nyamitondo had raised the creature from an egg. It was only after the angry villagers noted the bird would soon go after people that Mwindo felt enough shame to fight it.
- Playing with Fire: Nyamurairi was the god of fire and volcanoes.
- Pretty Boy: The embodiment of the Lowa river was named Kongo or “Beautiful One”. He emerged from the belly of Kinkobongo after the beast was slain.
- Psychopomp: When a person dies it was thought that Nyamurairi sends two ancestor spirits to collect the heart of the newly deceased. Nobody but the now-dead person sees this happen. Sometimes when the ancestors are very angered by somebody they bring Nyamurairi their heart early.
- Power Glows: Mwindo shined with rays like the rising sun and moon when his aunt Iyangura found him inside the drum.
- There Are No Adults: Sheburungu was populated entirely by unborn children. Subverted in that the creator of life Ongo lived there too.
- Top God: Nyamirairi was the leader of the Bashumbu and supreme deity.
- Ultimate Blacksmith: The Bats (or “Baniyana”) were exceptionally gifted blacksmiths.
- Nkuba forged two very-long Mimbo knives and three razors for his wife Nyamitondo after she and Mwindo told him about Kinkobongo devouring everything and everyone in sight.
- Volcano Lair: Most of the gods live underneath the volcanic Virunga mountains east of Nyangaland in a realm called Kwirunga or Irunga.
- "Well Done, Son" Guy: Shemwindo was deeply impressed after Mwindo and Nyamitondo saved him and all their tribe from Kinkobongo’s stomach. He made Mwindo a chief, and declared that everyone should dance with a Conga scepter like Mwindo.
