Zulu Creation Myths by Credo Mutwa – Ancient Tradition or Mutwa’s Invention?
Vusamazulu Credo Mutwa (1921–2020) was one the most famous and controversial sangomas in South Africa. He is the first sangoma who published books about sangomas’ vocation and work, and revealed his version of Zulu myths. This paper first establishes if Mutwa’s tales can be considered myths, then if...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Brill
2021
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| In: |
Journal of religion in Africa
Year: 2021, Volume: 51, Issue: 1/2, Pages: 111-132 |
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Mutwa, Credo Vusa'mazulu 1921-2020
/ Zulu
/ Mythology
/ Creation myth
/ Rise of
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| RelBib Classification: | AG Religious life; material religion BS Traditional African religions KBN Sub-Saharan Africa NBD Doctrine of Creation |
| Further subjects: | B
Credo Mutwa
B Zulu mythology B Zulu religion B sangoma |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | Vusamazulu Credo Mutwa (1921–2020) was one the most famous and controversial sangomas in South Africa. He is the first sangoma who published books about sangomas’ vocation and work, and revealed his version of Zulu myths. This paper first establishes if Mutwa’s tales can be considered myths, then if those stories are cohesive with versions known to academics and contemporary sangomas. The aim of this article is to analyse the creation myths that Mutwa presents, establish if they are original Zulu myths or his creations, and find international mythological motifs that could have influenced him. Mutwa’s myths are compared with myths collected by other researchers. Mutwa’s opinions, gained during a 2013 field visit to his home in Kuruman, South Africa, are also presented. The field studies among contemporary sangomas were financed by the Polish National Science Centre (Narodowe Centrum Nauki), Poland, project no. 2017/25/N/HS1/02500. |
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| ISSN: | 1570-0666 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Journal of religion in Africa
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1163/15700666-12340202 |