Katonda (mythology)
Katonda is the name used to refer to the supreme creator god in the traditional religion of the Baganda people, who are mostly based in present-day Uganda.[1] Katonda is considered as the father and leader of the Baganda pantheon, known collectively as the balubaale (sing. lubaale).[2][3]
Representation
[edit]Like many African supreme gods, Katonda is conceived as a distant god that dwells in the skies—which represented the heavens—and does not directly influence the material world. Instead, his presence is felt through the actions of the balubaale.[1] Despite his lack of involvement in worldly affairs, Katonda is present in the afterlife and presided over the judgement of humans.[4]
As a creator god, Katonda also created the first human; the man, Kintu.[1] He is also said to have created Bukulu, a god whose offsprings represent the majority of the balubaale.[2]
According to Apollo Kaggwa (1934), Katonda seems to have less of an influence in Baganda worship traditions compared to the balubaale, finding only a few temples in Kyagwe dedicated to Katonda. His accounts instead considered Mukasa to be the leader of the balubaale.[5]
Alternative names
[edit]According to Arthur Cotterell (1997), there are several names that are used in reference to Katonda:[4]
- Lissoddene (the big eye in the sky)
- Kagingo (master of life)
- Ssewannaku (the eternal)
- Lugaba (giver)
- Ssebintu (master of all things)
- Nnyiniggulu (lord of heaven)
- Namuginga (he who shapes)
- Ssewaunaku (the compassionate)
- Gguluddene (the gigantic one)
- Namugereka (he who apportions)
Further reading
[edit]- Roscoe, J. (1901). Notes on the Manners and Customs of the Baganda. The Journal of the Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, 31, 117-130. doi:10.2307/2842788
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Lynch, Patricia Ann; Roberts, Jeremy (2010). African Mythology, A to Z. Infobase Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4381-3133-7.
- ^ a b Lugira, Aloysius Muzzanganda (2009). African Traditional Religion. Infobase Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4381-2047-8.
- ^ Asante, Molefi Kete; Mazama, Ama (2008-11-26). Encyclopedia of African Religion. SAGE Publications. ISBN 978-1-5063-1786-1.
- ^ a b "Katonda". Oxford Reference. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
- ^ Kagwa, Sir Apolo (1934). The Customs of the Baganda. Columbia University Press. ISBN 978-0-231-93278-3.