First Man Who Lost the Word of Life

Classed as mortal: the first human and origin-of-death protagonist. vitalStatus='dead' as he is the ancestor who himself became subject to the death he introduced. Counterpart in the moon-vs-man motif widespread in African origin-of-death myths.

Domains

• the first ancestor
• origin of death

Powers

• was given a chant to send the dead back to life
• reverses the words and so condemns humanity to stay dead

Sources

• Hollis, A.C., 'The Masai: Their Language and Folklore' (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1905)
• Wikipedia, 'Le-eyo' (summarising Hollis 1905)