First Man Who Lost the Word of Life
Maasai · mortal · the first generation of humankind · Recorded classification
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
- Le-eyo is the first man in Maasai myth, who was given by Naiteru-kop a chant to revive the dead; by reversing the words over a neighbour's child (out of selfishness/error) he brought permanent death to humankind while the moon was granted endless return.: Hollis, A.C., 'The Masai: Their Language and Folklore' (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1905) (secondary); Wikipedia, 'Le-eyo' (summarising Hollis 1905) (secondary)