Lion Royal Ancestor-Spirit

Classed as demigod: a royal ancestor-spirit (mhondoro) of supratribal significance, in some traditions held to be a child of Mwari (hence parentIds includes shona_mwari) who is more-than-mortal. vitalStatus='spirit' (an ancestral spirit, not a living mortal). Often paired with Nehanda.

Parentage

• Supreme Creator God

Domains

• national guardianship
• prophecy
• rain

Powers

• descends into and speaks through a chosen human medium
• foretells war, drought, and the fortunes of the nation

Epithets

• Chaminuka
• Mutsiwemvura

Relations

• sibling: Female Lion Royal Ancestor-Spirit

Sources

• Bourdillon, M.F.C., 'The Shona Peoples' (1987)
• Gelfand, M., 'Shona Religion' (1962)
• Encyclopedia.com, 'Shona Religion' (citing scholarship on mhondoro of supratribal significance)