Female Lion Royal Ancestor-Spirit

Shona · demigod · founding ancestral era; mediums active into the 19th century · demigod

Classed as demigod (mhondoro royal ancestor-spirit), the female counterpart to Chaminuka; in some traditions a child of Mwari (parentIds). vitalStatus='spirit'. The mortal medium is recorded separately as shona_charwe.

Parentage

Supreme Creator God

Domains

national guardianship
fertility and land

Powers

descends into and speaks through a chosen female medium
incites and blesses armed resistance against invaders
promise that her bones will rise again

Epithets

Mbuya Nehanda
Nehanda Nyakasikana

Relations

companion: Spirit-Medium of Nehanda
sibling: Lion Royal Ancestor-Spirit

Sources

Britannica, 'Nehanda'
Encyclopedia of African Religion (SAGE), 'Nehanda'
Beach, D.N., 'An Innocent Woman, Unjustly Accused?', History in Africa 25 (1998)

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