Region
- There are more than 60 million people who speak Bantu as their native language
- Bantu origins lie in Cameroon
- 'Bantu' is a generic name covering many natives of South Africa
- They live primarily in the regions that straddle the equator and continue southward into southern Africa
- In about 1000 BC a massive migration began (considered one of the largest in human history) this migration continued until around the 3rd or 4th century AD
- Moved due to the fear of famine, which broke out due to overcrowding and drought climate in their cradle land had become unreliable/unpredictable.
- Population increased became overpopulated and when on search for fertile land
Origins and Historical Significance
Before Bantu began to expand into southern Africa, they originated at the border of Nigeria in 3000BCE. The Bantu people had agriculture, metals for tools, and livestock. Early on in history, they began to split into two major groups: the West and East Bantu. The reason for split is unknown but it was most likey to find more places to inhabit. They began migrating around the Iron migrated throughout Africa, causing the spread of one of Africa's largest language groups today, Bantu introduced many things into the areas they migrated to introduced crops such as millet and sorghum also introduced iron smelting and iron tools. In 3500BCE Bantu-speaking people pushed into central Africa began migrationg into the savanna area Democratic Republic of Congo and South Africa area.
Theology/ Ideologies/ Core beliefs
Bantu Religion believed sun is the god of the sky during 3000BCE when there were signs of polytheism gods were worshipped in Egyptians
All Bantus believe in a supreme God, the nature is God and that the first man was born from a plant.
Most names of God include the Bantu particle ng (nk), that is related to the sky; some names of gods are Mulungu (Yao
people and others), Mungu (Swahili people), Unkulunkulu (Zulu people), Ruhanga (Nyoro and others), and Ngai (Maasai and others).
They believed God supposed to live in the skies, God is not described as the Creator of all things, in most Bantu the universe is eternal and has no beginning they believe in life after death and the ghosts goes on living only as long as people remember them.Most Bantu religious systems had no priesthood, or officially recognized mediator between the material and the spiritual worlds rather, they believed that political leadership was accompanied by religious responsibility. For example, a chiefdom or kingdom relied on the chief or monarch for physical and spiritual survival. Particular importance was attached to the status of the diviner, or sangoma , however; the sangoma underwent rigorous training to acquire the extensive knowledge and skills necessary for divination and healing.
Bantu religions usually avoided any claim that rituals performed by human beings could influence the actions of the supreme deity, or high god; rituals were normally intended to honor or placate lesser spiritual beings, and sometimes to ask for their intervention. The high god was a remote, transcendent being possessing the power to create the Earth, but beyond human comprehension or manipulation. Ancestors, in contrast, were once human and had kinship ties with those on earth, and they were sometimes amenable to human entreaties.Many Bantu societies have historical accounts or myths that explain the presence of human society on earth. In many cases, these myths affirm that human beings first emerged from a hole in the ground, that they were plucked from a field or a bed of reeds, or that they were fashioned from elemental substances through the efforts of a supreme deity. Death originated in the failure of human beings or their messengers, such as a chameleon who was sent to relay a divine message of immortality, but who delayed and was overtaken by the message of death.
All Bantus believe in a supreme God, the nature is God and that the first man was born from a plant.
Most names of God include the Bantu particle ng (nk), that is related to the sky; some names of gods are Mulungu (Yao
people and others), Mungu (Swahili people), Unkulunkulu (Zulu people), Ruhanga (Nyoro and others), and Ngai (Maasai and others).
They believed God supposed to live in the skies, God is not described as the Creator of all things, in most Bantu the universe is eternal and has no beginning they believe in life after death and the ghosts goes on living only as long as people remember them.Most Bantu religious systems had no priesthood, or officially recognized mediator between the material and the spiritual worlds rather, they believed that political leadership was accompanied by religious responsibility. For example, a chiefdom or kingdom relied on the chief or monarch for physical and spiritual survival. Particular importance was attached to the status of the diviner, or sangoma , however; the sangoma underwent rigorous training to acquire the extensive knowledge and skills necessary for divination and healing.
Bantu religions usually avoided any claim that rituals performed by human beings could influence the actions of the supreme deity, or high god; rituals were normally intended to honor or placate lesser spiritual beings, and sometimes to ask for their intervention. The high god was a remote, transcendent being possessing the power to create the Earth, but beyond human comprehension or manipulation. Ancestors, in contrast, were once human and had kinship ties with those on earth, and they were sometimes amenable to human entreaties.Many Bantu societies have historical accounts or myths that explain the presence of human society on earth. In many cases, these myths affirm that human beings first emerged from a hole in the ground, that they were plucked from a field or a bed of reeds, or that they were fashioned from elemental substances through the efforts of a supreme deity. Death originated in the failure of human beings or their messengers, such as a chameleon who was sent to relay a divine message of immortality, but who delayed and was overtaken by the message of death.
Evolution of religion over time
Africa is made up of hundreds of Bantu-related languages and many different ethnic groups. However, they all share the same cultural
characteristics.Bantu are animal herders and farmers. They have also learned to make crafts from iron.The Bantu people have followed rivers and streams and migrated throughout Africa. They met many new people, learned new skills, and shared their own.They intermarried with the people they met accepting new traditions and blending them with Bantu culture.Today over 60 million people in central and southern Africa speak Bantu-based
languages and share some part of Bantu culture.Bantu who settled in areas where there was a strong Arab presence are Muslim.Others, living in parts of Africa influenced by missionary efforts are Christian. Still others follow traditional animist religions, believing spirits are found in natural objects and surroundings. They may feel a spiritual presence in rocks, trees, waterfalls, or a particulary beautiful place in the forest.
characteristics.Bantu are animal herders and farmers. They have also learned to make crafts from iron.The Bantu people have followed rivers and streams and migrated throughout Africa. They met many new people, learned new skills, and shared their own.They intermarried with the people they met accepting new traditions and blending them with Bantu culture.Today over 60 million people in central and southern Africa speak Bantu-based
languages and share some part of Bantu culture.Bantu who settled in areas where there was a strong Arab presence are Muslim.Others, living in parts of Africa influenced by missionary efforts are Christian. Still others follow traditional animist religions, believing spirits are found in natural objects and surroundings. They may feel a spiritual presence in rocks, trees, waterfalls, or a particulary beautiful place in the forest.