Kianda

Kimbundu, Angola

 

Kianda is the God who rules the Atlantic Ocean and all the fish in it.  Fishermen bring him offerings which are placed on rocks along the shoreline.  They pray to him before each fishing trip to ensure a bountiful catch.  

 

One tale of Kianda begins with two sisters.  Kianda wanted to find a wife and came across two sisters not far from the shoreline.  He disguised himself as a skull and approached the sisters.  He proposed to the first sister.  She not only refused but hit him with a stick.  Kianda then proposed to the second sister.  She accepted his proposal and offered him food.  Kianda asked her to follow him, which she did, to the sea.  He flew towards a rock wall which opened when the approached.  They entered and were immediately sealed inside.  The young bride was then surrounded by servants who addressed her as their queen and dressed her in fine garments.  Kianda shed his skull disguise and appeared before her in all his splendor.  It was then she recognized him as Kianda the Sea God.  From then on, they lived happily ever after and have many children.  The children have human figures but can live underwater like fishes.

 

The tale continues with the story of the first sister.  She apparently marries a handsome young man.  To her horror, their first child is born with two heads - one human and one hyena.  She realizes that her husband is a kishi, a demon who eats humans.  Although she attempts to escape, the demon is much faster and captures her.  He then devours her and her child is raised eating human flesh.


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