Creation & Origin of Man

Angelica Vlacancich

RELG250-01

Assignment 11

Creation and Origin of Man

Most African peoples, along with other religions as well, believe the creation of man to have happened towards the end of God’s original creation. They believe that man was created as husband and wife, male and female, who was originated by God.

The Abaluyia’s story of creation says that God created man so that the sun would have someone for whom to shine. He then created the plants and animals so the man has food. The husband was made first then the wife, so the man would have someone to talk to.

The Lozi say that God was still on the earth when He created everything. They believe He created different people with different customs and languages.

There are different stories of God’s actual method of creating men. Some say God used clay to make him, which is why He is sometimes called the Potter or Moulder. The Shilluk believe God used different color clay, which explains the different human skin colors. The Bambuti Pygmies say the body of the first man was kneaded then God covered him with a skin and poured blood into his lifeless body.

Others like the Akamba, Basuto, Herero, Shona, and Nuer say God brought man out of a hole or marsh in the ground or from a tree. The Akamba have a rock that has a hole which supposedly was where God brought out the first man and wife. The Herero say that God brought the first human beings, a man and his wife, from the mythical ‘tree of life’ in the underworld.

Some peoples actually think God brought men out of a vessel. The Azande believe men were sealed up in a canoe which could only be opened by the Sun, which was able to heat it enough to melt.

Yet more myths include those of the Ewe, Baluba, Massai, Nandi and Nupi, who believe men came from a leg or knee. The knee or leg belonged to another being, like man, and swell until it burst, letting out a male person on one side and a female on the other.

Many peoples like the Akamba believe...