BASSA HIEROLOGY
SUMMARY
Hilolombi ("The-Greatest-Because-The-Eldest"), the Creator, placed His
twin sons, Kwan and Koba, into Licee Libisu (the Original Egg, the
World). Kwan came out first and committed incest with his mother Hisi
(Earth). Angered, Hilolombi sent Nkwaada (Chaos) upon Nkong u Hisi
(Hisi's land, the Earth) by simply dimming Djob (His eye, the sun).
Koba, seeing the pitiful condition of human beings and all the
creatures living on earth, came to the rescue by boat with his friends,
the Minton, a crew of 401 gods. These "demiurges" fought Kwan who was
cursed and transformed into Mbey-Yoy (Albino-Hyena), Nkwaada, and
restored the world into almost its original state. The Minton still
stick around to contain Mbey-Yoy and Nkwaada. This work of restoration
and maintenance is the Mbog Bassa, the 6,000-year-old wisdom tradition
of the Bassa people.
Koba, nicknamed Ngookola (When-You-Saw-The-Suffering-You-Had-Pity), had
nine principal aides (Hinea): 1) Hu, 2) Mbog, 3) Nge, Um: 4) Mbam Um,
5) Ngena Um, Dingonda di Um (Um's twin daughters) 6) Kinin and Kinyemb,
7) Nja Ngumba, 8) Lindum, and 9) Koo who, each, initiated a secret
society hose role is "to keep the flame alive".
Bassa hierology is the compilation of the texts of the nine secret
societies of the (Kamerun) Bassa people.
CONTENTS
1) HU, to whom Ngookola said: "Make sure that my Father's Name is
uttered in this realm, even when everything is silent.
Kul
N'humba
2) MBOG, whose role is (still) Mbog Basa'a (to assemble what others
disassemble), was told by Koba: "Remind them that this realm is MBOG i
KOBA ni KWAN LOBI (the Mbog of Koba and Kwan, sons of LOBI, which tells
us that LOBI is how Koba calls his Father).
Hilolombi
Ngookola
Mbog Liaa
Manal ma Mban
Mode Sop
3) NGE, who renders justice without mercy.
Hitong Lingom
The Sons of Hitong Lingom
Iliga Ngwang
Ngombi Iliga Ngwang
Nyobe Yebel
Mabet ma Nge (Nuk's Inclusion)
Leehe i Nge (Songs)
Bakeke
4) Koba said only one word to UM, the god of knowledge: "Ngobi" [by way
of] initiation, which says that knowledge is reached by way of
initiation, not instruction or education.
MBAM UM, brings knowledge with a thundering voice.
Bakay ba Ibongo
Leehe (Songs For A Wake)
5) NGENA UM, brings the knowing through the warrr sound.
Kisasa
Ma'Um (Poems)
6)DINGONDA DI UM (KININ and KINYEMB), opens the mind with the dancing
rhythm.
Kiwel
Ma'Um (Poems From The Riverhole)
Likumba jem (Sleeping With Um)
7) NJA NGUMBA, the god with a dog's head who, when asked by Ngookola to
come along, took with him the dog Basenji, a dog which resembles him,
the dog he finally gave as a present to hunters.
Ngumba
Nja Ngumba
Nwee Wem (The Book Of Serenity)
8) LINDUM, the entertaining god, who entertained the gods throughout
the expedition, and who entertained the gods while they accomplished
the work of Restoration. "You were brought here to entertain the gods,
O Lindum. Entertain us," is how Ngookola used to greet him.
Tam
Mandum (Poems)
9) KOO to whom Ngookola said: "May no woman refers to the Most High as
Hilolombi. Kilolombi is Her Name."
Kilolombi
Kieba
Nso Ngond
Nge Hisi
Man Bum (A Rhino In The Compound)
Mandeng ma Bilog
Ngo Mbugha
Lingen li Lep (The Riverhole)
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooWORK IN PROGRESS