Myths and legends developed over thousands
of years in Africa south of the Sahara.
Among the influences on their development were the mass
migrations that took place from time to time.
About 7,000 years ago, the ancestors
of the Hottentot and the Bushmen began moving from the
Sahara toward southern Africa.
Five thousand years later, people who
spoke Bantu languages began spreading out from Cameroon,
on Africa's west coast, until they eventually inhabited
much of sub-Saharan Africa.
It is quite interesting to discover
how the differing myths and legends were combined and
reworked to develop myths and legends unique to the
region.
But then the talk turned to religion
and God – or rather Gods – and I lost interest.
But not before the origin of Table Mountain was revealed
to me.
According to African legend,
Qamata created the world.
However, Nganyamba - a
mighty old dragon who sleeps under the sea - tried to
prevent Qamata from creating dry land.
To help him against Nganyamba,
Djobela, the one-eyed earth goddess, cast a spell and
created four giants, one each to guard the north, south,
east and west. Many battles raged and eventually the
giants were defeated.
Before dying they asked
Djobela to turn them into mountains so they could continue
their work. The Watcher of the South - Umlindi Wemingizimu
- became Table Mountain.
There you have it. Now you know.
Kader Khan
Editor
info@yummie.co.za
