Qamata
Encyclopedia
Qamata is the most prominent god
in the folklore of the Xhosa people of south-easterm Africa. Qamata is the child of the sun god, Thixo, and the earth goddess, Jobela.
There are few certain beliefs about Qamata other than that he is omnipresent and that there is no other being like him. One act that may signify worship of or respect for him involves small artificial heaps of stones scattered about the land. A traveller may often be seen adding a stone to such a heap "for Qamata," in hopes of being granted luck or good fortune in whatever he happens to be thinking of at the time.
and writer
Credo Mutwa has recounted a legend of how, when Qamata wanted to create dry land, the sea dragon Nkanyamba interfered. Qamata's mother, Jobela, created four giants to help him in work and battle Nkanyamba. When Qamata's task was completed and enough dry land had been recovered, the giants were turned to stone so they could continue to keep watch over the land. The southernmost of them, Umlindi Wemingizimu ("watcher of the south") became Table Mountain
, near Cape Town
, South Africa
.
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
in the folklore of the Xhosa people of south-easterm Africa. Qamata is the child of the sun god, Thixo, and the earth goddess, Jobela.
There are few certain beliefs about Qamata other than that he is omnipresent and that there is no other being like him. One act that may signify worship of or respect for him involves small artificial heaps of stones scattered about the land. A traveller may often be seen adding a stone to such a heap "for Qamata," in hopes of being granted luck or good fortune in whatever he happens to be thinking of at the time.
Table Mountain
Prominent Zulu sangomaSangoma
A sangoma is a practitioner of herbal medicine, divination and counselling in traditional Nguni societies of Southern Africa .The philosophy is based on a belief in ancestral spirits...
and writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
Credo Mutwa has recounted a legend of how, when Qamata wanted to create dry land, the sea dragon Nkanyamba interfered. Qamata's mother, Jobela, created four giants to help him in work and battle Nkanyamba. When Qamata's task was completed and enough dry land had been recovered, the giants were turned to stone so they could continue to keep watch over the land. The southernmost of them, Umlindi Wemingizimu ("watcher of the south") became Table Mountain
Table Mountain
Table Mountain is a flat-topped mountain forming a prominent landmark overlooking the city of Cape Town in South Africa, and is featured in the flag of Cape Town and other local government insignia. It is a significant tourist attraction, with many visitors using the cableway or hiking to the top...
, near Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.