subject: Kilimanjaro Trekking: Myths And Legends Of Kilimanjaro [print this page] Kilimanjaro is a name that conjures images of awe, splendour, and adventure to the mind, legendary throughout the world as one of its most challenging and rewarding mountains, with many setting off for Tanzania on Kilimanjaro trekking trips every year. There may be plenty that can be found out about the country and its great mountain before travelling, but lesser known to visitors are the abundant stories and beliefs that have been passed down through generations of those who live there. The foothills of the great mountain have been inhabited and cultivated by people for thousands of years, and there is much to be learned by those who travel with open ears and minds. For an introduction to some of the local myths and folklore, read on.
Bantu Beliefs: an Overview
Tanzania is known to be one of the longest-inhabited places in the world, with human and pre-human fossils dating back at least as far as two million years; ancient hunter-gatherer people made their home here long before Kilimanjaro trekking expeditions were even dreamed of. Much of the modern population is descended from Bantu-speaking peoples (a group of languages that includes Swahili, Tanzanias national language) who migrated from western Africa over the last 2000 years. While the Bantu peoples are a large and diverse collection covering hundreds of ethnic groups, they have a shared mythology, with many branches and variations. At its core is the supreme God, who is not a creator; the universe is believed to always have existed, while humans are said to have come from plants. The sky and earth, which used to be close together, were separated by God after he was disturbed by the smoke from man-made fires. Other important beliefs across Bantu cultures include the spirits of the dead, who linger while they are remembered, and may help or harm the living.
Myths of the Mountain
Those who take an interest in local folklore when they go Kilimanjaro trekking may encounter a range of stories many of them variations on common Bantu themes, but with elements unique to the Chaga people who inhabit the southern and eastern slopes of the mountain. Because of the nature of oral storytelling, in which tales are kept alive from generation to generation, the collective cultural memory contains allusions to long-ago events for example, a story tells of how one of the mountains peaks asked one of his brothers for fire to light his pipe, which is thought to be a reference to Kibos last eruption. The mountain is generally thought to be a volatile place, both spiritually as well as physically, with tales of spirits and monsters including shape-shifting leopards. There are also, however, plenty of less frightening folktales, including lively animal fables so listen out as you go Kilimanjaro trekking and you may discover a whole world of stories!
