Gabonese creation myth

This traditional creation myth from Gabon is told in English by a teenage girl, accompanied by music and sound effects.

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Gabon creation myth (3 MB)

Transcript

Transcript - Gabon creation myth

Africa is such a vast and diverse continent that there is no such thing as traditional African religion. Each ethnic group or tribe has its own distinct language, culture and religious beliefs.

Africa has suffered a long history of misunderstanding and oppression at the hands of westerners. As a result, much of current religious belief, in many parts of Africa, is a mixture of African and Christian tradition. Such is the case in Gabon where the majority of the population are Roman Catholic.

Gabon itself is made up of various tribes and this myth comes from the Fang people who make up the largest ethnic group in this part of the country.

Supporting materials

Download the text of the creation myth in English and French, along with a glossary.