Mbombo (Bumba)

In the beginning Mbombo was alone and darkness and primordial water covered the earth. Mbombo, a solitary pre‑cosmic giant, suffered an intense pain in his stomach and vomited the sun, the moon, and the stars; later he vomited animals and many men. Nine animals and several human figures emerged and became progenitors of living kinds; Mbombo's sons completed aspects of creation (one son vomited white ants and died, another created the first plant, another created the kite). After the created world was established and delivered to humankind, Mbombo retreated into the heavens and placed a man called Yima (Loko Yima) to serve as 'god upon the earth.'

Mbombo is described in the sources as a giant in form and white in color. Sources provide no consistent additional details about clothing, facial features, or other bodily attributes.

Mbombo's primary power is creative production by bodily expulsion: he vomits the sun, moon, stars, animals, and many men. The first animals he produced act as progenitors that in turn produce whole classes of creatures (for example, the heron produced most flying birds, the crocodile produced snakes and iguanas, the goat produced horned animals, the scarab produced insects, and Yo Bumba produced fish). Mbombo's offspring and sons finish creation (one son produced white ants and died; Chonganda created the first plant; Chedi Bumba created the kite). Mbombo also provided cultural instruction—after Tsetse Bumba became the thunderbolt and left people without fire, Mbombo taught humans how to make fire from trees. After completing creation he withdrew to the heavens and ceased direct earthly rule.