In Christianised Shona worldview, there is an assumed cosmic power or a deity that is considered to be beyond one’s progenitors or ancestors (midzimu/vadzimu) called "Mwari" (Venda, "Nwali") and is not mentioned in the lived experiences and relational values of the people.
In Malawi, such an assumed deity is "Mulungu," sometimes spelt "Mlungu." It is worthy to note that the indigenous word for the Caucasian is "Mzungu," a term closely related to “Mlungu” for the assumed deity. This is related to Shona's "Murungu" for the Caucasian.
In Tanzania where Swahili is the major language, the assumed deity is "Mungu," while the Caucasian is called "Mzungu." Why the assumed cosmic power and a Caucasian be closely termed like this is a subject of another day.
In Swahili, a girl is "msichana" ("musikana" in Shona, from “musika vana”). Once she becomes a young woman of marriable age or is engaged, she is called "mwali/mwari." On her marriage day, she is called "bibi harusi." “Mwari” is also a first name in areas where Swahili is a predominant language like Tanzania and Kenya and it means a “young woman.”
In Kenya, “Mwari” is a reference to a girl, while in Chewa, "mwali" is a young woman reaching childbearing age. This can be noticed that its to do with young age of maternity, the life bearing ability and fertility. This should be connected with Mwari in Shona.
In Malawi (Mang'anja, Chewa, Lomwe and Yao of Malawi) and Zambia (Chokwe, Ila, Luchazi, Mbunda, Luvale and Chewa), there is an initiation rite called “chinamwali” (‘domba’ in Venda). The girl or maiden is called ‘mwali’ (plural 'anamwali').
The initiation rite is for the coming of age for girls and a ceremony held in secret places. This is where girls are helped to get through their transition to mature womanhood and the sexual and maternal responsibilities that come with it.
The pre-marital initiation of girls is more than a sexual role. It is about them being their future as the actualisation of the Feminine Principle - conceiving, nurturing and caring through their sexual roles. Sexual education of the young women is given by means of symbols, riddles, songs and simulated action. They are also taught about responsibilities of marriage, observances associated with pregnancy and childbirth and parenthood.
From this narrative, it can deduced that “Mwari” is the sexual creative power (life bearing ability and fertility). In Christianised Shona, it is "Mwari ndiMusiki" or "Mwari Musiki." "Kusika" is a Shona term for the procreative role and the organs of creation are "nhengo dzesika rudzi."
We are all creatures of our parentage procreative role. Without this parental relationship, we won't be in existence!
The Swahili word for teacher is ‘mwalimu’ (‘mwali-mu’), a role ordinarily associated with motherhood as the mother is the first and eternal teacher of a child.
In the Christian-influenced Venda ethnic group found in Zimbabwe and South Africa, the source of life is called 'Nwali,’ while the Shonas of Zimbabwe say ‘Mwari.’
This shows “Mwari” has to be defined in the context of the sexual creative power (life bearing ability and fertility) in nature, plants, animals and human beings. That creative power is the conjunction of the masculine and feminine energies.
So when one then says “Musikavanhu,” we are not acknowledging the reproductive power in plants and animals. It should be “Musiki.”
God
"God" is a term that came only into existence in the fifth century when the Germanic Teutons conquered the Christian Western Roman Empire. For the conquering Teutons, “God” is the English derivative of their mythical human ancestor, “Gaud/Gawd.” - Craig Bluemel, “The Origin of the English Word for God” (2007).
On the basis of language, “God” is a fiction to anyone who is not Teutonic or Germanic. Christian-wise, it is a term for a personal humanoid figure assumed or believed to have power over the universe and people.
"Elohim" is the earliest Hebrew word for the humanoid deity in Genesis 1:1. The word “el”has been considered to be both the Canaanite word for the life forceand a name for the humanoid deity. The Hebrew adopted the Canaanite religion after their contact with them. Read, “The name El in the Bible” www.abarim-publications.com/Meaning/El.html#.V1bNWlc9bFI
Genesis 1:1, "In the beginning, Elohim created heaven and earth." From a deep study of Hebrew, “Elohim” is a plural word to mean "divinities/deities."
This means “Elohim” is a composite word consisting of "El" (masculine) and "Eloah" (feminine). The prefix or suffix, "El" is found in Hebrew names. Examples, Yisra-El, Ab-El, Emmanu-El, Micha-El, Rapha-El, Samu-El, Gabri-El, Ezeki-El, Jo-El, Phanu-El, Adri-El, Am-El, Ans-El, Beth-El, Dani-El, Rach-El, Nathani-El, Migdal-El, Gamali-El, Haza-El, El-isha, El-ijah.
The other Hebrew name for the life force is "Yahovah/Jehovah." Yahovah is combination of the Tetragrammaton, YHVH, and the vowels of Adonai, meaning “the Lord.” This would render it as “YaHoVaH.”
As a Tetragrammaton, YHVH is meant to be unpronounceable. YHVH was an abbreviation of four related words "Yod-Hey-Vav-Hey."
The composite of YHVH is psychologically "Masculine-Feminine" combined to the biological "Male-Female." This means the harmonious conjunction or combination of masculine and feminine sexual energies creates and sustains life.
The Feminine Principle is made of Passion (“Yod”) +Air (“Hey,” Breath). The Masculine Principle is Water (“Vav”) + Earth (second “Hey,” Physical Body). These are the elements of impersonal nature - Fire, Air, Water and Earth. Every human being is a microcosm and reflection of nature.
A further study of the Hebrew alphabetic pictographs of the four words, “Yod-Hey-Vav-Hey,” will further show some profound about how reproduction was symbolised.
In conclusion, it can be noticed that Mwari, Elohim and YHVH are simply linguistic constructs for the symbolic and figurative representation for the sexual energy in the creation of a new life connected with femininity and fertility. Without a balanced relationship of masculine and feminine metaphysically, psychologically and biologically, there is no harmony, creation and innovation.
Life is the harmonious union of three powers: metaphysical (sub-conscious and conscious), psychological(masculine and feminine energies) and physiological(male and female). These are all aspects found within and for each every human being in different measures and DOES NOT need human attention, praising, supplication and submission.
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