Unkulunkulu

Zulu deity

Close

About this deity

In Zulu tradition, Unkulunkulu was the supreme deity who created everything; and, he was the first man.

Also known as

Unkulunkulu (normalized)"The Ancient One"

Parent belief system

  • Zulu Culture · Polytheistic · 1 myth
    expand_less
    Zulu religion refers to the belief system of people native to the eastern portion of South Africa, in KwaZulu-Natal.
    Read more

Top myths

Zulu Genesis
Creation myth
Unknown author
Read myth

In the Zulu belief system, Unkulunkulu was the supreme deity who created everything and everyone. He was also the first man.[1] Different versions of the legend indicate that instead of breaking off from a reed alone, there was a woman who followed him out.[2]

Notes

1.
🡩Leeming, Creation Myths, 296-297.
2.
🡩Ibid., 297.

Mythological stories including Unkulunkulu

  • Zulu Genesis Creation myth

    Nuthsell

    Unkulunkulu was the first supreme deity and the first man. He grew from a large seed into a reed that broke away from the plant. After he was born, he watched other men and women born in the same fashion. He created everything from land, animals, and other men. In short, he broke away from the source and there was nothing before him.

    Read more

Cite this page

MLA Modern Language Association (8th ed.)

OMNIKA Foundation Contributors. "Unkulunkulu." OMNIKA – World Mythology Index, OMNIKA Foundation, 18 Jun. 2020, omnika.org/stable/641. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.

content_copy
APA American Psychological Association (6th ed.)

OMNIKA (2020, June 18). Unkulunkulu. Retrieved from https://omnika.org/stable/641

content_copy
CMS Chicago Manual of Style (16th ed.)

OMNIKA Foundation Contributors. "Unkulunkulu." Las Vegas, NV: OMNIKA Foundation. Created June 18, 2020. Accessed March 1, 2026. https://omnika.org/stable/641.

content_copy

Bibliography

Leeming, David A. Creation Myths of the World: An Encyclopedia. 2nd edition. Vol. 1 [Parts I-II]. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 2010.
more_vert

Fast facts

Basics
Zulu Belief system
location_city Uhlanga Cult city

Share

https://omnika.org/stable/641

content_copy COPY
Close

Report

Thanks for helping OMNIKA become a better website. Report a problem if you see something wrong on this page. All fields are required.

Please keep it short and sweet.

Heads up. By submitting the form, you are also sending information related to your device, such as your browser, screen resolution, and IP address. For more information, please read the privacy policy. Unless you indicate otherwise, we may attempt to contact you using the email address you provided.

Close Submit form