KalÛnga

In Bakongo cosmology, KalÛnga is the fire force. It emerges complete from within mbÛngi, the empty circle in existence before creation. The KalÛnga fires up and releases a storm of projectiles, overrunning the mbÛngi. Because life would emerge from this event, KalÛnga is the source and origin of life and potential, the force that continually generates. KalÛnga is also the symbol for force and vitality and a principle of change. Because KalÛnga occurred on a cosmic scale, KalÛnga is the idea of immensity and the principle god of change. KalÛnga is life. Because KalÛnga was the first activity within mbÛngi, it is force in motion. Therefore, all living things are in perpetual motion.

KalÛnga also divides the Bakongo circular cosmos in half. The upper half is the world of the great spirit, Nzambi, whereas the lower half is the world of ancestors, Bakulu, spirits, and beings preparing for a material body. The upper world is physical ku nseke, whereas the lower is spiritual ku mpèmba. The KalÛnga line is a line on which all living things dwell. Although material beings live along KalÛnga, it is an invisible barrier between the two realms. It is sometimes likened to a river. Because the Bakongo have a circular worldview, a person crosses the KalÛnga line at birth and death and repeats the process again when he or she is reborn.

The point at which a person crosses the KalÛnga line and is physically born is called kala. This is called the sun of all births and equates with sunrise and physical beginnings. For the person, kala is distinguished by speech. The person will learn to hear and use words along with their power. The color of kala is black. The other point is Luvemba, the point at which one leaves the physical world and reen-ters the world of living energy and the ancestors. This sun of death is linked to the sunset, endings, and is represented by white.

The person moves along the horizontal plane of the KalÛnga meeting challenges and collecting experiences. Movement along the KalÛnga can be forward, backward, or sideways. The purpose for the muntu is to acquire knowledge. If the muntu does not learn along the KalÛnga, he or she becomes powerless. The community also exists along the KalÛnga, therefore KalÛnga connects all community relationships and supports the learning of the muntu.