In Palo Mayombe, the "gods and goddesses" that the Palero worships and calls upon for help are called the Nkisi. The Nkisi are not gods in the strictest sense of the word. However, it is the Congo belief that they were among the first and most powerful ancestors placed on this world by Nzambi, the High God. They were later deified or raised to near deity status by the Congo people. While not all Paleros share this belief, it seems that this cosmology makes the most sense given the nature of the Congo religions.
Each Nkisi rules over a different aspect of life and nature. The Nkisi are housed in special pots that are called prendas or ngangas. The prenda also houses the Fumbi or Mpungos, (See footnote 1) which are Spirits of the Dead who aid and serve the Nkisi as well as the Palero. Without the Nkisi and the Fumbi, the Palero is powerless.
There are many Nkisi, each with numerous Paths or caminos. There are a few major ones that are common to most Paleros, particularly those of the Corta Lima rama. Below is a list of some of the Nkisi and the work they perform:
Lucero: Lucero is the divine messenger of the Nkisi and the lord of the crossroads. He rules over communication as well. Lucero was the first to receive the mysteries of Magick from Nzambi, thus he must first be appeased before a Palero can approach any other Nkisi. He is considered childlike in many respects and tends to be a bit of a trickster.
Lucero is also known as Lucero Mundo, Tata Elegua, Tata Elegwa, Nkuyu Nfinda, Tata Nkuyu, Tata Nfinda, Aluvaiá, Exu Pavena, Pombo-ngira, Pambunguera, Pomba-gira, Bonbonjira, Tonã, and Cubango.
Zarabanda: Zarabanda is the hot-tempered ruler of iron and war. He is a powerful sorcerer and the best ally one can have in any sort of conflict. Zarabanda is known to cause all types of accidents and misfortunes when angered. He also rules over employment and can be petitioned to help find work as well as defense. Zarabanda dislikes having menstruating women near his prenda, so Paleras have to mind their cycles very closely in order not to offend this Nkisi. Zarabanda and Lucero are the Nkisi most commonly received by a newly initiated Palero or Palera.
Zarabanda is also known as Sarabanda, Salabanda and Zumburanda.
Siete Rayos: Siete Rayos is the ruler of lightning, thunder, and fire. He rules over Divine Justice and usually punishes those who have escaped established laws. He also deals greatly in sexual passions and is the personification of male energy as well as a solar deity.
Siete Rayos is also known as Nsasi, Insancio, Mukiamamuilo, Zaze, Kibuco Kirbrico, and Kiassubangango.
Centella Ndoki: Centella rules over the Winds and the Gates of the Cemetery. She is considered the ruler of the Marketplace and things that go on there. Centella is very dangerous and hot tempered, but her ability to overcome Black Magick is very well known.
Centella is also known as Mama Wanga, Pungu Mama Wanga, Kariempembe and Yayá Kéngue.
Mama Chola: Mama Chola is the Spirit of the River. She rules over all things erotic and beautiful, as well as wealth. She is a powerful bruja when it comes to Love Magick, and it is said that anyone who works with her can have any mate they desire.
Mama Chola is also known as Wengue, Chola Wengue, Choya Wengue, and Mpungu Mama Wánga.
Tata Fumbi: This Nkisi rules over all diseases and is also the patron of homeless people, the sick or crippled, as well as beggars. Any Palero knows that helping a homeless person in need is a good idea, because it could be Tata Fumbi in disguise. It is said that Tata Fumbi can cure or cause nearly any disease, but is also known to bring wealth to those he smiles upon.
Tata Fumbi is also known as Kobayende, Coballende, Tata Kañén, and Pata en llaga.
Tiembla Tierra: Tiembla Tierra is the Creator of the Earth and the Ruler of all things white and fatherly. Tiembla Tierra rules over the rumbling earth, the hills, and the mountains. He is known as the patient ruler of mystics, but can also be a very strong warrior in some of his Paths.
Tiembla Tierra is also known as Mamá Kengue, Yolá, Yeyé and Iña Ñaába.
Madre Agua: Madre Agua is the Sea Goddess and ruler of motherhood. She is considered a very gentle and loving force and the possessor of great healing powers. Madre Agua is the patroness of children as well as their mothers.
Madre Agua is also known as Kalunga, Mamá Kalunga, Pungo Kasimba, Mamá Umba, Mbúmba Mamba, Nkita Kiamasa, and Nkita Kuna Mamba.
Ngurufinda: This Nkisi rules over all trees, plants, and herbs. Most work with herbs that is done by a Palero is for naught unless he seeks the aid of Ngurufinda first.
Ngurufinda is also known as Burufinda.
Brazo Fuerte: This powerful and fiery Nkisi is the embodiment of all violent earth forces, particularly that of volcanic eruptions. The volcanic lava is Brazo Fuerte's fiery breath which compels the earth to turn on its axis. In some cases, he is seen as the solar god. He is well known for his intense and fiery temper. Brazo Fuerte is the ruler of fevers, high blood pressure, and auto accidents. He is also known to be very stealthy, moving in very long, measured steps.
Brazo Fuerte is also known as Cabo de Guerra.
Kadiempembe: Kadiempembe is considered by some to be the Congo "Devil" (See footnote 3). He is very much feared, but equally respected, by many Paleros. He is a popular Spirit in Haitian Kimbisa as well as other lineages, but he should never been taken lightly by anyone who works with him. His is considered raw power. Interestingly enough Kadiempembe was once the High God of the Congo people, but was replaced at some point by Nzambi. This was most likely the result of "Christianization" attempts that had to create some Judeo-Christian order out of the Bantu Pantheon.
Kadiempembe is also known as Lukankazi, Lugambe and Nzambi Bilongo.
Palo Fuerte: Palo Fuerte deals heavily in Divine Justice and protection. He is well known to be somewhat unpredictable and vicious in performing his tasks. His nganga is relatively rare, and he is considered by some to be the "police force" of the Congo pantheon as well as a great hunter.
Palo Fuerte is also known as Cabo Rondo, Pena Branca, Nkuyo, Watariamba, Mutalombô, Gunza, Catalombô, Mutacalombô and Vence Batalla.
The Nkisi share many attributes with their Yoruba counterparts: the Orisha. In turn, each Orisha corresponds with a Catholic Saint that was worshipped as an Orisha or Nkisi by the Yoruba and Bantu slaves in order to hide their beliefs from their Spanish Catholic masters.
Below is a chart that shows each Nkisi, its Orisha counterpart, (See Footnote 2) as well as its correpsonding Saint. While not all Paleros use the Kardecian syncretic system and include the Saints in their practice, the inclusion of the saints is very popular among the Palo lineages in places like Venezuela and Colombia.
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Footnotes 2) Some Palo "traditionalists" like to complain about comparing the
Nkisi and the Orisha. I do this for the sake of clarity, since more
people are prone to recognize an Orisha and its attributes.
However, it should be noted the Nkisi and the Orisha ARE NOT the same
forces, nor are they identical in temperament and personality, and one
should guard against approaching them interchangeably.
3) Here, I present the most common viewpoint on this Spirit.
Personally I don't place a lot of stock in the Christian school of
thought, but I try to be unbiased in my presentations.
1) The usage of the word "Mpungo", like many others, varies from one
Palo rama to another. For example, in some ramas the word is used to
describe the Nkisi or other "gods". There is no "wrong or right" in
this matter, it is simply an example of the differences that that
exist between the varied Palo ramas.