Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review Volumes 32 and 33.djvu/685

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Passarge says that the Bantu-speaking tribes of the Cameroons have a belief in two high gods, one beneficent and one malevolent. The Duala call the former Niengo; the Bakwiri, Lobe; the Yaunde, Insambo; and certain of the Cross River Tribes, Obashi (Obassi).

The malevolent high god or principle is called Ekongole by the Duala, N'kule by the Bakoko, and Mukasse by the Bakwiri. This form plays by far the most important part in the beliefs of the people, the beneficent high god playing a minor part only.

I have compiled from various sources a list of the names of the high gods of the Cameroon, and, as will be seen from the following list, the name Ny-ambe or its variant is widely spread.