| 释义 |
Mlimo|mˈliːməʊ|
Also Umlimo |ʊmˈliːməʊ|.
[Bantu; see quots.]
The name given by the Matabele and other East African peoples to their god. Also, one of the prophets or priests of this cult.
[1833S. Kay Trav. Caffraria i. ix. 236 A few indeed there were who seemed to have some confused notion of invisible powers, whom they designated Mooreemo and Booreemo, and of whom they were taught by their sorcerers to stand in constant dread.] 1861E. Casalis Basutos ii. xiii. 248 Every being, to whom the natives render adoration, is called Molimo, the signification of which shows that it is by no means of heathen origin. It is evidently composed of the prefix mo, which belongs to almost all those words representing intelligent beings, and of the root holimo—above, in the sky. Moholimo, or the abbreviation Molimo, therefore, signifies, He who is in the sky. 1896F. C. Selous Sunshine & Storm Rhodesia xxvi. 236 The Umlimos or prophets..exist among all the tribes in Mashunoland. 1928P. Neilson Matabele at Home ii. 38 Before the occupation by the white people of this country, it had become customary for many of the Matabele to go to the Umlimo's cave..at regular intervals, and there to make obeisance by presenting the Umlimo with cattle and beer. 1955E. C. Tabler Far Interior iv. 112 These magicians were diviners and hereditary priests of the cult of Mwari (Sintabele, Mlimo), a deity that was believed to have made the world and therefore controlled the rain... Lobengula, who seems to have had no faith in the Mlimo, nevertheless refrained from wiping out this nest of tricky parasites. 1965L. H. Gann Hist. S. Rhodesia iv. 128 The Matabele, have settled north of the Limpopo, transferred their allegiance from Nkulunkulu, the Zulu high god, to Mlimo, the Karanga deity. Ibid. 129 Mlimo originally appears to have been regarded as some remote deus abscondidus, the Ancient of Days, who took no notice of tribal affairs... But when the Matabele fell on evil days the god gained increasing political importance, and his cult..provided an effective machinery of revolt. |