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The two creation myths that I chose are the “Zulu” and the “Navajo” creation myths.
1) In the Zulu myth, one large seed sank into the earth and from it, long reeds began to grow. From
those reeds came out the first man, Unkulunkulu. He broke off the other first men and women from the
reeds and began creating streams, mountains, wind, rain, and the sun. He taught the men and women
how to cook, hunt, make clothes, and he named all the animals we see today. After he was done with
everything, he sent a chameleon to the nearest village with the message that his people will never die.
However, that chameleon was very slow so Unkulunkulu sent a faster lizard to the village. Once the
lizard delivered the news to the first people in the village, death arrived and it hasn’t left mankind ever
since.
2) In the Navajo myth, the world began with six different beings. Mountains were created first by a man
named Begochiddy who planted a reed which grew out of the first world into the second. The second
world was already occupied by the cat people, so the first humans got into a fight with them and then
had to leave. The reed continued to grow, and they arrived at the third world where the water
monster’s child was stolen by a coyote. The water monster was furious and flooded the third world. The
water levels rose to the fourth world where all Begochiddy’s creations came out of the locust holes and
set up their houses. Begochiddy created the sun, moon, and the stars. He taught the men and women of
this new Navajo home how to cook, harvest, and take care of themselves.
These two myths have in common the fact that one of the first men grew and came out of a seed from
the reed plant. Also, in both myths, the first man created nature and taught the rest of the civilization
how to make food, grow plants, hunt as well as the necessary skills for survival.
I do believe that these myths still help us make sense of our place in the world. They tells us how things
began here on Earth through detailed stories. Even though they are all different and do not quite match
up with the creation myths that we believe today, they still capture the overall symbolism or idea. Most
of us believe that God is the creator of the universe, and we are his creations.
I was never taught a creation myth when I was younger, however I found the videos I just watched
