History of the Sun and the Moon

History of the Sun and the Moon

According to African Bassa'a tradition, the Sun and Moon were created before all the rest of the world and creatures. God asked them to collaborate, to be friends, to warm the earth and make night and day alternate. Thus they would have been an example of harmony for all other creatures. And in fact they got along very well and were loved by everyone.

The Sun was envious of the Moon

But at a certain point the Sun thought he wanted more friends, and little by little he increased the intensity of his heat, so everyone in the world was looking for him. The Moon, seeing that only mushrooms and nocturnal animals remained with her, became angry with the Sun, because she was to blame for her loneliness. And, out of spite, he pushed him into a ravine. Then the Sun's friends arrived to help him return to the surface. At this point, however, God, who saw everything, decided to intervene.

And God divided the world into two parts

God called the Sun and the Moon and, after listening to them, decided to divide the world into two parts: that of the friends of the Sun and that of the friends of the Moon. God punished the Sun, because he had been envious, and told him that he would have to work every day and heat the world for eternity. Luna, however, who had been honest, allowed herself to be seen whenever she wanted: a segment, a quarter or not at all. Thus the full moon and the new moon were born. And then God, to reward her for her faithfulness, allowed her to have many children, and so the stars were born.