Nzengele
/ nzeh-ngeh-LEH /
- Gender
- Boy
- Origin
- 🇨🇩 DR Congo
- Religion
- Traditional
- First Seen
- —
- Trait
- Chosen
Meaning & Etymology
The one who is chosen
The one who is chosen
Etymology
From the Lingala nzengela meaning to choose or select.
Linguistic family: Niger-Congo > Atlantic-Congo > Volta-Congo > Benue-Congo > Bantoid > Bantu > Mongo
Cultural context
Nzengele is associated with the belief in divine selection and special destiny.
Symbolism
Represents the idea of being chosen by the ancestors for a special purpose.
Naming ceremony
The Mongo people perform a ceremony where the child is presented to the community and given a symbolic object.