Holawaka, Oromo tribe in Ethiopia
African Myths: Birds, Snakes and Human Immortality
MYTH: The gods instructed the spirit bird, Holawaka, to tell humans that they would be immortal. All that they needed to do to be rejuvenated was to strip off or shed their skins. However, on its way to deliver the message to humans, Holawaka encountered a snake eating an animal carcass.
The bird pleaded with the snake to share some of the food, but the snake only agreed when Holawaka offered to share the message it was carrying. It told the snake that when humans grow old they will die, but when snakes grow old all they have to do is shed their skin to become young again.
As punishment for dooming mankind to a mortal existence, the celestial gods inflicted a terrible disease upon Holawaka, causing it to cry out in pain forever.[1]
Holawaka’s lineage remains unspecified in Ethiopian mythology, with no explicit details. It is simply acknowledged as a divine messenger dispatched by the gods. Holawaka’s familial connections within the realm of the other celestial gods are not clearly outlined in the available narratives.
Other Names for Holawaka
Holawaka’s name resonates through oral traditions across all of the African continent, exhibiting diverse linguistic nuances and cultural significance. While no alternative names are provided in accessible sources, within the mythology of the Oromo people, Holawaka is primarily acknowledged by this specific name.
Powers and Abilities
Holawaka’s chief ability lay in its divine messenger role, entrusted with the crucial message of immortality from the gods to humanity. This underscores Holawaka’s elevated status of trust and significance among the divine entities. The mythology does not explicitly detail any additional supernatural powers or abilities attributed to Holawaka. It is, however, mentioned that Holawaka possesses the unique gift of comprehending the language of animals, facilitating a harmonious relationship with all creatures of the earth.
The narrative of Holawaka provides a mythological account explaining human mortality and the shedding of snake skins within the cultural heritage of the Oromo people, contributing to the diverse tapestry of African mythology. Although the influence of this myth in contemporary times is not expressly outlined in available sources, it presumably endures as an integral component of cultural storytelling. Like numerous myths, it likely persists in shaping social and cultural practices among the Oromo people, contributing to the enduring legacy of this captivating tale.[2]
Henry E. Hooper 