Editing Classical element (section)

== Ancient African philosophy ==

=== Angola ===
[[File:Kongo Cosmogram 3.png|thumb|The Bakongo Cosmogram]]
In traditional [[Kongo religion|Bakongo religion]], the five elements are incorporated into the [[Kongo cosmogram]]. This sacred symbol also depicts the physical world (''Nseke''), the spiritual world of the ancestors (''Mpémba''), the [[Kalunga line|Kalûnga line]] that runs between the two worlds, the circular void that originally formed the two worlds (''mbûngi''), and [[Sun path|the path of the sun]]. Each element correlates to a period in the life cycle, which the Bakongo people also equate to the four [[cardinal direction]]s. According to their cosmology, all living things go through this cycle.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Fu-Kiau |first=Kimbwandènde Kia Bunseki |url=http://archive.org/details/africancosmology00kimb |title=African cosmology of the Bântu-Kôngo : tying the spiritual knot : principles of life & living |date=2001 |location=Brooklyn, N.Y. |publisher=Athelia Henrietta Press, Pub. |isbn=978-1-890157-28-9}}</ref>

* '''Aether''' represents ''mbûngi'', the circular void that begot the universe.
* '''Air''' (South) represents ''musoni'', the period of conception that takes place during spring.
* '''Fire''' (East) represent ''kala'', the period of birth that takes place during summer.
* '''Earth''' (North) represents ''tukula'', the period of maturity that takes place during fall.
* '''Water''' (West) represents ''luvemba'', the period of death that takes place during winter

=== Mali ===
In traditional [[Bambara people|Bambara]] spirituality, the [[Bemba (deity)|Supreme God]] created four additional essences of himself during creation. Together, these five essences of the deity correlate with the five classical elements.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lugira |first=Aloysius Muzzanganda |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S79wsrvX_-MC&q=Ndomadyiri |title=African Traditional Religion |date=2009 |publisher=Infobase Publishing |isbn=978-1-4381-2047-8 |pages=39 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Bambara Religion {{!}} Encyclopedia.com |url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/environment/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/bambara-religion |access-date=2024-04-21 |website=www.encyclopedia.com}}</ref>

* Koni is the thought and void ('''aether''').
* Bemba (also called Pemba) is the god of the sky and '''air'''.
* Nyale (also called Koroni Koundyé) is the goddess of '''fire'''.
* Faro is the androgynous god of '''water'''.
* Ndomadyiri is the god and master of the '''earth'''.