Key Info

- Protects the Tonga people and give them sustenance in difficult times

Brief Bio

Nyami Nyami is a revered river god in the mythology of the Tonga people of Zimbabwe and Zambia, particularly associated with the Zambezi River. Often depicted as a snake-like creature, sometimes with the head of a fish, Nyami Nyami is believed to protect the Tonga people, provide them with sustenance, and control the river's flow. The Kariba Dam construction is said to have angered him by separating him from his mate, leading to floods and other misfortunes attributed to his wrath.