In Chagga cosmology, Ruwa, who was associated with the sun, is believed to reside in the sky alongside his consort, the moon. Sacrifices to Ruwa are traditionally performed at high noon.[4] While these superior spirits typically do not intervene directly in human affairs, the spirits of the deceased, who inhabit the earth, play a more active role in the lives of the living.[5]
The spirit world is perceived as a reflection of the earthly realm, populated with powerful chiefs and livestock. Ancestral spirits of Mangi (kings) must be honored on behalf of the entire Kingddom, while other ancestral spirits primarily influence the lives of their direct descendants.[6]
