Answer :
The question about the duration of leniency provided by the Gods of Mbanta cannot be precisely answered due to lack of specific textual reference. However, other cultural and religious narratives indicate varying lengths of leniency, from immediate forgiveness to prolonged periods of mercy before exacting punishment.
The enquiry into how long the Gods of Mbanta showed lenience for the defiance of their religion does not explicitly refer to a specific text, making it difficult to provide a concrete time frame. However, based on the references provided, we can surmise that varying cultures and religious narratives presented have different periods of leniency depicted for those who defy religious edicts. For instance, the Mbuti people had few religious rituals and punishment was not a significant part of their religious practice. Historical passages from religious texts such as the revelation to Moses and excerpts referring to punishments like those during Moses's time provide a backdrop of divine lenience followed by consequences for those who defy sacred laws.
Looking at the provided references, they demonstrate a mixture of divine mercy and justice, ranging from the pardoning of wrongdoing to the steadfast call for repentance or imposing of strict consequences such as death for idolaters. While the details from Mbanta itself are absent, this mosaic of cultural and religious attitudes toward divine punishment and mercy suggests that leniency durations varied greatly depending on the context and the era. The theme of a deities' long-suffering nature and eventual retribution is recurrent and seems to bridge across different cultures and religious beliefs.
