The Strange and Wondrous Beings That Haunt African Folklore.

Are you ready to take a journey into the weird and wonderful world of African mythology? Have you ever wondered where these stories come from? It\'s a question that has puzzled me for ages!

Join me as we journey into the fascinating world of African mythology. Let\'s discover the top five most bizarre and unusual creatures.

From half-human to shape-shifting creatures with superpowers, these mythical creatures have inspired countless tales and legends.

Tokoloshe

We begin with a creature from the Zulu mythological character, Tokoloshe. It is a small, hairy, humanoid creature with bloodshot eyes. Tokoloshe is blamed for causing bad luck, sickness, or even death.

Tokoloshe tortures people in their sleep and particularly enjoys scaring children. It often leaves them with scratches on their bodies or chokes them to death with its\' bony fingers.

It sneaks into homes through keyholes and cracks in the wall. Only those who believe in it can see it.

Some people add bricks to the legs of their beds to raise them, to keep Tokoloshe away.

When Tokoloshe terrorizes a homestead/village for a long time, a Sangoma(witch doctor) is called upon to exorcise the area using muti(a traditional magic practice).

Sphinx

In Egyptian mythology, we meet the sphinx, depicted to have a body of a lion and a human head. Other than the appearance, the creature is also reputable as a master of riddles and puzzles.

In ancient Egypt, sphinxes were placed at entrances of temples and tombs as guards. Some were even carved in massive sizes, such as the Sphinx of Giza, over 20 metres tall.

According to legend, the creature would pose riddles to travellers who passed by its den and only allowed them to pass if they answered correctly. If one failed, the monster devoured them.

The Sphinx is a symbol of strength, wisdom and power and is often associated with royalty.

Werehyena

The Werehyena is able to transform into a human during the day and a hyena at night. It\'s particularly popular for its ability to imitate the human voice, luring unsuspecting victims; and its love for the human flesh.

In Ethiopian folklore, there\'s the belief that every blacksmith is born with supernatural powers to control the Werehyena or even turn into one. These powers can be used for good or bad, earning the blacksmiths fear and respect in equal measure. It all depends on the blacksmith\'s mood.

The people refer to the blacksmiths as bouda(werehyenas who rob graves at midnight).

While some may view this belief as superstitious, it remains an important part of Ethiopian culture and is still highly held today.

Mami Wata

Mami Wata, better known as the mother of water, is a water spirit from West African mythology. She has a seductive appearance.

She is believed to have a seductive upper body of a woman and the lower body of a fish or a snake. She is depicted to have the power to enchant and lure men to their deaths in the water.

Despite her reputation as a dangerous creature, Wata is also revered as a goddess of wealth, fertility and protection. She is believed to have the power to give good fortune to those who worship her.

Mami Wata remains an important figure in West African culture. Many people still honour her through offerings and rituals.

Asanbosam

The Asanbosam is a vampire-like creature from Akan mythology. They are hairy, have iron teeth and iron hooks for feet and live in trees, attacking from above.

Asanbosam is a master climber. He can move through the trees faster, making it a challenging opponent for anyone who crosses his path.

Its ferocity in battle is legendary. Those who have encountered it always speak of its terrifying strength and speed.

In Ghana, anyone who always mentions its name brings bad luck to themselves and everyone else around them.

Language of the week

Kerewe

Kerewe, also known as Kerebe, is a Bantu language spoken on Ukerewe Island(the largest inland island in Africa) in Lake Victoria, Tanzania.

It is spoken by the Kerewe people, who are approximately 350,000.

Interested in learning Kerewe, here is an article on popular Kerewe phrases and how to use them.

Language learning tip

Find a language learning partner.

Having someone to practice with can be a great way to improve your language skills. It could be a language exchange partner, a tutor or a conversation group.