The mythology of the Africans is rich in tales of
demons and flesh-eating creatures. Black magick abounds in the forests and
jungles waiting to prey on the unsuspecting victim. Most of the creatures
described in the myths make it difficult to separate demon from vampyric
creature.
Blood, in and of itself, has a rich mythology in Africa. Each tribe attributes
different powers to it, however there are certain almost universal myths
regarded by most of the African tribes.
Blood that flows from the deceased is said to carry the soul into the earth
where it will wander seeking revenge.
Those who bind themselves together with blood can no longer kill the other, nor
will their descendants.
To many African tribes, blood is not to be touched, as it carries a great deal
of magical power. The spirits drink blood and feast on flesh. People who become
possessed will also need drink blood. The type of spirit that inhabits a person
determines the type of blood they must drink as each spirit needs the blood of a
specific type of animal. Some spirits, according to the oldest tales, require
human blood. Mediums of Bantu Africa will often drink blood during the
possession rituals to encourage the spirits to speak through them. Covens of
such mediums will often drink blood ceremonially to swear each other to secrecy
- most often to protect themselves from crimes that they might commit during
possession.
Blood was used in war rituals. Some tribes drink the blood of enemies before a
battle during the war-dance to make them drunk. As in other cultures, the blood
of the enemies was drunk after the battle and the livers of the enemies were
eaten. Tribes like the Maasai in Eastern Africa mix blood with milk which is
then drank by young warriors ( it is an excellent source of protein).
Cannibals:
Each region of Africa has a slightly different take on cannibals. They all agree
that though they look human, they are not. They can be of either sex but it
seems that most accounts depict the cannibal as a handsome young male. The
distinguishing mark that separates them from humans is their left thumbnail. It
is very sharp and jagged, like a good steak knife. They seem to have different
preferences on how to pick their victims. Some like to seduce young women and
convince them to go to another village. On the way to the village, the cannibal
reverts to its true self and devours the woman. Others find soon to be brides,
disguise themselves as girls in order to get into the wedding party and then
devours the bride. Some descriptions of cannibals say that in their true form
they have long tails with a mouth on the end. They also have the capability of
shape changing. Some cannibals have been know to take human wives. They can also
father daughters. Generally human-cannibal marriages don't last long - the wife
is quick to realize that the meat the male brings home is human. However, once
discovered, the wife is also eaten.
Mukasa:
Mukasa was the supreme god of the Buganda people (Uganda). He is considered to
be a benign god since he does not require human sacrifice. However, he drinks
the blood and eats the hearts and livers of the animals that are sacrificed to
him.
Dogirs
Most of the tales regarding this creature describe it as being a water sprite.
In those tales it lives rather peaceably with humans. However, the further south
you go, the tales become much more terrible. Some depict them as terrible
monsters which feed on humans. They appear only at night and have eyes that
glow. They could disguise themselves as humans during the day. They only sign
that they were dogirs was swelling in the lower back. In 1929, the police in the
village of Dabod actually searched the village for people with the swelling to
stop these man-eaters. The swelling was said to be caused by the stump of the
tail that became apparent after the person was transformed. This transformation
took place when such people rolled in ashes. They then took on the appearance of
a werewolf, in some accounts.
The Bat
In Uganda and Zimbabwe, people believe that bats are the spirits of the dead who
wander the earth to haunt the living while they sleep.
In Ghana, people say the giant bat, Sasabonsam, is pure evil. Though it is a
fruit-eating bat most known for destroying crops, the people of Ghana say that
it waits in the forest to kidnap travelers and take them to the evil spirits of
the forest. It is believed that the Sasabonsam came from another land since it
has hooks on its wings, red hair and a beard. They also believe that it
cooperates with both the Mmoatia, the dwarf sorcerers, and the Avayifo, the
witchcraft experts.
In Southern Africa the tales of the bats are divided. One side paints the bats
to be like little people with almost human faces, who once they were offered
blood, would assist the brave in finding treasure. The other side believes that
they are evil and bring disease.
Biloko:
Tales of these creatures come mainly from Zaire. The Biloko are dwarves with a
rather large dislike for humans. It is thought that the Biloko are spirits of
the dead with grudges against the living. They live and protect the deepest
darkest parts of the rainforests and the treasures contained within. Only the
strongest of hunters ever successfully enters and leaves such areas. These
hunters must be very powerful magicians in order to hunt the prize game that is
to be found in these areas. The biloko are described as having long, sharp
claws, piercing eyes, and snouts with mouths large enough to swallow a human.
They are hairless, but are covered with grass that grows on their bodies and
wear leaves as clothes. They live in large hollow trees. They use small bells to
put people under their spell so that they can eat them. Only those who possess
amulets and fetishes with strong protections magicks will escape the spell.
Ghosts
The belief in ghosts is very strong in Africa. People lock there doors and stay
home at night for fear of meeting a ghost. Ghosts are the spirits of the dead,
obviously, that linger for various reasons. In some villages, shrines are
erected for specific ancestral spirits that are so powerful they are actually
believed to be running the clan though they have been dead for hundreds of
years. In the regions of Cameroon, the Congo and Zaire, the belief in ghosts is
the strongest. In villages of those regions, it is not uncommon for huts to be
built specifically for ghosts. These regions also hold the belief that ghosts
are flesh eaters. They are seen only at night and are white, though transparent,
and retain the shape of their former body. If challenged and battled with, they
can break apart into bones which makes dogs a very useful tool in dealing with
them. The only solid part visible by humans is the left thumbnail. This is very
pronounced and resembles a butcher's knife. Ghosts are very fond of antelope
flesh but prefer human flesh. It is believed that if a ghost can eat enough
human flesh then it may be able to regain a body.
Ghouls
Ghouls are described as being people, but not "children of Adam" (not human).
They are covered in thick hair and have large tusks. In some regions, they are
described as have one large eye (akin to cyclops), a long neck and body (like an
ostrich) and can disguise themselves as humans to entice their prey. They love
to eat human flesh, but can (and do) fall in love with humans on occasion. They
can be both male and female. It is not uncommon for Ghouls to capture humans and
mate with them. These unions have created a new species of creatures: savage,
fast and effective hunters and killers who like to rape human girls.
Ghoulas
Though this is the feminine form of Ghoul, in regions like Algeria, only the
females are talked about. They are believed to live in a castle in the mountains
and can easily disguise themselves as beautiful human women. In one tale, the
Prince Bousetta was taken on a hunting trip by is jealous brothers. They
intended to get him close to the Ghoulas castle in hopes they he would be
captured and eaten. However, before they could abandon him, they were surrounded
by the Ghoulas, disguised at beautiful women and were taken to the castle. The
brothers were afraid, naturally, except for Bousetta. While the brothers slept,
Bousetta tended to his horse who had kept him awake by licking him. The Ghoulas
came into the room and took the brothers one by one and flew away to a much
larger castle deeper in the mountains - all except Bousetta who never went to
sleep and was with his horse. It is believed that the brothers were probably not
eaten but were forced to marry the Ghoulas are still live in the second castle.
Gishu
This is the religion of the Bangesu tribe of Uganda. The Bangesu traditionally
eat their dead. In ceremonial style, the body is carried by the men of the tribe
to a secret location. The woman then go to it after dark and carve the pieces
they want cooked. The bones and remaining pieces are then burned with the
exception of the skull. The skull is placed in a shrine in the house of
relatives so the ghost has some place to reside.
