Pepo: Spirit Possession on the Swahili Coast
Explore the fascinating world of Pepo, Swahili Coast spirit possession, as documented by Linda Giles in Kenya and Tanzania from the 1980s…
23 Jul 2026
4 min
The archive
Every file
Kachecheni: Tanzanian Spirit Possession Tradition
Explore the fascinating Kachecheni tradition of Tanzanian spirit possession in a new light with Lesley Sharp's insights from "The Possessed and the…
23 Jul 2026
5 min
Inkanyamba: Giant Eel of Howick Falls
Discover the mysterious Inkanyamba, a giant eel or serpent of Howick Falls in South Africa, with eye-witness accounts collected by local museums…
23 Jul 2026
4 min
Mamlambo: Zulu River Goddess and Monster
Explore the chilling tale of Mamlambo, the Zulu River Goddess and brain-eating monster, as reported in 1997 from KwaZulu-Natal's Umzimkulu River. Discover…
23 Jul 2026
3 min
Tokoloshe: Zulu Water Spirit in Ngubane’s 1977 Study
Explore the terrifying world of tokoloshe, a malevolent water spirit from Zulu folklore, as documented in KwaZulu-Natal fieldwork by Harriet Ngubane. Discover…
23 Jul 2026
3 min
Popobawa: Zanzibar’s Bat Demon and 1995 Panic
Discover the chilling tale of Popobawa, Zanzibar's one-eyed bat demon, and explore the 1995 mass panic it triggered. Learn about the investigation…
23 Jul 2026
4 min
Aziza: Fon Forest Fairy Who Taught Fire
Discover the legend of Aziza, the Fon Forest Fairy teaching early humans fire and hunting in Benin. Explore her folklore in Melville…
23 Jul 2026
4 min
Ogbanje: The Igbo Spirit Child Cycle
Explore the intriguing concept of ogbanje—spirit children in Igbo culture—as documented in Things Fall Apart and colonial records. Understand their cultural sig
23 Jul 2026
5 min
Abiku: The Yoruba Spirit Child Reborn to Die
Explore the mysterious world of *abiku*, spirit children born repeatedly in Yoruba folklore, in this article on Wole Soyinka's poem and J.S.…
23 Jul 2026
4 min
Gelede: Yoruba Female Power Masquerade
Discover Gelede, the dynamic Yoruba female masquerade honoring the 'Great Mother' and celebrated as UNESCO Intangible Heritage. Experience spirit communication
23 Jul 2026
3 min