My interpretation of the Tokoloshe, one of South Africa’s most feared but secretly loved mythical imps. Known to creep up to people in their beds and carrying them away, many South-Africans raise their beds onto bricks to this day to prevent this from happening.

Excerpt from my illustrated book ‘Creatures from the Dark Continent’ introducing and describing sixteen beasts from mythology from all over Africa, check out some more at my blog! kiki-kalahari.tumblr.com/

Huspalim

(Art by Lady Deuce)

A large marmot that had red-spotted skin an extraordinary large head with a monkey’s face. It’s rumoured to have lived in Ethiopia where it was captured and eaten. Its meat was too tough to eat so the creature needed a lot of beating before its flesh was tenderised.

Saint Anastasia Escrava

Anastasia, holy Anastasia,

You who were borne by Yemenja, our mother,

Give us the strength to struggle each day

So we may never become slaves,

So that, like you, we may be rebellious creatures

May it be so. Amen

The above is an image of Brazilian folk saint Escrava Anastacia (Anastacia the Slave), the daughter of an African princess in colonial Brazil who was reputed to work miracles and be a model of virtue in her own lifetime. Renowned for her beauty and her beautiful blue eyes, she is said to have often exclaimed, “eu não sou escrava” (I am not a slave). The popular image is of her muzzled with an iron mask which many believe was a punishment for the refusal of her master’s sexual advances. She more than likely died of gangrene from wearing that mask, and is said to have forgiven her oppressors before her death.

Ethiopian Pegasus

This was a winged horse from Ethiopia documented by the ancient Greeks. It had the wings of a bird on a horse that had one great horn protruding from its head. It was born from an island in the Red Sea off the coasts of Ethiopia.

Night Doctors, also known as night riders, night witches, Ku Klux doctors, and student doctors are bogeymen of African American folklore who emerged from the realities of grave-robbing, medical experimentation, and intimidation rumors spread by southern whites to prevent workers from leaving for the north.

Night doctors wandered the night looking for victims to dissect and torture.

Boo Hag (African American)

According to the legend, Boo Hags are similar to vampires. Unlike vampires, they gain sustenance from a person’s breath, as opposed to their blood, by riding their victims.

They have no skin, and thus are red. In order to be less conspicuous, they will steal a victim’s skin and use it for as long as it holds out, wearing it as one might wear clothing. They will remove and hide this skin before going riding.

When a hag determines a victim is suitable for riding, the hag will generally gain access to the home through a small crack, crevice, or hole. The hag will then position themselves over the sleeping victim, sucking their breath. This act renders the victim helpless, and induces a deep dream-filled sleep. The hag tends to leave the victim alive, so as to use them again for their energy. However, if the victim struggles, the hag may take their skin, leaving the victim to suffer. After taking the victim’s energy, the hag flies off, as they must be in their skin by dawn or be forever trapped without skin. When the victim awakes, they may feel short of breath, but generally the victim only feels tired.

An expression sometimes used in South Carolina is “don’t let de hag ride ya.” This expression may come from the Boo Hag legend.

It was also said that if a person placed a broom beside their bed before going to sleep it would prevent the Hag from riding them. Hags supposedly would be distracted by counting the straws of the broom and would not get to ride the person sleeping before the sun rose the next morning.