#zulu folklore

[briefbestiary]

To evade a tokoloshe, one should elevate the legs of their bed. To capture and banish the creature, one would have to ask for help from a spiritual healer.

[bestiarium]

The Abatwa [Zulu mythology]

The Abatwa (singular: ‘Umutwa’) are a strange species of very tiny human-like creatures.

These peculiar beings make their homes in anthills, as they seem to have a mutualistic relationship of some sort with ants. Despite their diminutive stature, the Abatwa are ferocious hunters and are able to kill animals, which they consume entirely before moving on.

They are skilled archers and although their tiny arrows may be as small as a splinter, the Abatwa coat their arrowheads with an incredibly potent venom that can even kill humans. When a target is struck with one of these arrows, the strange poison causes immense bleeding, and the victim dies soon after. Because of this, the Zulu greatly feared the Abatwa.

Generally speaking, the Abatwa are incredibly self-conscious about their height and are even willing to kill humans for pointing out how tiny they are. Saying ‘I saw you!’ is a standard greeting among the Zulu, so people spotting an Umutwa would say ‘I saw you!’ out of politeness. Yet the Abatwa then immediately ask ‘when did you spot me?’

If you answer something along the lines of ‘just now’ then the Umutwa will kill you on the spot, because of the implication that they were too small to be seen from far away. Conversely, people who replied with something like ‘I saw you an hour ago, when I was standing on that mountaintop over there!’ live to tell the tale, as the Abatwa take this as a great compliment.

The Abatwa can travel on horseback to hunt, though they do so in a peculiar way. When these creatures mount a horse, they sit in single file behind each other, in one long row of riders stretching from the animal’s mane to its tail. It is said that if such a hunting party fails to find game, they will kill the horse instead.

Interestingly, in reality, ‘Abatwa’ is the name of a different tribe of people with whom the Zulus had made contact, and who are generally smaller than the Zulu people themselves. It is therefore not farfetched to think that the story of these tiny fairy people might actually have been derived from the first contact between these two cultures. Eventually, the story got retold enough times and twisted to the point of fiction.

Source: Callaway, H., 1868, Nursery tales, traditions, and histories of the Zulus, in their own words, with a translation into English, Volume I, Springvale, 410 pp., p.352-355.

[joelchaimholtzman]

Painting I made from almost 4 years old already! I made this as a commission for a 5E D&D supplement, a faerie inspired by Zulu Mythology.

Hope you like it!

Best,

JCH

[sins-of-the-sea]

God, talking about Nyame and the Akan gods takes me back to my childhood. One day I’ll do a more thorough loredump on Abena’s backstory and how her Rottenness to the Bones work. Especially because Cappn and I just added an extension to her powers that would be super useful and even plot-relevant to the main story.

Though here is a quick one: Yes, Abena is an agnostic, but she respects the piousness of the rest of the Crew. She even supports Josep in his Catholicism, as she is familiar with it due to her time in the Caribbean. She’s more of a “maybe all gods exist at once, or not at all, who knows?” sort of agnostic. 

But if she is to stick to a particular religion, then it’d be the Akan one, the faith of her people before she was kidnapped from home. She’d have a particular devotion to Anansi, the God of Trickery, Wisdom, Knowledge, and Stories.

Abena, in fact, is made to be a cunning trickster seamstress/tailor/dollmaker with a spider theme as an homage to Anansi in particular.

[xanderxciv]

New Classics Challenge 2024

Another year, more of me being the ONLY one doing the work in researching diverse stories & drawing something.

If the lazy Racewashing keeps going, that's just MORE of a motivator to keep doing this. In fact, I gotta get back to The Ivory Tower & Its Fairy Princess, and Fairy Morgana.

And I'm just waiting for someone to call me an Uncle Ruckus for wanting ORIGINALITY. Stuff we can call our own. After all the times I've called out Racewashing(on YT & TikTok), for almost 2 years, I'm shocked it hadn't happened yet.

Here's the TikTok link:

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8N8UQ7c/

[syaolaurant]

Some writers and artists headcanon Sebastian's patronus being a swallow is the sweetest thing ever.

So I did a little research...

Not only because swallow rhythms with his name, swallow bird also symbolize love and devotion.

In Ancient Greece, swallows were associated with Aphrodite - the goddess of love.

In Portuguese folklore, swallow associated with love, loyalty, hope and new beginnings.

In Africa, specifically among the Swazi people of Eswatini and the Zulu of South Africa, the swallow is embodied in proverbs and folk tales, often representing diligence, perseverance, and the ability to weather storms

And on Pottermore, it says:

The swallow is associated with love, happiness, protection, and curiously enough, with summer. Regardless of its small size, this Patronus is extremely powerful and will conquer a full battalion of Dementors. The swallow is the very sign of nobility and grace. Their loyalty is unwavering to the people they care about and are usually the ones to make the hard, but right, decisions. They are the ones who give advice, usually for relationships, whether romantic or family. They usually take a hit for someone because they know they can handle it the best, and they usually can.

Love is the theme of Sebastian quest line, love is his weakest point, his Achilles heel . He would do everything, literally EVERYTHING to protect the ones he loves. Even if it is self-destructive, even if it means throwing himself in darkness.

But at the end of the day, I (or we all) believe Sebastian will find redemption for himself. He will become a better man, he will try his best to do good, to find the cure for Anne without involving dark magic. He went so far and lost himself on the way but he will return and embrace his good self, again. Like the swallow full of hope, like a swallow that always returns to its nest in the spring.

I just love this boy too much....

[draconesmundi]

Can we have a little info on all the ones you haven't drawn yet, even the Maybe Canon? ones? There's a few there I don't recognize at all, and I'm curious.

Sure thing!

Not Drawn Yet:

The angont – a serpentine dragon from North East USA and Eastern Canada

The Australian rainbow serpent – exactly as the name implies. Rainbow serpent from Australia.

Chicken headed serpents – I didn’t know about this until I read @a-book-of-creatures excellent article on Crowing Crested Cobras. I need to actually research these myself, I read the article, thought “these are cool, I will add them to Dracones Mundi”, and then didn’t read/write/draw further (yet!!!!!).

The grootslang or ‘Great Snake’ is from South African folklore.

The kongomato, a winged dragon from the Congo.

The kurrea, a crocodile serpent from Australia

The makara, a creature like a crocodile mixed with an elephant from south Asian folklore: for Dracones Mundi I am making it a relative of the phaya naga.

The markupo is a large red-crested serpent from the Phillippines.

The ropen is a glowing, flying dragon from New Guinea – I might make it a relative of the glowtail in Dracones Mundi lore

Taniwha are water spirits from New Zealand – in Dracones Mundi I am making them a species of sea serpent

Wanizame or wani are sea dragons from Japanese folklore.

Vaguely planned dragons:

The Antarctic Jaculus – dragon I 100% made up, because I was bragging about how Dracones Mundi has ‘dragons all over the map’ and a little snide voice in my head said “what, even Antarctica?” and as Antarctica is not inhabited by people for most of the year it was difficult to find folkloric serpents, so I made up another sea-bird inspired dragon. Both cliffwyrms and Antarctic Jaculus have diving behaviours, which is why their inland cousin, the jaculus, evolved it's divebombing hunting strategy.

Butterfly winged serpent; very small winged serpent with butterfly wing patterns, 100% fictional with no mythology behind it (I mean. There is Pyrausta. But I think Pyrausta would be a different sort of animal, an actual insect, in the Dracones Mundi world, so butterfly winged serpents are not pyrausta)

Oceanic Turtle Dragon; I have the Asian turtle dragon, the European turtle dragon and the Congo Plated Dragon. Running around looking for folklore on ‘turtle dragons’ you end up stumbling into some fantastic artwork for Dungeons and Dragons involving their take on turtle dragons and something about a sea-turtle inspired dragon is really fun and cool. I will see if I can do something unique and different with this concept. If not, I will not be including the oceanic turtle dragon.

Pterosaur dragon; I made dinodrakes as dragons inspired by retro palaeoart of dinosaurs, and I thought “hmm. What if I did the same for retro pterosaurs?” – it turns out there’s a lot of cryptozoology in Africa I could research into for placing these pterosaur dragons somewhere on the map.

Snapdragons; snapdragon flowers need to be named after dragons, so I have a fun idea for a small cave dwelling dragon with petal-like frills and barbels that it uses to sense it’s environment. They also can emit an eerie blue warning glow from their mouths, not dissimilar to the glow of brandy on fire in the Victorian game ‘snap dragon’.

[howhow326]

For black history month, I think we should begin popularizing monsters from the African continent the same way European monsters are overpopularized. To that end, here's a list of some of the most famous folkloric figures from Africa!

Mmoatia

Origin: Ghana (Akan)

Creature it is not: Dwarf

(Singular: Aboatia) Mmoatia are a subclass of abosom (spirits in between Man and Creator) that live in the forests of Ghana. They are short, have curved noses, backwards feet, and a unique language made up of only whistling sounds. Whistling in the forest is a sure way to get their attention. According to legend, they are phenomenal herbalists that will sometimes share their knowledge with humans. When a person gets lost in the woods, they are said to have been taken by Mmoatia. Humans who come back after being taken will become incredible medicine men. In Ghana, Dust Devils are called "Mmoatia Mframa" (Wind of Mmoatia) because they are belived to be a portal to their world similar to how fairyrings are treated in Ireland.

Mmoatia are divided into three tribes: Black, White, and Red. Black Mmoatia are supposedly harmless, while White and Red ones are always up to some kind of mischief.

Adze

Origin: Ghana (Ewe)

Creature it is not: Vampire

In Ewe culture, the Adze is a type of demonic spirit associated with witchcraft. They take the form of a fire fly that, during the night, crawls inside human beings in order to posses them. People possesd by the Adze are said to be witches, who use the spirit to slowly drain the life force of people that they envy (Old witches target the young, Poor witches target the wealthy, enslaved witches target their masters as they should).

When targeting a person, the Adze will leave it's host human during the night and crawl into the house of the victim. When it's close, it will drain blood from the victim like a mosquito.

Werehyena

Origin: Pan-African

Creature it is not: Werewolf

Just like how there are Werewolf stories all over Europe, there are Werehyena stories all over Africa. Compared to werewolves, which are said to be men cursed to be monsters, Werehyenas are actually monsters that disguise themselves as humans only to eat it's friends during the night. The people most likely to be werehyenas are village outsiders and blacksmiths, who are associated with magic.

In Angola, there is a similar (but not the same) creature to the werehyena called the Kishi. It is literally a two-faced demon that has a handsome man's body and face in the front, and a hyena's face in the back. This creature lures unsuspecting women into relationships so that it may eat them. If the Kishi has any male children with it's prey, it teaches them the art of femicide.

Mami Wata

Origin: Pan-African

Creature it is not: Mermaid (ok, it kinda is a mermaid but I need to keep the joke running)

Even more wide-spread than the Werehyena, Mami Wata is a figure so popular that it is common for water spirits in Africa to be retroactively labeld as Mami Wata and take on her iconography.

The most famous picture of Mami Wata is actually a french painting of a black Caribbean snake charmer, who west africans later identified as Her. Mami Wata is worshipped as a powerful, female river spirit that controls the flow of the river, the rate at which fish can be caught, the money that men can make, and several other things important to humanity. She is also said to be a seductress, who sleeps with unsuspecting men only to later kill them for cheating on their wives. Indeed, Mami Wata is a defender of women and a slayer of sinful and abusive men.

In many places, it is common to believe that women who drown or go missing in bodies of water were taken by Mami Wata to be taught magic. The women who return become pristessess to her, while the women who never come back become new Mami Watas.

Impundulu

Origin: South Africa (Zulu)

Creature it is not: Thunderbird (no hate, Thunderbird gets constantly thrown into things where it shouldn't be by people who don't understand it. And those people tend to be not native)

Impundulu, or Lightning Bird (NOT THUNDER BIRD), is a person sized Hamerkop bird that has the power to control the weather and summon lightning. It is also creature of evil magic, allied with witches and it has a never ending hunger for blood. It is said to sometimes take the form of a handsom young men in order to seduce women (why dose that keep happening).

Impundulu are immortal, and the ones that serve as witch familiars are passed down in the family as the old master dies and the child becomes grown. The bird is immune to gunshots, stabbing, drowning, and poison. It's only weakness is fire.

[harpagornis]

Kizazi Moto review

Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire is an anthology of animated shorts from studios all over Africa, with the theme of afrofuturism and science fantasy (mixing frequently indigenous spiritual beliefs with the tech, and many shorts are actually about gods or spiritual beings). It's a shame that the project is attached to Disney, because this is one of the best anthologies I've seen in a long while.

So let's review the individual shorts.

Herderboy

By Uganda's Raymond Malinga, this portrays the story of a boy trying to join a band of herders, which harvest kyber crystals from cyborg cows and are under constant attack by spirits (read dark side hyenas). It's a good start to the anthology; the CGI is bright and makes good use of color, and it has a nice twist at the end.

7/10

Mkhuzi the Spirit Racer

By South Africa's Simangaliso Sibaya and Malcolm Wopé, this one bears a bright and joyous 2D animation. It features a half-human half-something boy who struggles with his Zulu identity, and that all comes crashing down in a race against gentrification. It's a delightful short with beautiful visuals and actual incorporation of cultural themes into the narrative.

9/10

Moremi

By Nigeria’s Shofela Coker, this is a pretty bleak looking CGI short not out of place in Love, Death & Robots. Long ago, soul stealing giants forced a woman to construct magical machines by giving her son's heart to the gods; this is about the summary you're gonna get without getting into heavy spoilers. A delight if you're into mythology as there's quite a few allusions to Nigeria's folklore, but I can see people getting a bit confused and the visuals can be grating at times.

6/10

Surf Sagoma

By South Africa’s Nthato Mokgata and Catherine Green, in a future where sea levels rose and mutant octopi lurk in the depths a boy is peer pressured into surfing in dangerous waters. I have to say, while this has a happy ending it is rather bleak and the CGI visuals are not particularly pleasing.

5/10

First Totem Problems

By South Africa’s Tshepo Moche, we're back to 2D, this time more Disney-esque. If I had to describe this, it'd be like a mixture of the first half of Brother Bear and Coco. It's pretty fun, though a bit lacking in substance and the family feuds can get grating.

7/10

Mukudzei

By Zimbabwe’s Pious Nyenyewa and Tafadzwa Hove, an influencer desecrates Great Zimbabwe, only to be taken to a timeline where it never fell to colonialism and became basically Wakanda. The concept alone is amazing, though the story itself is rather generic.

8/10

Hatima

By South Africa’s Terence Maluleke and Isaac Mogajane, this is by far my favourite of the shorts, it features the tragic conflict between merfolk and humans, with a Black Panther 2 reveal at the end. With stellar 2D animation and allusions to Dogon mythology, as well as a good solid plot where the reveal has just the right amount of foreshadowing without becoming obvious.

10/10

Stardust

By Egypt's Ahmed Teilab, I had the highest expectations for this one, being the only Middle Eastern short in the mix. It's an alright story, I really loved the science fantasy twist on astrology by just being handed a "destiny" in a tube with stars inside. The protagonist naturally choses her own fate over the manufactured ones... though getting there is quite spoilerific.

8/10

You Give My Heart

By South Africa’s Lesego Vorster, this is another return to 2D animation and the second one about influencers amusingly enough. The plot kicks off in a competition in which the human contestants can ascend to godhood. Godhood is very much treated like being an influencer, and amusingly one of the previous contestants was demoted by typing in all caps. Overall pretty fun and the animation is gorgeous, though the characters designs can get a bit ugly.

9/10

Enkai

By  Kenya’s Ng’endo Mukii, the final short is done in a CGI mimicking stop motion, which combined with the stellar coloration and lighting makes for a stunning visual experience. This too deals with the divine, this time the young Enkai seeking to become a creator deity like her mother. There is a big plot twist that I will not spoil, and recontextualises the whole short.

9/10

Conclusion

I give the overall anthology 9/10; barring a few hiccups, these are wonderful stories from Africa's many creative voices. Again, pity Disney has a grasp on this.

[connectparanormal]

South African Tokoloshe

The Tokoloshe is a mysterious figure in Zulu, Xhosa, and other Bantu-speaking Southern African folklore. Traditional beliefs portray this mythical creature as an evil ghost or monster that harms or mischiefs its victims. The Tokoloshe, a cultural emblem that combines superstition, morality, and psychological terror, fascinates anthropologists and folklorists. Communities perceive the Tokoloshe as a diminutive, dwarf-like, and repulsive creature. People describe it with sharp claws, flashing eyes, and a hunched or disfigured body. Some reports depict it as a zombie or hairy animal, while others depict it as a spiritual, shadowy figure. People believe that the Tokoloshe, despite its diminutive size, possesses enough power to cause physical and psychological harm to its victims. The association of its name with dread, disaster, or illness can frighten believers.

Witches and sorcerers claim to summon the Tokoloshe to bring revenge, harm, or control. Traditional beliefs say a wronged or jealous person may hire a witch to send a Tokoloshe to punish their enemy. According to legend, the creature enters the victim's home and becomes invisible to everyone but the target. People claim that it attacks or instills fear and paranoia, causing turmoil, disease, or death. This relationship with witchcraft shows Southern Africans' deep cultural belief in supernatural powers and how they relate to morality and justice. The Tokoloshe legend's psychological and sociological implications are intriguing. People often use the fear of the Tokoloshe to explain unexplained phenomena. Communities lacking medical or scientific expertise often attribute sudden illnesses, deaths, or calamities to a Tokoloshe. In cases of envy, treachery, or unresolved grievances, charges of summoning a Tokoloshe might help resolve interpersonal issues. Communities can cope with their worries and tensions by externalizing them to a supernatural figure. Tokoloshe shapes behavior and reinforces cultural values. Morals concerning greed, envy, and betrayal are common in monster stories. For instance, summoning the Tokoloshe to punish someone shows that acts have repercussions and that supernatural justice will prevail when human justice fails. Fear of inviting a Tokoloshe may also push people to follow social norms and avoid provoking envy or resentment. Thus, the Tokoloshe is both a symbol of terror and a social order enforcer. Despite its historic beginnings, the Tokoloshe is relevant and changing today. In rural communities where traditional customs and beliefs are still dominant, Tokoloshe stories influence daily life and decision-making. People raise their beds on bricks or avoid sleeping on the ground because they believe the Tokoloshe cannot reach them. Urban contexts currently use the Tokoloshe symbolically to address power relations, terror, and the unknown. The fact that it appears throughout literature, art, and popular culture shows its longevity and ability to stir discussions about tradition and modernity.

Scholars and researchers use the Tokoloshe to study Southern African culture, psychology, and spirituality. Traditional healing techniques call on spiritual leaders or sangomas to remove the beast and safeguard the victim, according to anthropologists. However, psychologists have studied how belief in the Tokoloshe increases communal fears and helps people cope with uncertainty, stress, and trauma. Researchers learn how folklore shapes and reflects human experience by studying the Tokoloshe. The Tokoloshe is more than just a legendary creature; it is a complex and multifaceted emblem that represents the communities that tell its stories' fears, beliefs, and values. Whether literal or symbolic, the Tokoloshe helps Southern Africans explain the incomprehensible, reinforce social norms, and examine tradition and modernity. Folklore's ability to adapt and persevere has kept the Tokoloshe narrative alive in rural and urban settings for millennia.

[barbiegirldream]

Anywayssss reminder that Goblin a European creature meant to depict the grotesque charictures of Jewish people because of the hatred for us from the Christians. 

The Tokoloshes are a creature from South African Folklore they’d describe as a water sprite. The Zulu people in a few interviews with Journalists have said they learned about the Tokoloshes from the Xosha. Word of mouth transference of culture and spiritual practices is very common in Africa and until Journalists and Anthropologists become committed to taking down their history in respectful good faith the ones of the past burned any and all literature. 

Taking something spiritual that the Zulu truly believe in and writing it off as mythology because it does not align with Christian or Atheistic values is a very tried and true method of cultural genocide. Don’t do this. Their beliefs are not in anyway affecting your life. 

Anyways the Tokoloshes are malevolent creatures who wreak havoc and can cause storms as well is used as a way to frighten children into behaving. Original Xosha descriptions of the Tokoloshes describe them as short hairy all over men like a baboon but squished. In Zulu tradition it is described more like an apparition or ghost like creature. 

They have evil powers such as calling storms as in 2000 journalists were told Tokoloshes summoned the tornado that wrecked a neighborhood. And many say looking into their eyes in a mark for death. The Tokoloshe are an evil spirit that must be banished to protect people. 

In 1933 a man became so frightened of what he was convinced was a Tokoloshe he killed his young cousin he mistook for the Tokoloshe. The high courts argued in defense that he had a mistake of fact his cousin for the creature but the courts argued it must be a mistake a reasonable man could make. However determining he was not a reasonable man they took his sentence from death to impriosonment. This was of course during apartheid and any cultural beliefs were written off as fantasy and myth where as belief in God was absolute. The racist split between myth and religion. 

I tell these stories to make it clear that the Tokoloshe are a very real creature in Xosha and Zulu cultures. And there are lots of modern accurate and apartheid inaccurate accounts of them. If you wanted to depict them as a creature who comes to wreak havoc I imagine it would be possible to do so in a respectful way. But that would require respect for these spiritual beliefs to be there in the first place which in most cases I trust it is not.  

Sources: 

The Tikoloshe and the Reasonable Man: Transgressing South African Legal Fictions by Patrick Lenta

Tokoloshe Tales: Reflections on the Cultural Politics of Journalism in South Africa by Leslie Fonda Green 

These two are sources I double checked today there are other bits I remember from actively learning in my pre colonial africa class. And if you look there are likely more modern pieces as well

[seewetter]

Mythic Creatures by Region & Culture

Part 9: Africa

Here is the overview of global creatures.

Cross-Cultural (across multiple but not all cultures)

Amadlozi of the Nguni people in South Africa; Anansi is Akan (which includes the Agona, Akuapem, Akwamu, Akyem, Anyi, Ashanti (!!!!!!!), Baoulé, Bono, Chakosi, Fante, Kwahu, Sefwi, Wassa, Ahanta, and Nzema) also found in African American lore; Asanbosam is Akan (which includes the Agona, Akuapem, Akwamu, Akyem, Anyi, Ashanti (!!!!!!!), Baoulé, Bono, Chakosi, Fante, Kwahu, Sefwi, Wassa, Ahanta, and Nzema) also found in Jamaican slave lore; Death; Jengu various peoples in Cameroon; Madam Koi Koi; Mami Wata; Mazomba; Mbombo; Mbuti Mythic Creatures; Mbwiri; Nandi Bear; Ninki Nanka; Nyami Nyami; Obambou; Obia also name for a creature in Latin American folklore (Garifuna of Bay Islands, Honduras); Ogun; Oshun; Shetani; Somali myth; Werehyena; Yumboes Wolof; Zār; Zuhri

allegedly African

Aegipan; Amphisbaena, in Greek myth, Perseus flies over Libya with head of Medusa…blood creates Amphisbaene; Catoblepas; Cerastes; Crocotta; Dingonek East Africa 1907-1918; Ethiopian pegasus; Forest Bull; Gold-digging ant; Griffon; Hypnalis; Leontophone; Lycaon; Macrobian; Pard; Pygmies; Rompo; Scitalis; Seps; Struthopodes maybe??; Syrbotae; Tarand; Theow; Wild Man, Wild Woman ; Wild Men, Wild Women; Yale

Angola

Kishi

Ashanti

Anansi; Asanbosam; Obayifo

Benin

Aido Hwedo, also in Haiti

Canary Islands (Guanches)

Guayota; Maxios; Tibicena; Witches of Anaga

Congo

Abada; Bunzi; Eloko ; Biloko; Jengu also known in Cameroon, called Bisimi with the Bakongo; Mfinda; Nkisi; Nkondi; Simbi

Dahomey

Aziza

Dogon

Nommo

Ethiopia

in the Quran, an Aksumite (Ethiopian) siege is averted by birds dropping stones: Ababil; Buda (Ethiopia & Eritrea, were-hyena & evil eye); Ethiopian superstition; Holawaka (Oromo, Ethiopia);

Igbo

Ibo loa also Haiti

Nkomi & Bakalai, Gabon

Koolakamba

Ghana

Abonsam, also Gold Coast; Adze, possessing "vampire" who stalks prey as firefly among the Ewe of Togo and Ghana

Gold Coast

Abonsam, also in Ghana

Kalenjin, Kenya

Kalenjin Mythic Creatures

Khoikhoi

Aigamuxa

Lingala

Mokele-mbembe

Lugbara (Congo to Sudan)

Adroanzi, "angels", benevolent children of the god Androa, but if you turn around to look at them you die

Malagasy

Kalanoro; Vazimba; Yateveo (Plant) alleged

Mozambique

Agogwe sighted by 2 Europeans in 1926-1927 but existed prior as a word & creature in indigenous oral traditions

Songhay

Hira; Zin Kibaru

Sotho, South Africa

Kammapa; Monyohe

South African Folktales Grootslang

Tswana

Matsieng

Uganda

Jok (among Acholi of Uganda and South Sudan); Lukwata (Baganda of Uganda);

West Africa

Adze, possessing "vampire" who stalks prey as firefly among the Ewe of Togo and Ghana; Ekpo Nka-Owo (Ibibio, Southern Nigeria); Wereleopard; Zin;

Xhosa

Amafufunyana (possession, schizophrenia); Uhlakanyana

Yoruba

Abiku; Egbere; Emere; Shango; Yemọja

Zambia

Ilomba among the Lozi people

Zanzibar

Popobawa

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe Bird

Zulu

Inkanyamba; Isitwalangcengce; Lightning Bird; Tikoloshe; Uhlakanyana; Umamba; Usiququmadevu; Zulu religion

Ancient Egypt

Aani; Abezethibou, Testament of Solomon, acted during Book of Moses in Egypt; Abtu; Abyzou; Akhekh; Ammit; Anubis; Apophis; Ba (personality); Bennu; Griffon; Hieracosphinx; Isfet; Medjed; Mehen_Board_Game_Snake_God_Egypt; Meretseger; Nemty; Serpopard; Set animal; Sphinx; Taweret; Teka-her; Unut_Egypt_Rabbit-Snake-Lion_Goddess; Uraeus; Wadjet

allegedly Ancient Egyptian

Cynocephali; Phoenix

Notify me if there are mistakes or if any of these creatures, beings or figures should not be used in art or fiction. (Note that every artist & writer should consider whether use of these figures is appropriate whether someone has complained or not).

[kuchenprince]

MCL guys in Eldarya

Nathaniel

Race: Dark Elf

Since Dark Elves has a bad reputation, I imagine Nathaniel hiding his true nature, disguising as a “normal” elf with magic, and at certain point “something” happens where his true form is revealed, at first giving conflict, but after the acceptance of the guard (or de mc), he’ll become comfortable being in his own skin showing his real personality (just like in MCL)

Guard: Shadow

Companion: Perceed

Lysander

Race: Faelinne (Church grim)

Church grim is a guardian spirit in English and Scandinavian folklore that oversees the welfare of a particular Christian church, and protects the churchyard from those who would profane and commit sacrilege against it. It often appears as a black dog but So, taking inspiration from Ruth (from Mahoutsukai no Yome) and would make Lysander capable of taking the form of a dog. Since is a Faelienne, Lysander and Leigh were born in the human world, and when they reached the age, Lysander decided to "go back" to Eldarya, while Leigh chose to stay in the human world.

Guard: Absynthe

Companion: Fabibi

Armin & Alexy

Race: Fenghuang

First, I need confirmation, but all the feng people are phoenix? I understood that only the one that has the title would be the phoenix; but then, the rest of the people are like humans? Anyways, I imagine these two not being phoenixes, but able to partially take the forms of birds (like harpies).

Guard: Shadow

Companion: Lapy (since this companion is inspired by a magpie and this bird has a reputation as a thief, I think it would suit  because of the the twins naughty nature)

Drake

Race: Of course, a merman (same type as Alajea and Coalaia)

Guard: Obsidian

Companion: Piscxolot (imagine Drake trying to handle this creature)

Kentin

Race: Lares

Guardian deities in ancient Roman religion categorized as household gods, but some had much broader domains. To make a parallelism with MCL, I imagine him first with a youthful appearance, and then change to a more masculine look.

Guard: Obsidian

Companion: Heariver

Jade

Race: Incubus

Incubus are demons in male form that seeks to have sexual intercourse with sleeping women; I imagine Jade as an incubus who doesn't really like to have sex but actually seeks an emotional bond with someone. But since his look (eyes?) has an aphrodisiac effect on females, he usually hides alone in the garden.

Guard: Absynthe

Companion: Hanajoo

Castiel

Race: Benandati Werewolf

The Benandati were members of an agrarian Christian cult that fought against witches and any satanic forces between s.XVI and s.XVII, but the legends says that they were actually benevolent werewolves, and were associated as "Lord's Hounds", characterized by their honor, chivalrous and modesty. Imagine Castiel having Lysander as hunting pet/companion lmao

Guard: Obsidian

Companion: Gallytrot or Skanis (or both?)

Dajan

Race: Impundulu (Lightning Bird)

Mythological bird from Pondo, Zulu, and Xhosa folklore that can summon lightning and storms and can masquerade as a human, but usually it's a huge black and white bird of prey, and it’s widely feared as a witch's familiar. It will sound really otaku but hear me out: What if his fighting style when he’s in his human form, is just like Minato’s :D

Guard: Obsidian

Companion: Warrifang (The impundulu is sometimes spotted riding on the back of a hyena, because witches can turn themselves into a hyena) or Crokataur

Some day I’ll draw them :’)

[robertnelson2-blog]

Ardmore Designs Ceramics: A Fusion of Art, Culture, and Craftsmanship

Ardmore Designs is a name that resonates with artistry, cultural heritage, and exquisite craftsmanship. Renowned for its distinctive ceramics, this South African-based brand offers an eclectic mix of traditional and contemporary designs that captivate collectors and art enthusiasts worldwide. Let’s explore what makes Ardmore Designs ceramics a true masterpiece.

Signature Styles and Themes

Ardmore ceramics are instantly recognizable for their bold, vibrant designs and intricate details. The themes often draw inspiration from:

African Flora and Fauna: Elaborate depictions of leopards, zebras, birds, and lush vegetation bring the beauty of Africa to life.

Cultural Narratives: Pieces often tell stories from Zulu folklore or celebrate African traditions.

Whimsy and Imagination: Playful elements, such as anthropomorphic animals or fantastical scenes, add charm to their creations.

Crafting Each Masterpiece

Every Ardmore ceramic piece is a collaborative effort between sculptors and painters. Sculptors create the base structure, often incorporating intricate textures and lifelike forms. Once the sculpture is complete, painters bring it to life with vibrant colors and patterns, ensuring no two pieces are alike.

Global Recognition

Ardmore Designs has become a sought-after name in the world of fine art and luxury interiors. Their ceramics have been exhibited in prestigious galleries and featured in high-end collaborations, such as Hermès' Ardmore-inspired silk scarves. Collectors admire Ardmore pieces for their artistic value and cultural significance.

Ardmore Ceramics in Your Home

Whether you're a seasoned collector or a first-time buyer, Ardmore ceramics can add a touch of elegance and personality to any space. From decorative vases and bowls to functional items like teapots and candlesticks, each piece is a conversation starter. Unique Ceramic Art

Conclusion

Ardmore Designs ceramics represent more than just functional art—they are a celebration of South Africa's rich culture, biodiversity, and artistic spirit. Owning an Ardmore piece is not just about decor; it’s about preserving and appreciating the stories and talent behind each creation.

[daveslutstaine]

yellow, claret, cream and coconut for the color asks?

yellow: name of an artist you think is underappreciated

Lycia! I don't come across many other people who enjoy them.

claret: do you play an instrument? do you want to learn to play any?

I play both the violin and the guitar, though I really want to learn to play a hurdy gurdy. Unfortunately, hurdy gurdys are both very expensive and incredibly hard to find :( I believe a proper gurdy is $1300 at the minimum. I've seen listings of hurdy gurdys for $500, but I've been told that those hurdy gurdys are badly made and not worth the money.

cream: any piercings or tattoos? do you want any?

I have three piercings! I have both of my ears pierced along with my nose. I have thought about getting more ear piercings, but I'm not super sure about that yet. In terms of tattoos, I did want one originally, but I think I'm okay without them tbh. I have nothing against them, but my job doesn't allow them. If I were to get one, I'd have to keep it covered up, which to be honest would not be that difficult since I'm always wearing long sleeves with my uniforms anyway.

coconut: a subject you enjoy learning about?

I LOVE folklore! I've been reading books mostly about folklore for quite a while now and I have absolutely fallen in love with so many stories from all over the world! Seriously I love reading these stories so much that I never seem to get bored of them! I even came across a book on Transylvanian folklore once and

I had no idea that green fire was associated with evil spirits in Transylvania! My favorite story to read in whole book was the Bitang! It's about the belief that a seventh son born to a seventh son would become what we know as a werewolf, but the Transylvanians call a Bitang! I also came across another book on fairy folk from around the world, and my favorite story from that book was the Zulu rock fairy story! It's a bittersweet tale of two twins who were condemned to death by their father (the Zulu believed that having twins was bad luck) who survive and end up living with the rock fairies who would take in people that were deemed as unwanted by the rest of society. They end up living a happy life with the rock fairies, though for a short period of time they end up going back to their father as he begs his children to forgive them. The twins ended up forgiving their father, but since they had spent so many years living with the rock fairies, they end up going back to live with the fairies. It's a really nice story!

[fluffle-writes]

I wanna make a book that's compiled information about Fair Folk/Fairies in mythology across the world (just found out about the Abatwa which is a tiny spirit in Zulu folklore. They ride around on the backs of ants.)