TOKOLOSHE

I haven't thought of the Tokoloshe in years..!

For good or evil, Tokoloshe folk tales have spread from the Xhosa and Zulu people of South Africa, and taken on various meanings across the countries of Southern Africa. As all South Africans know the Tokoloshe is a short, hairy, dwarf-like creature, it is a mischievous and evil spirit that rises out of the water tohave sex with women, or to fight men. If he loses the fight, he will teach the man magic and the art of healing and can become invisible to adults by swallowing a magic pebble. The Tokoloshe is sometimes called upon by people to cause trouble for others, and a witch doctor (inyanga, Sangoma) may be called to banish him.

At it’s least harmful a Tokoloshe can be used to scare children, but it’s power extends to causing illness and even death upon the victim. Often wreaking havoc, this mischievous creature generally means no harm, unless he is acting under the evil control of someone else. Traditionally, many Africans believe that the Tokoloshe tries to get to you when you're sleeping in your bed and cause you to do evil things. To avoid this, you must raise your bed off the ground with bricks to stay out of the reach of Tokoloshe. (Who doesn´t remember the bed on bricks??). Some people are afraid to mention its name. According to folklore, the Tokoloshe has only two weaknesses - their love of women and sour milk. Newspapers in South Africa still print stories of people having their cattle kraals raided by a Tokoloshe in search of milk, and he apparently hangs on the teats of cows and goats sucking the udders dry.

Many legends and myths permeate the lives of the people, and the Tokoloshe is still very much alive and well in the New South Africa, and no matter what, superstition superceeds everything, watch this …