Thread by @AfroMythHub

Hello Friends! Today’s #FairyTaleTuesday returns to the topic of Other-Worldly Beings for St. Patrick’s Day. As you may know we have talked before about a few of such creatures from #AfricanMythology.

https://twitter.com/AfroMythHub/status/1354211833377411078

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Today, I will share more examples in #AfricanMythology for different conceptions of other-worldly beings such as demoted angels, indigenous deities, spirits of the dead/ancestors, prehistoric precursors to humans and spirits of nature.

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As Demoted "Angels":

The Sihonkpaasi of the Bebelibe (Benin) who are also called Ihiini Yanbe i.e. Sky Owners. They are short and human-like in appearance with two limbs (an arm and a leg) and short hair.

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Sihonkpaasi like to play in water but primarily live in the sky. They can fly very fast. They are malevolent beings who do not befriend people. They are best known for attacking children.

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Sihonkpaasi were created by Uwienu, the Bebelibe Supreme Deity but they are hostile to Uwienu. Evil contemporaries of Siyawesi who are friendlier to humans.

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As Indigenous Deities:

The Emyin of the Oku (Cameroon) which can be deities of the Oku people, “Emyin me Ebkwou” or deities of the land, “Emyin Mentieh”.

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“Emyin me Ebkwou” are named distinct beings, associated with specific sacred places (e.g. waterfalls, lakes, forest groves) and concerned with particular areas in the daily life of the Oku people.

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Mawes who we've also talked about before, is an “Emyin me Ebkwou”

https://twitter.com/AfroMythHub/status/1351915701754351617

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Emyin Mentieh are nameless, omnipresent, and associated with the plants and animals in the open country and woodlands around Oku.

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As Spirits of the Dead/Ancestors:

The famous Eloko of the Mongo-Nkundo (DRC). Biloko (plural) are thought of as spirits of the dead who have a score to settle with the living.

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Sometimes described as dwarves, ogres or trolls, they are hairless, long-clawed and cannibalistic. They live in hollow trees in the deepest parts of the forest whose treasure (exotic fruits and animals) they guard jealously.

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Biloko are said to use little bells to put humans in a trance before attacking them. Hunters and other people with strong charms are able to resist them though.

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Either way, ask the Biloko for permission before hunting in certain parts of their forest because they are the “Owners of the Forest”.

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The Shikwembu of the Tsonga (Mozambique/South Africa) is a more helpful ancestral spirit. Shikwembu are spirits of the dead such as ancestors, heroes and other larger-than-life cultural/historical figures.

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By their great work in defending good causes of the people rose to the status of powerful “forces of gods”. They are omnipresent.

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As Prehistoric Precursors to Humans:

The Konton of the LoDagaa (Ghana). Bearded dwarf-like creatures who live in hills, rivers and trees and are superior to humans since they are the first descendants/creations of Naangmen the Supreme Being.

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Konton are the original settlers of the land to whom the LoDagaa owe knowledge about farming, hunting, metalsmithing, music and more.

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As Nature Spirits:

The Dyinganga of the Mende (Sierra Leone) who farmers make offerings to before cultivating land. There is also the one-legged Aroni, forest spirit of the Yoruba (Nigeria) and the Alizini of the Dagbani (Ghana).