Tikoloshe: A South African Gremlin
An artist's depiction of the Tikoloshe. Image: Superpower Wiki.
The tikoloshe is a creature from South African folklore that is believed to be a mischievous and evil spirit. It is said to be a small, hairy creature that can shape shift into various forms, including a dwarf or a ball of fire.
The Legend of the Tikoloshe
According to legend, the tikoloshe is summoned by a witch doctor or sorcerer, and can be used to cause harm to individuals or communities. It is said to be able to make people sick, cause accidents, or even kill.
The tikoloshe is also believed to be able to possess people, causing them to behave erratically or commit violent acts. Some stories even claim that the tikoloshe can take on the form of a loved one, in order to manipulate and deceive its victims.
To protect against the tikoloshe, people in South Africa often take precautions such as leaving out offerings of food or leaving a broom upside down near the entrance of their home. Some also believe that certain rituals or spells can be used to ward off the creature.
Despite its fearsome reputation, there are also stories of the tikoloshe being used for good. In some cases, it is said to have been summoned by those seeking justice or revenge against an oppressor.
In recent years, the tikoloshe has become a popular subject in South African literature and film. It is often used as a metaphor for the political and social issues facing the country, such as poverty, crime, and corruption.
What does a Tikoloshe look like?
Tikoloshe are described in many different ways since they are able to shapeshift into different forms at will. The most commonly reported description of a Tikoloshe is that of a small gremlin. They have a wrinkled, bony grey body with long fingers. They are about the size of a toddler which allow them to quickly move around people’s homes silently and without being seen.
Often a Tikoloshe will have a hole in the side of it’s skull which appears to have been made by a fire poker or small rod. This is an injury that occurs during the process of summoning them.
A somewhat humorous aspect of Tikoloshe anatomy is that they tend to have an extremely large penis relative to the size of the rest of their body.
Origins of the Tikoloshe Legend
The origins of the tikoloshe are not entirely clear, but it is likely that the belief in the creature has its roots in traditional African religion and has been influenced by Christian and European beliefs over time.
The belief in the tikoloshe is still prevalent in many parts of South Africa, particularly in rural areas and among the Zulu and Xhosa peoples. However, it is worth noting that the creature is not limited to South Africa and has variations in other African countries, like Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Namibia, where it is known as Tokoloshe, or in the Caribbean, where it is known as Duende or Duendes.
A video recounting the legend of the Tikoloshe
Have you ever seen a Tikoloshe? Let us know in the comments!
If you enjoyed learning about the Tikoloshe you may also be interested in some other lesser known cryptids or the similar Jumbees of Caribbean origin.
In 1923, several residents of Berkshire and Richford, Vermont reported seeing a creature resembling a griffin, with a 20 foot wingspan and a serpentine tail.
In the fall of 1951, English mountain climbers Eric Shipton and Dr. Michael Ward were exploring routes to climb Mount Everest from Nepal. While on this mission Shipton discovered some huge footprints in the snow, possibly belonging to the fabled Yeti.
A massive shark is caught on camera prowling near a research vessel off the Massachusetts coast, creating a buzz on social media. What is the link between NASA Zone F and this elusive megalodon?
The Salt Lake Herald featured a story in 1883 about three businessmen who stumbled upon a wild woman with three children who seemed to be half human and half bear.
The Native American Salish tribe recounts tales of a cryptid known as the Stick Indians, which remarkably mirror many reported sightings of Bigfoot.
In the winter of 1959, at least five eyewitnesses claimed to have seen a huge, bipedal creature resembling an octopus in the area around the Ohio River.
The Cornwall Owlman is a Mothman-like creature spotted repeatedly since the 1920’s in a churchyard in the UK.
In August 1817, the skipper of a trading ship entering Gloucester Harbour, Massachusetts, witnessed a baffling 60-foot long, leathery sea creature. This spectacle birthed the story of the Serpent of Gloucester.
In December 1964, a man named Robert Le Serrec witnessed a 75-80ft long creature underwater near Hook Island, Queensland.
Kasai Rex is a gigantic lizard creature that has been spotted several times in Democratic Republic of the Congo in Africa. Some believe it may be a surviving species of dinosaur.
Several people have reported seeing a huge, bigfoot-like creature with glowing orange eyes around Mansfield, Ohio.
In 1959, a group of three men from Ohio reported an encounter with a mysterious being near Charles Mill Lake. They described the creature as an immense humanoid devoid of arms, sporting luminous, green eyes, and webbed feet.
The Re’em is a creature mentioned nine times in the Bible, translated in the King James Version of the Bible as “unicorn”. Does this mean that Unicorns existed in Biblical times?
In 1942, a bigfoot-like creature was spotted in Cedar Bog, Ohio. This creature was blamed for the disappearance of a group of teenagers, and its legacy still haunt locals to this day.
An article in the Western Star from 1882 tells of a child being taken by a giant snake-like creature. The story was verified by the local doctor and a judge.
In September 2019, an extraordinary video emerged from China, showing footage of a massive and unusual sea creature swimming through the water.
Tsuchinoko are a snake-like cryptid from Japan, said to be about the size of a cat with scaly skin and viper-like fangs.
During the early 1900s, American lumberjacks told terrifying stories of encounters with the Slide-Rock Bolter - a whale like creature living in the mountains.
In Peru, there is a legend that if you commit incest, as a punishment, God will transform you into a monstrous llama with a human face, known as a Jarjacha.
The Nandi Bear is a ferocious cryptid spotted in the highlands of Kenya during the 19th and 20th centuries.
The Squonk is said to be the ugliest creature in the world. It is so ashamed of its appearance that it will hide from anyone who approaches and, if caught, it will dissolve into a puddle of tears.
The Shunka Warak’in is a hyena-like creature from Native American mythology that has been spotted in the Rocky Mountains. A museum in Montana claims to have one on display.
The Thunderbird Cryptid is a giant bird resembling a condor or vulture that has been seen all over the United States.
The Germantown Werewolf was a mysterious creature spotted in Defiance, Ohio, several times in 1972. It was a 6ft tall, bipedal wolf that was said to carry a plank of wood In its front paws.
The Black Bird of Chernobyl was said to be about the size of a small airplane, with glowing red eyes and a wingspan of over 20 feet.
Air rods, also known as "flying rods" or "sky fish," are a phenomenon that been captured on cameras and mobile devices worldwide.
A hoop snake is a creature that's said to be able to bite down on its own tail and roll after its prey like a wheel. Hoop snakes have been seen in the USA, Australia and Canada.
The Oklahoma octopus is said to dwell in several man-made freshwater lakes in Oklahoma such as Lake Thunderbird, Oologah Lake, and Lake Tenkiller, where it allegedly preys on unsuspecting swimmers.
The legend of Sheepsquatch is a folk tale from the Appalachian region of the United States. According to the legend, Sheepsquatch is a creature about the size of a bear with white fur and big horns.
Just like the infamous Silver Bridge Mothman sightings, witnesses claim seeing a strange, 7ft tall flying humanoid in the weeks before the collapse of the I-35W bridge in 2007.