Tokoloshe

~ The Tokoloshe ~ 

Tokoloshe or Tikoloshe. From the Xhosa word uthikoloshe. 

The tokoloshe is a short, hairy, dwarf-like creature from Bantu folklore. It is a mischievous and evil spirit that can become invisible by swallowing a pebble. Tokoloshes are called upon by malevolent people to cause trouble for others. 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.

The penis of the tokoloshe is so long that it has to be slung over his shoulder. Thus sexually well-endowed, the duties of the tokolosh include making love to its witch mistress. In return, it is rewarded with milk and food. In common with European myths and legends concerning familiars, salt must not be added to food offerings for tokoloshes. The witch keeps the tokoloshe docile by cutting the fringe of hair that hangs over its eyes.

In South Africa, where many white families have maidservants, the maids would often raise their beds by placing the legs of their beds on bricks. It was an almost universal belief, among white people, that this was to keep the occupant of the bed out of reach of the tokoloshe.

The way to get rid of him is to call in the n’anga or witch-doctor who has the power to banish him from the area.

Source of information www.vanhunks.com. With thanks.

Look out here comes the Tokoloshe

be sure you don’t annoy him

he’s evil and he’s hard to see

and you never will destroy him

He’s eaten a pebble but you know that he’s there

because strange things are occurring

there’s a rattling in the rafters

and the cat has ceased his purring

The fire’s gone out and a cold wind swirls

and a window is flapping about

then suddenly everything’s quiet

a silence as loud as a shout

You’d best call the n’anga now

he’s the only one who can save you

he’ll exorcise the tokoloshe

before he can enslave you 

Poem courtesy of http://www.lyfe.freeserve.co.uk/tokoloshe.htm