Tikoloshe

Newspaper headline, 7 December 1955

In Zulu mythology, Tikoloshe, Tokoloshe or Hili is a dwarf-like water sprite. It is considered a mischievous and evil spirit that can become invisible by drinking water. Tokoloshes are called upon by malevolent people to cause trouble for others. At its least harmful a tokoloshe can be used to scare children, but its power extends to causing illness or even the death of the victim. The creature might be banished by a n'anga (witch doctor), who has the power to expel it from the area.

Legend

Another explanation is that the Tokoloshe resembles a zombie, poltergeist, or gremlin, created by South African shamans who have been offended by someone. The tokoloshe may also wander, causing mischief wherever it goes, particularly to schoolchildren. Other details include its gremlin-like appearance and gouged out eyes.^[1]

The Tokoloshe, according to the Zulu shaman Credo Mutwa, has been known to take on many forms. One form is as described above, but others have portrayed the Tokoloshe as being a bear-like humanoid being.^[2]

"Some Zulu people (and other southern African tribes) are still superstitious when it comes to things like the supposedly fictional tokoloshe—a hairy creature created by a wizard to harm his enemies (also … known to rape women and bite off sleeping people's toes)."^[3]

According to legend, the only way to keep the Tokoloshe away at night is to put a brick beneath each leg of one's bed. However, this will not protect anything but the person whose bed it is along with the bed itself, as it may instead cause havoc not involving said people. They get their power from a hot poker thrust into the crown of the body during creation.

Influence

• Running gags about Tokoloshes are common in the South African daily comic strip Madam & Eve^[4]
• "Tokoloshe Man" was a pop hit by John Kongos,^[5] later covered by Happy Mondays and released on the Elektra compilation album Rubáiyát.
• The video for Die Antwoord's song "Evil Boy" features a Tokoloshe.^[6]
• On the The Late Show with David Letterman, when Die Antwoord performed "I Fink U Freeky" they replaced the English swear word "mother fucker" with "Tokoloshe"
• Tokoloshe is mentioned several times in film The Bone Snatcher (2003) by Titus when the team encountered an ant-like demonic creature.
• "Hosh Tokoloshe" is a pop/rap song influenced by the Tokoloshe by South African Rapper Jack Parow
• Malevolent creatures called tokoroths appear in Michelle Paver's Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series.
• Belief in the Tikoloshe is a major part of Gavin Hood's film A Reasonable Man.
• The Tokoloshe is referred to several times by the characters in the British crime thrillers "Ritual" and "Skin" by Mo Hayder
• Serial killer Elifasi Msomi claimed to have been influenced by a tokoloshe.
• A Tokoloshe appears in every episode of the 3rd series of the British TV show Mad Dogs, although only one character can see it and it is left unclear as to whether it is real or a hallucination. At one point the characters are told that if you see a Tokoloshe, it means somebody will die.
• Tokoloshe is the full name of Tok, the mascot for the English surfing and clothing company Saltrock.
• The gravelling creatures in "Dead Like Me" are influenced by these
• DJ and musician Steve "Toshk" Shelley got his stagename as a derivation of Tokoloshe^[7]
• Several Tokoloshe appear in the dark fantasy novella "The Flame's Burden" by Australian author Matthew Karabache.^[8]

See also

• Anchimayen
• Tupilaq

References

1. McNab, Chris. Mythological Monsters. New York: Scholastic, Inc., 2007. (ISBN 0-439-85479-2)
2. Sabon.org
3. "Modern Zulu". Library.thinkquest.org. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
4. "Madam & Eve on-line". Madamandeve.co.za. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
5. IOL.ie Archived 2 February 2007 at the Wayback Machine.
6. "Director's Cut: Die Antwoord: "Evil Boy" | News". Pitchfork. 29 October 2010. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
7. Steve Toshk's DJ profile on Wickedspinsradio Website
8. "The Flame's Burden". Matthew Karabache. Retrieved 26 February 2016.

Further reading

• "Mind, gender, and culture: A critical evaluation of the phenomenon of Tokoloshe "sightings" among prepubescent girls in Kwazulu-Natal" by Nhlanhla Mkhize, University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg
• Scholtz, Pieter (2004). Tales of the Tokoloshe. Struik. ISBN 9781868729708.

External links

• "Evil Boy (music video) by Die Antwoord, featuring a depiction of the Tikoloshe throughout the video" music video
• "'Tokoloshe' mom killer goes free", news story
• "Killer’s belief in omens, spirits led to attack on toddler", news story
• "Man who cried 'tokoloshe' guilty of murder", news story
• "Tales of the Tokoloshe", book
• "Tokeloshe", Sci Fi Channel website
• Oh, Diamond, Diamond, thou little knowest the mischief thou hast done!, South African artists' film featuring an impression of the Tokoloshe
• Interview with Credo Mutwa
• "The Flame's Burden", book