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Thread of North African Folktales for your October Spooks!
Thread of North African Folktales for your October Spooks!
First, some context: a lot of North African folktales have pre-islamic elements, many even bearing roots in ancient times. The Ancient North Africans had varying local beliefs, later influenced by the many conquerors. Today, Islamic + Bedouin influences are the most prevalent. 1/
Pre-islamic beliefs were shaped by contact with Egyptians, Subsaharan Africans, Carthaginians, Jews, Iberian mythologies, and Hellenistic religion. Some of the ancient beliefs still exist today, subtly, in culture and old traditions uncommon in Arabia. 2/
1. Azouz Al-Gayla:
The cautionary tale of an old woman shrouded in Haik/Sharafiyya who walks the streets of urban areas in the afternoon, as silent as a mouse, when everything is quiet, and gobbles up any loitering children. 3/
The cautionary tale of an old woman shrouded in Haik/Sharafiyya who walks the streets of urban areas in the afternoon, as silent as a mouse, when everything is quiet, and gobbles up any loitering children. 3/
2. Ghouls:
Ghouls are demons from pre-islamic Arabian religions. They also found their way to North Africa with the many Bedouin tribes who settled after the Islamic Conquest. They’re monstrous undead creatures who lurk in cemeteries and consume human flesh. 4/
Ghouls are demons from pre-islamic Arabian religions. They also found their way to North Africa with the many Bedouin tribes who settled after the Islamic Conquest. They’re monstrous undead creatures who lurk in cemeteries and consume human flesh. 4/
3. Al-Ruhban:
This creature is the product of intermarriage between a Jinn + a human. He lives amongst us, unlike other Jinn who may take the form of animals. If he is seen, he runs away, in fear of sorcerers who may abduct him, greedy for hidden treasure. 5/
This creature is the product of intermarriage between a Jinn + a human. He lives amongst us, unlike other Jinn who may take the form of animals. If he is seen, he runs away, in fear of sorcerers who may abduct him, greedy for hidden treasure. 5/
4. The Mule of the Graves:
During the ancient period, in the Souss Valley of Morocco, a wife was widowed. By custom, she was required to be in mourning for four months. But she committed a great sin and took on a lover during the mourning period. (Part 1) 6/
During the ancient period, in the Souss Valley of Morocco, a wife was widowed. By custom, she was required to be in mourning for four months. But she committed a great sin and took on a lover during the mourning period. (Part 1) 6/
As punishment, she was turned into a beast, half mule half woman. In the morning, she sleeps with the dead, but at night, she lurks in the cemeteries, searching for men to prey on + bury alive. In some tales, she can shape-shift into a human + lure men out from their groups. 7/
5. Tamza:
Another creature that can shape-shift from a beautiful woman to a monster. She has been strongly associated with the Greek Medusa. Ancient Greek historians also claimed Medusa originated from either Tamazgha (North Africa) or Ancient Amazigh religions. 8/
Another creature that can shape-shift from a beautiful woman to a monster. She has been strongly associated with the Greek Medusa. Ancient Greek historians also claimed Medusa originated from either Tamazgha (North Africa) or Ancient Amazigh religions. 8/
Medusa is said to have been worshipped by Libyan (Amazigh) Amazons. And the worship of snakes is well known amongst Ancient Eastern Amazigh. Snake Idols can be found in the Slonta Temples of the Green Mountains in Cyrenaica. 9/
6. House Guards:
Popular in Kabylie and in the Souss, they are invisible creatures living in an alternate world. These creatures guard homes and families. They must not be disturbed at night, lest they get angry and cause harm. Gifts are given to appease them. 10/
Popular in Kabylie and in the Souss, they are invisible creatures living in an alternate world. These creatures guard homes and families. They must not be disturbed at night, lest they get angry and cause harm. Gifts are given to appease them. 10/
7. Lalla Aīcha Kandicha:
A beautiful woman with legs of a hoofed animal, often a camel, living near bodies of water. She, too, lures men and either kills or maddens them. Though she most likely has Amazigh or Pre-Islamic origins, she is now commonly associated with Jinn. 11/
A beautiful woman with legs of a hoofed animal, often a camel, living near bodies of water. She, too, lures men and either kills or maddens them. Though she most likely has Amazigh or Pre-Islamic origins, she is now commonly associated with Jinn. 11/
8. The Jinn Caves:
All over the Maghreb, there exists many stories of jinn gathering near mountains + caves. Within the Libyan Sahara, near Ghat, lies the Devil’s Hill/Cave of Indinan. Locally known to the Tuaregs as the Council of Jinn where no man has entered and returned. 12/
All over the Maghreb, there exists many stories of jinn gathering near mountains + caves. Within the Libyan Sahara, near Ghat, lies the Devil’s Hill/Cave of Indinan. Locally known to the Tuaregs as the Council of Jinn where no man has entered and returned. 12/
9. Tislit and Isli: (part 1)
The two lakes in Morocco’s High Atlas. A forbidden love between a boy and a girl from rival tribes who later ran away together and cried and cried until two lakes formed from their tears. Preferring to die together than live apart, they drowned. 13/
The two lakes in Morocco’s High Atlas. A forbidden love between a boy and a girl from rival tribes who later ran away together and cried and cried until two lakes formed from their tears. Preferring to die together than live apart, they drowned. 13/
In the local Tamazight, Tislit means wife and Isli means husband. It is believed they they come out of the lakes each night to meet. 14/
We also see plenty of tales of sihir or dark magic plaguing families with sickness, separation, or even death. Tales of magic, I’d say, are even more common in the Maghreb than those of Jinn, giving rise to the stereotype of Maghrebis being sorcerers. 
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