fbpx
Wikipedia

Tikoloshe

In Zulu mythology, Tikoloshe, Tikolosh, Tokoloshe, Tokolotshe, Thokolosi or Hili is a dwarf-like water sprite. It is a mischievous and evil spirit that can become invisible by drinking water or swallowing a stone. 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 pastor (especially with an apostolic calling), who has the power to expel it from the area. It is also considered a part of superstition and is often used in a satirical manner as a reference to overcome.

Newspaper headline, 7 December 1955

Mythology

The advent of the phantom Tokoloshe came about through Bantu folklore to explain why people inexplicably died while sleeping in their rondavels at night. Traditionally, these people slept on the floor on grass mats encircling a wood fire that kept them warm during sub-freezing cold winter nights on the highveld in the rarefied air. They never realized the fire was depleting the oxygen levels, leaving noxious carbon monoxide, which is heavier than pure air and sinks to the bottom. Eventually it was realized that anyone who happened to be sleeping in an elevated position escaped the deadly curse of Tokoloshe, which was described as a short man about hip high who randomly stole one's life in the night unless they were lifted to the height of their bed.[citation needed]

"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 witch doctor to harm his enemies (also … known to bite off sleeping people's toes)."[1]

According to legend, the only way to keep the Tokoloshe away at night is to put a few bricks beneath each leg of one's bed.[citation needed]

Creation

The client – usually a jealous person – will approach an evil witch doctor to take vengeance on someone. The client has to promise the soul of a loved one, but cannot choose who, as the Tikoloshe will choose the soul it decides to take. The witch doctor locates a dead body to be possessed, piercing the eye sockets and brain with a hot iron rod so that it cannot think for itself, and sprinkling it with a special powder, shrinking the body. The Tikoloshe is then let loose to terrorise its target, taking its payment of the soul of the client's loved one weeks, months, or maybe years later.[citation needed]

In pop culture

  • Running gags about Tokoloshes are common in the South African daily comic strip Madam & Eve.[2]
  • "Tokoloshe Man" was a pop hit by John Kongos,[3] 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.[4]
  • 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.
  • Belief in the Tikoloshe is a major part of Gavin Hood's film A Reasonable Man.
  • Serial killer Elifasi Msomi claimed to have been influenced by a tokoloshe.
  • A tokoloshe appears in every episode of the third 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.
  • DJ and musician Steve "Toshk" Shelley got his stagename as a derivation of Tokoloshe[5]
  • In Gene's Wolfe's "The Shadow of the Torturer," Severian is considered to be a tokoloshe by the Zulu shaman, Isangoma, he encounters in an aerial hut in the Botanic Gardens.

See also

References

  1. ^ . Library.thinkquest.org. Archived from the original on 18 October 2011. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
  2. ^ "Madam & Eve on-line". Madamandeve.co.za. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
  3. ^ IOL.ie 2 February 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ "Director's Cut: Die Antwoord: "Evil Boy" | News". Pitchfork. 29 October 2010. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
  5. ^ Steve Toshk's DJ profile on Wickedspinsradio Website

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.
  • McNab, Chris (2007). Mythological Monsters. New York: Scholastic. ISBN 0-439-85479-2.
  • Karen Elizabeth Flint, Healing Traditions: African Medicine, Cultural Exchange, and Competition in South Africa, 1820-1948, University of Kwazulu-Natal Press, 2008

External links

  • "Evil Boy (music video) by Die Antwoord, featuring a depiction of the Tikoloshe throughout the video" music video
  • "Killer’s belief in omens, spirits led to attack on toddler", news story September 27, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  • "Man who cried 'tokoloshe' guilty of murder", news story
  • , book
  • "Tokeloshe", Sci Fi Channel website August 20, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  • Oh, Diamond, Diamond, thou little knowest the mischief thou hast done!, South African artists' film featuring an impression of the Tokoloshe October 11, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  • "The Flame's Burden", book

tikoloshe, tokolosh, redirects, here, british, band, tokolosh, band, this, article, includes, list, references, related, reading, external, links, sources, remain, unclear, because, lacks, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, m. Tokolosh redirects here For the British band see Tokolosh band This article includes a list of references related reading or external links but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations July 2020 Learn how and when to remove this template message In Zulu mythology Tikoloshe Tikolosh Tokoloshe Tokolotshe Thokolosi or Hili is a dwarf like water sprite It is a mischievous and evil spirit that can become invisible by drinking water or swallowing a stone 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 pastor especially with an apostolic calling who has the power to expel it from the area It is also considered a part of superstition and is often used in a satirical manner as a reference to overcome Newspaper headline 7 December 1955 Contents 1 Mythology 2 Creation 3 In pop culture 4 See also 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksMythology EditThe advent of the phantom Tokoloshe came about through Bantu folklore to explain why people inexplicably died while sleeping in their rondavels at night Traditionally these people slept on the floor on grass mats encircling a wood fire that kept them warm during sub freezing cold winter nights on the highveld in the rarefied air They never realized the fire was depleting the oxygen levels leaving noxious carbon monoxide which is heavier than pure air and sinks to the bottom Eventually it was realized that anyone who happened to be sleeping in an elevated position escaped the deadly curse of Tokoloshe which was described as a short man about hip high who randomly stole one s life in the night unless they were lifted to the height of their bed citation needed 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 witch doctor to harm his enemies also known to bite off sleeping people s toes 1 According to legend the only way to keep the Tokoloshe away at night is to put a few bricks beneath each leg of one s bed citation needed Creation EditThe client usually a jealous person will approach an evil witch doctor to take vengeance on someone The client has to promise the soul of a loved one but cannot choose who as the Tikoloshe will choose the soul it decides to take The witch doctor locates a dead body to be possessed piercing the eye sockets and brain with a hot iron rod so that it cannot think for itself and sprinkling it with a special powder shrinking the body The Tikoloshe is then let loose to terrorise its target taking its payment of the soul of the client s loved one weeks months or maybe years later citation needed In pop culture EditRunning gags about Tokoloshes are common in the South African daily comic strip Madam amp Eve 2 Tokoloshe Man was a pop hit by John Kongos 3 later covered by Happy Mondays and released on the Elektra compilation album Rubaiyat The video for Die Antwoord s song Evil Boy features a Tokoloshe 4 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 Belief in the Tikoloshe is a major part of Gavin Hood s film A Reasonable Man Serial killer Elifasi Msomi claimed to have been influenced by a tokoloshe A tokoloshe appears in every episode of the third 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 DJ and musician Steve Toshk Shelley got his stagename as a derivation of Tokoloshe 5 In Gene s Wolfe s The Shadow of the Torturer Severian is considered to be a tokoloshe by the Zulu shaman Isangoma he encounters in an aerial hut in the Botanic Gardens See also EditAnchimayen TupilaqReferences Edit Modern Zulu Library thinkquest org Archived from the original on 18 October 2011 Retrieved 29 January 2012 Madam amp Eve on line Madamandeve co za Retrieved 29 January 2012 IOL ie Archived 2 February 2007 at the Wayback Machine Director s Cut Die Antwoord Evil Boy News Pitchfork 29 October 2010 Retrieved 29 January 2012 Steve Toshk s DJ profile on Wickedspinsradio WebsiteFurther reading Edit 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 McNab Chris 2007 Mythological Monsters New York Scholastic ISBN 0 439 85479 2 Karen Elizabeth Flint Healing Traditions African Medicine Cultural Exchange and Competition in South Africa 1820 1948 University of Kwazulu Natal Press 2008External links Edit Evil Boy music video by Die Antwoord featuring a depiction of the Tikoloshe throughout the video music video Killer s belief in omens spirits led to attack on toddler news story Archived September 27 2007 at the Wayback Machine Man who cried tokoloshe guilty of murder news story Tales of the Tokoloshe book Tokeloshe Sci Fi Channel website Archived August 20 2007 at the Wayback Machine Oh Diamond Diamond thou little knowest the mischief thou hast done South African artists film featuring an impression of the Tokoloshe Archived October 11 2007 at the Wayback Machine The Flame s Burden book Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tikoloshe amp oldid 1122777714, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.