Given the Halloween atmosphere, it is interesting to explore the errie and enigmatic nature of Nigerian mythology. In a nation known for its diverse cultural heritage, there are many spooky tales and legends which have been passed down for decades. Here at WeTalkSound(WTS), we have compiled a short list of terrifying myths and folklore which are chilling and still haunt some of us till today.
- Mami Wata
Anyone familiar with the urban legend of mermaids will definitely know who mami wata is. With most traditions, she is a fertility goddess usually associated with seduction and sex. It is important to note that she might have dual nature, good or evil depending on the location of the tale. Her followers are usually adorned in red and white. Red symbolizing blood, violence and death while white represents beauty, wealth and spirituality. To appease her, she is offered items of wealth with rituals of dancing. In such cases, she blesses one with good, fertile and healthy life. However, she is also often depicted as temptresses with mesmerizing beauty who is able to lure men into the water, taking them into her spiritual world. In other tales, when she is discovered by chance, she is known to flee leaving behind her prized objects which are a mirror and comb. She visits anyone who takes these items in their dreams where she demands her possessions. If he returns it, he must be sexually faithful in which he will receive riches. If he refuses, he is plagued with misfortunes. There is no denying the influence of the powerful water goddess as she has been prevalent in pop culture. Her recent and most notable enactment would have to be C.J. Obasi’s “Mami Wata” which revolved around the restoration of her lost glory in a seaside village.
2. Bush Baby
Another popular myth used to scare boarding school students are bush babies. It is believed that these creatures come to the windows of students crying at night, sounding like an actual baby to get your attention. Once you heed to its cries, legend says that it gives you an object– a mat with the offer of a lot of money. There is however a condition to this in which you have to be successful in keeping the object for 7 days. Then the money as well as other valuable possessions will be yours. But this task isn’t without its challenges as this creature fails to mention that within those 7 days, it will violently work to collect it from you. Given its reported magical powers, it’s become an easily predictable nighttime tale where the bush baby always succeeds in retrieving its mat, thereafter leading to imminent violent death for the human that dared take up the challenge.
3. Madam Koi Koi
This is the one myth most famous in Nigerian boarding schools. There are different versions to the story but this is the most popular one; once upon a time, Madam Koi koi was a beautiful teacher in a boarding secondary school, who was well-known for her red heels that usually made the sound, “koi-koi” as she walked along the school’s corridors. She was notoriously known for her aggression towards students. After she was fired from the school as a result of said aggression, she died in an accident. Before her death, she swore revenge on the students and school.
Ever since, it is said that during lights out in the dormitories, you can hear the click of her heels going “koi-koi”. Coming on October 31st, Nollywood is bringing this urban legend to our screens in a cinematic manner. It is safe to say that many people will find out who Madam Koi koi is and for those of us familiar with the story, this would be a perfect chance to get answers to the numerous boarding school-bound narratives which have been going on for years.
4. Rebecca/Oroma/ “The Headless Girl
Legend has it this girl called “Oroma” had the most beautiful, neat and well-braided her in her school. Whenever, she was questioned on who made her hair, Oroma would never say as she hid the identity of her hairstylist. However, one of her roomates followed her in the night and saw her head on her laps with a headless Oroma plaiting it. It was believed that Oroma disappeared into thin air after the encounter and the student was never able to recover from that event.
5. Whistling at night
According to Nigerian folklore, whistling at night is wrong and calls for negative consequences to anyone who engages in this. Whistling at night is an invitation for spirits, demons, snakes or even finding oneself in a strange location. The most commonly summoned evil are snakes and as a result, many students in boarding school have developed a fear of indulging in this art due to the possibility of signaling snakes or mythical creatures especially as they cannot be controlled once called.
