Tradition: Nigerian Mythology
Alternative Names: —
Category: Goblin
The Myth
The Egbere are short, malevolent humanoid beings in Yoruba mythology that inhabit wooded areas and are active only at night. They are also associated with graves, emerging around midnight and returning to their resting places at dawn. An early account compares their nocturnal habits to those of vampires and describes them as creatures that ride sheep and bring disease upon them.
The Egbere are particularly associated with a small mat known as the mat of wealth. According to tradition, anyone who manages to take this mat from an Egbere will gain unimaginable riches. This belief makes the creatures both feared supernatural beings and potential sources of extraordinary wealth.
The Egbere are also said to cry constantly, although their tears are regarded with suspicion and their sincerity is questioned. Their combination of nocturnal activity, association with graves, harm to livestock, and connection to a mat of great value gives them a distinctive place among the supernatural beings of Yoruba folklore. Their precise physical appearance beyond their short stature is not described in the available accounts.
Sources
“Egbere.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed October 17, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egbere