Tradition / Region: Chad Mythology
Alternative names: The Flying Horse of Tchouroma
Category: Horse
The Myth
In a Bulala legend from the region of Lake Fitri in Chad, Bidi-Camoun is a miraculous chestnut horse given to the young prince Tchouroma during childhood.
The horse is described as splendid and unusually intelligent, but its supernatural nature only becomes clear after the death of Tchouroma’s mother. The women of the royal harem, jealous of the Sultan’s affection for his son, secretly attempt to poison the young prince with enchanted cakes.
Before Tchouroma can eat them, Bidi-Camoun warns him in a human voice:
“Eat nothing but what your father eats, drink nothing but what your father drinks.”
The horse repeatedly protects the prince from assassination attempts, revealing hidden dangers and exposing the schemes of the harem women. When the conspirators discover that the horse is betraying their plots, they arrange for Bidi-Camoun to be sacrificed through the advice of a corrupt witchdoctor.
Before the execution, the horse devises an escape.
During a public equestrian ceremony, Tchouroma rides Bidi-Camoun before the entire kingdom while drums sound and singers praise the prince. In the middle of the performance, the horse suddenly rises into the sky and flies away into the clouds, carrying his master far beyond Lake Fitri.
After the miraculous flight, Bidi-Camoun brings Tchouroma to a distant kingdom ruled by King Dongo. There the horse reveals even greater magical powers. He can become invisible, appear instantly when summoned by burning hairs from his mane, and travel with supernatural speed across enormous distances.
The horse helps the exiled prince survive hardship, win the love of Princess Aicha, obtain sacred healing milk from the wilderness, and defeat invading armies in battle. Whenever Tchouroma faces danger or humiliation, Bidi-Camoun returns to aid him.
In the war against the plunderers, the horse carries Tchouroma through battle like a storm. Mounted on Bidi-Camoun, the prince cuts through enemy forces and turns the tide of war almost single-handedly.
At the end of the story, Tchouroma reveals his royal identity and marries Princess Aicha. The tale concludes by stating that Bidi-Camoun became the ancestor of the swift and powerful horses of the Bulala people.
The horse is remembered not merely as a mount, but as a loyal supernatural guardian associated with kingship, destiny, wisdom, miraculous rescue, and divine protection.
Sources
Seid, J. B. (2007). Told by starlight in Chad (K. H. Hoenig, Trans.). Trenton, NJ: Africa World Press.