Mythology

Ngi Nzame

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Tradition / Region: Gabon Mythology
Alternative names: Ngi
Category: Monkey

The Myth

Ngi Nzame was one of the seven sons of Essamnyambogë in Fang mythology. His name meant “Gorilla, Child of God,” and he represented the powerful but instinctive side of human nature. Like his brothers Woa the chimpanzee and Zoak the elephant, Ngi was connected to the wilderness, hunger, and the untamed forces of the forest.

Long ago, the creator Nzame left his seven sons alone in their village. Without him they had no fire, no food, and no guidance. Worried and desperate, the eldest brother Mot a Nzame ordered his brothers one by one to journey into the great forest and search for their divine father.

After Woa disappeared into the wilderness and never returned, Mot sent Ngi Nzame to continue the search.

Ngi entered the forest determined to find Nzame, but the deeper he traveled, the stronger the temptations of the wilderness became. Soon hunger overtook him. Seeing fruit hanging from the trees, he stopped and devoured it greedily, forgetting the purpose of his journey.

Continuing deeper into the forest, Ngi eventually reached a riverbank surrounded by thick vegetation and shade. There, instead of searching further for his father, he abandoned the path entirely and disappeared into the bush.

Like his brothers before him, Ngi became lost to instinct and desire.

He never returned home.

The Fang viewed this story as more than a tale about a gorilla-like being wandering into the forest. Ngi symbolized the dangerous pull of appetite, distraction, and animal instinct inside human beings themselves. His failure showed how easily one could lose sight of wisdom, purpose, and spiritual truth when consumed by hunger and earthly desires.

Unlike Mot a Nzame — who resisted temptation and ultimately found the creator — Ngi remained trapped in the wilderness, becoming part of the untamed forest forever.

Sources

Mvé Ondo, B. (2011). Wisdom and initiation in Gabon: A philosophical analysis of Fang tales, myths, and legends (J. F. Barnes, Trans.). Lanham, MD: Lexington Books.

Evus

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Tradition / Region: Gabon Mythology
Alternative names: Evu
Category: Forest Dweller

The Myth

Evus was a feared being in Fang mythology, associated with witchcraft, death, hunger, corruption, and destructive desire. Stories described him as a strange creature living deep inside swamps and forests, sometimes appearing as a giant toad, a frog-like beast, or a mysterious child hidden inside hollow trees. He fed on raw meat and lived far from human villages in dark wilderness untouched by civilization.

Long ago, during the first age of humanity, the creator Zamba lived among humans and protected them. At that time people did not know true death, sickness, or suffering. Zamba warned his wife never to enter a forbidden part of the forest where Evus lived hidden among the swamps.

But curiosity overcame her.

After Zamba left on a journey, the woman secretly entered the forbidden forest. There she found piles of freshly killed animals and heard a voice calling from the swamp. Soon Evus revealed himself — an ugly, unnatural creature who promised endless meat and prosperity if she brought him back to the village.

Because Evus could not openly travel among humans, he instructed the woman to squat down. The creature then entered her body through her vagina and lodged himself inside her stomach.

From that moment onward, disaster entered the world.

Once inside the village, Evus constantly demanded food. First he devoured goats and sheep. Then chickens. Soon all the domestic animals were gone, but his hunger never stopped growing.

Finally, Evus demanded human flesh.

The woman’s daughter became his first human victim, and through this act death entered human existence forever. Bodies began to decay, suffering appeared among mankind, and the peaceful world created by Zamba collapsed.

When Zamba returned and saw what had happened, he became furious. Seeing that Evus now lived inside humanity itself, he abandoned mankind and left humans alone with death, evil, and suffering.

From then onward, the Fang believed Evus remained hidden within certain people, feeding dark desires such as greed, jealousy, violence, sorcery, and destruction. He became a symbol of the dangerous force hidden inside the human heart — a hunger that can never truly be satisfied.

Sources

Mvé Ondo, B. (2011). Wisdom and initiation in Gabon: A philosophical analysis of Fang tales, myths, and legends (J. F. Barnes, Trans.). Lanham, MD: Lexington Books.

Apophis

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Tradition / Region: Egyptian Mythology
Alternative names: Apep, Aphoph
Category: Snake

The Myth

Apophis was the great serpent of chaos in ancient Egyptian mythology and the eternal enemy of the sun god Ra. Usually depicted as a gigantic snake or dragon-like serpent, Apophis represented darkness, destruction, disorder, and everything opposed to divine order and truth.

Egyptians believed that every night, as Ra traveled through the underworld in his solar boat, Apophis attempted to stop him and plunge the world into eternal darkness. The giant serpent attacked the sun boat with coils, hypnotic gazes, storms, and monstrous strength.

Some traditions described Apophis as enormous beyond imagination, stretching dozens of yards in length with a terrifying flint-like head. His movements were believed to cause earthquakes and thunder, while his roar shook the underworld itself.

Ra did not fight alone. Other gods traveled with the solar barque and helped defend the sun against the chaos serpent. The god Set was especially associated with spearing Apophis during these nightly battles, while in other stories Ra himself slew the monster in the form of a giant cat.

Although Apophis was repeatedly defeated, he could never be fully destroyed. Each night he returned again from the primordial waters of chaos to renew the struggle against the sun.

Because the serpent symbolized cosmic evil and disorder, Egyptian priests performed rituals specifically meant to weaken him. In ceremonies known as the Overthrowing of Apophis, priests created wax figures or drawings of the serpent which were spat upon, stabbed, burned, mutilated, and destroyed while protective spells were recited.

Apophis was also feared in funerary beliefs. Some traditions described him as an eater of souls lurking in the underworld, and protective spells were buried with the dead to defend them against his attacks.

Among all Egyptian monsters and hostile beings, Apophis became the ultimate symbol of chaos battling against light, life, and cosmic order.

Sources

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Apophis. In Wikipedia. Retrieved May 15, 2026, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apophis

Apshait

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Tradition / Region: Egypt Mythology
Alternative names: Apshait Beetle
Category: Insect

The Myth

The Apshait was a monstrous flesh-eating beetle from ancient Egyptian mythology and funerary tradition. It appears in the Book of the Dead, particularly in Chapter 36, where it is described as a corpse-devouring creature feared by the dead.

The creature was believed to gnaw upon bodies and consume corpses, making it a symbol of decay and destruction within the tomb. Egyptian funerary spells were designed to protect the deceased from beings like the Apshait during the journey through the afterlife.

In protective rituals, the soul of the dead threatens the Apshait with weapons such as knives and spears, magically driving the monster away before it can damage the body.

Some scholars believe the myth may have originated from real carrion beetles found inside damaged or poorly preserved mummies, where insects fed upon the wrappings and flesh of the dead.

Later Egyptian texts sometimes confused the Apshait with the tortoise, another creature occasionally associated with darkness and enemies of the sun god Ra.

Sources

A Book of Creatures. (2017, May 22). Apshait. Retrieved May 15, 2026, from https://abookofcreatures.com/2017/05/22/apshait/

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Apshait. In Wikipedia. Retrieved May 15, 2026, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apshait


Bāa-ta

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Tradition / Region: Egyptian Mythology
Alternative names: Ba-ta
Category: Snake

The Myth

Bāa-ta was a monster serpent mentioned in ancient Egyptian mythology. It was described as a strange snake with a head at each end of its body.

Very little information about the creature survives, and it is mainly known from old Egyptian texts that briefly mention its appearance. Unlike better-known Egyptian monsters, Bāa-ta does not have a large surviving mythology or detailed stories attached to it.

Its unusual double-headed form made it one of the stranger creatures recorded in Egyptian mythological tradition.

Sources

Budge, E. A. W. (1920). An Egyptian hieroglyphic dictionary: With an index of English words, king list and geographical list with indexes, list of hieroglyphic characters, Coptic and Semitic alphabets, etc. (Vol. 1). London: J. Murray.


Indombe

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Tradition / Region: Congo Mythology
Alternative names: The Copper Snake, The Fire Serpent
Category: Snake

The Myth

Indombe is a colossal supernatural serpent from Bakongo tradition, feared and revered as a being of fire, motherhood, death, and transformation. She is described as an enormous copper-colored snake more than three feet wide and several miles long, dwelling high within the forests of the Congo. Her glowing body radiates intense inner heat, shining red like burning metal beneath the setting sun.

Ancient stories associate Indombe with fire, sunset, fertility, and destructive spiritual power. She is considered immeasurably ancient, older than villages and kingdoms, and connected to forces beyond ordinary human understanding.

The best-known legend of Indombe begins when the hero and culture figure Itonde entered the forest with his brother Lofale. Their sister-in-law, pregnant and overcome by strange cravings, desired snake meat, and the brothers searched the wilderness to find it.

Deep in the forest they encountered Indombe coiled around a giant tree, blazing with fiery light so bright that it illuminated the forest canopy like a second sun. Itonde called for the serpent to descend, but Indombe became enraged when he attempted to summon her through chants and magical words.

In fury, the giant snake pressed her burning-hot head against Itonde’s shoulder, scorching him nearly to death. Yet Itonde possessed a magical bell capable of restoring his strength and healing his wounds. Each time he rang the bell, his power increased while Indombe weakened.

Fearing the coming of night, Itonde even captured the sun itself to prevent darkness from aiding the serpent. After a long struggle, he finally subdued Indombe and carried her triumphantly back toward his village.

But the serpent proved far more dangerous than expected. The moment Itonde set her down outside the village gates, Indombe coiled around the settlement and swallowed every inhabitant whole.

Enraged, Itonde killed the serpent with an enchanted machete, slicing her body apart and frying the pieces in oil. Before dying, however, Indombe warned him that every fragment of her body had to be consumed completely or she would return.

Itonde ate everything except the head, which he hid beneath his bed.

The following morning, Indombe returned as a ghostly spirit serpent.

Rather than seeking revenge, the spectral Indombe explained that because part of her remained uneaten, her spirit could never fully die. She then guided Itonde to a beautiful new land free from sickness and suffering, offering him a new beginning.

Before disappearing forever, the spirit serpent granted Itonde a new name and destiny. She then coiled herself one final time and vanished into the river depths.

Indombe remains one of the most symbolic serpent beings in Central African mythology. She represents both destruction and renewal, death and motherhood, fire and rebirth. In many interpretations, she embodies the dangerous but necessary forces of transformation that destroy old worlds so new ones may emerge.

Sources

A Book of Creatures. (2016, November 11). Indombe. Retrieved May 15, 2026, from https://abookofcreatures.com/2016/11/11/indombe/

Lake Tanganyika Monster

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Tradition / Region: Congo Mythology, Burundi Mythology, Tanzania Mythology, Zambia Mythology
Alternative names: Tanganyika Serpent, Tanganyika Lake Monster
Category: Snake

The Myth

Deep beneath the dark waters of Lake Tanganyika, one of Africa’s oldest and deepest lakes, legends speak of an enormous serpentine creature that occasionally rises from the depths. Witnesses describe it as colossal, ancient, and unlike any known animal — a monstrous being whose body coils vertically above the water in gigantic loops.

Stories surrounding the creature have circulated for generations among the peoples living around the lake. Fishermen, colonial travelers, missionaries, and hunters all reported strange sightings far out on the water or near isolated rocky shores. Some tales describe it as a giant serpent; others compare it to an immense aquatic mammal or prehistoric saurian.

One of the earliest reports appeared in the late nineteenth century, when missionaries near the lake spoke of a massive “sea serpent” more than thirty feet long resting on the shore before sliding back into the water.

The most famous sighting occurred in 1914 near the Burundian side of the lake. German doctor M. V. Thierfelder and a companion were traveling near a rocky bay when they suddenly saw a gigantic creature emerging from the water.

The beast moved unlike an ordinary snake. Instead of writhing horizontally, enormous loops of its body rose vertically from the lake in slow, majestic undulations. Thierfelder counted as many as six coils arching above the surface at once.

He described the creature as bright brown in color, thick-bodied, and apparently covered not in scales but in a smooth, fleece-like skin. It possessed no visible legs or fins, although thin fin-like appendages appeared near the head. Its head itself was narrow and mammalian rather than reptilian, resembling something between a serpent and a manatee.

The gigantic animal glided silently among a group of otters before turning and disappearing back into the deeper waters of the lake.

Local workers accompanying the expedition claimed that nearby people believed the monster appeared only once every several years. Other traditions around Lake Tanganyika speak of enormous lake spirits, giant fish capable of overturning canoes, and mysterious aquatic beings inhabiting the unfathomable depths.

Additional reports later described strange clawed tracks along the shoreline, gigantic tail marks in the mud, and massive shapes mistaken for islands before suddenly diving beneath the water.

Because Lake Tanganyika is extraordinarily deep and ancient, the monster became associated with ideas of primordial survival — a relic from an older world hidden beneath dark freshwater trenches untouched by humans.

Modern interpretations vary widely. Some believe the sightings were exaggerated encounters with large aquatic animals or optical illusions caused by waves and light. Others connect the creature to African serpent-dragon traditions such as the Lukwata of Lake Victoria.

Yet the legend persists because of the unsettling consistency of certain descriptions: immense size, vertical coils rising from the lake, mammal-like features, and silent movement through deep water.

To this day, Lake Tanganyika retains an atmosphere of mystery. Its vast dark waters, immense depth, and isolated shores continue to inspire stories of ancient creatures still hidden beneath the surface.

Sources

Cryptid Archives. (n.d.). Lake Tanganyika monster. Retrieved May 15, 2026, from https://cryptidarchives.fandom.com/wiki/Lake_Tanganyika_monster

Enchanted Lion of Ntringui

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Tradition / Region: Comoros Mythology
Alternative names: The Lion Guardian of Ntringui, The Stone Lion of the Mountain
Category: Object, Lion

The Myth

Deep within the forests of Mount Ntringui, travelers speak of an enormous stone lion hidden among tangled vines and ancient trees. The statue is said to guard the sacred paths leading toward the mountain’s supernatural heart. Though carved from stone, the lion is believed to possess awareness, intelligence, and the power to judge the souls of those who approach it.

According to legend, the lion stands within a secluded clearing surrounded by dense jungle where the air grows unnaturally silent. Moss and roots cover much of its body, but its face remains perfectly untouched, its eyes fixed upon the mountain paths as if eternally watching intruders.

The people of Anjouan believe the statue was placed there long ago by the Mountain Spirit of Ntringui to prevent the selfish, greedy, and cruel from reaching the sacred summit. Many who sought the mountain’s hidden wonders reportedly fled after hearing growls echo through the forest or seeing the lion’s eyes glow in the darkness.

The most famous story connected to the lion concerns a young woman named Amina, who climbed Mount Ntringui hoping to help her struggling village. Unlike treasure seekers who came before her, Amina sought nothing for herself. She wished only for prosperity and peace for her people.

While traveling through the mountain forest, she reached the clearing of the lion statue. As she approached, the ground trembled and the lion’s stone eyes began to shine with supernatural light. The creature spoke with a voice like thunder and demanded proof that her heart was pure.

Instead of showing fear, Amina knelt before the lion and explained that she desired no riches or glory, only relief for her starving village. The enchanted guardian recognized the sincerity in her words. Its expression softened, and with a deafening roar it moved aside, allowing her passage deeper into the mountain.

Because of this story, the Enchanted Lion became a symbol of courage, humility, and spiritual worthiness in Anjouan folklore. The statue is not viewed as evil, but as a sacred protector that separates the pure-hearted from those corrupted by greed.

Even today, some villagers claim strange things happen near the forests of Ntringui. Travelers report hearing distant roaring despite there being no lions on the island, while others speak of glimpsing glowing eyes between the trees before suddenly losing the mountain path. Many believe the Enchanted Lion still guards the hidden mysteries of Ntringui, waiting silently for the next worthy soul to approach.

Sources

Hichamou, P. (n.d.). Prince tales of the Comoros: Legends, mysteries & enchantments from the Isles of the Moon.

Eel Spirit of Sima

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Tradition / Region: Comoros Mythology
Alternative names: The Eel of Sima, The Eel Guardian
Category: Fish

The Myth

The Eel Spirit of Sima is a supernatural being associated with the coastal waters of Anjouan. She is described as a radiant eel with shimmering, iridescent skin that glides through the ocean with unnatural grace. In village traditions, the spirit is believed to guard the balance between the people of Sima and the sea that sustains them.

According to legend, the spirit first revealed herself after a violent storm struck the coast of Sima. When the sea finally calmed, villagers discovered a strange eel trapped in a shallow tide pool. Unlike ordinary eels, its body reflected brilliant colors beneath the sunlight, and its movements seemed almost magical.

The elders argued over whether the creature was a blessing or a curse. A fisherman named Hamadi eventually brought the eel home and prepared it as food. The taste was said to be unlike anything known before — rich, tender, and deeply nourishing. Soon the eel became highly valued among the people of Sima and was regarded as a sacred gift from the ocean itself.

Over time, stories spread that the eel was connected to a powerful spirit living beneath the sea. The Eel Spirit was said to appear during nights of the full moon, moving silently through the waters while blessing fishermen with calm seas and plentiful catches.

The villagers believed the spirit demanded balance and respect. Those who took only what they needed were rewarded with prosperity. But greed and wastefulness were believed to anger her.

One famous story tells of a fisherman named Mwana who ignored the warnings of the elders and tried to catch enormous quantities of eel for profit. As his nets overflowed, the sea suddenly became unnaturally silent. A glowing figure emerged from the water — the Eel Spirit herself.

She asked Mwana why he had taken more than he needed and warned him that the eel was meant for survival and cultural harmony, not greed. Terrified, Mwana begged forgiveness and released most of his catch back into the sea.

Afterward, the elders declared that the eel must always be harvested with restraint and gratitude. Ceremonies and festivals were held in honor of the spirit, and the eel became a sacred symbol of Sima’s identity and connection to the ocean.

Today, the legend of the Eel Spirit remains tied to ideas of respect for nature, sustainability, and the spiritual bond between coastal communities and the sea. In local tradition, the shimmering figure of the spirit can still sometimes be seen beneath the moonlit waters near Sima, silently watching over her people.

Sources

Hichamou, P. (n.d.). Prince tales of the Comoros: Legends, mysteries & enchantments from the Isles of the Moon.

Silver Bird of Dzialandze

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Tradition / Region: Comoros Mythology
Alternative names: The Birds of Dzialandze, The Jinn’s Birds
Category: Bird

The Myth

The Silver Birds of Dzialandze are mystical creatures said to inhabit the enchanted lake of Dzialandze on Anjouan. They are described as elegant birds with feathers that shimmer like polished silver beneath the sunlight and moonlight alike. Their songs are soft, haunting, and strangely melodic, echoing across the lake and forest like voices from another world.

According to local tradition, the birds serve the jinn who dwell within the sacred waters of Dzialandze. The lake itself is believed to possess supernatural purity: no fallen leaf, branch, or speck of dirt is ever allowed to rest upon its surface. Whenever something falls from the surrounding forest canopy, the silver birds descend instantly, snatching it away before it can touch the water.

The people of Anjouan believe the birds are not ordinary animals but spiritual guardians bound to the lake by an ancient pact with the unseen world. Their endless vigilance preserves the sacred balance between nature, spirits, and humanity.

One of the most famous legends surrounding the birds tells of a curious boy named Hani. Fascinated by stories of the lake, he secretly traveled there at dawn to witness the miracle for himself. Hidden among the bushes, he watched in amazement as a single falling leaf was caught midair by a flash of silver wings before it touched the water.

Overcome with curiosity, Hani threw handfuls of leaves into the air to test the birds. They darted through the sky with supernatural speed, catching every leaf before it landed. But as they did, mist rose from the lake and a luminous jinn emerged from the waters.

The spirit warned Hani that the lake was sacred and remained pure because of the harmony between the jinn and the silver birds. Disturbing that balance, the jinn explained, could invite chaos into the world.

Humbled and frightened, Hani apologized. The jinn forgave him and instructed him to teach others to respect the mysteries of Dzialandze rather than seek to control or challenge them.

From that day onward, the Silver Birds became symbols of sacred balance, spiritual guardianship, and the invisible forces protecting the natural world. Even today, stories persist of travelers hearing strange songs near the lake at dusk or glimpsing flashes of silver wings moving silently through the mist above the water.

Sources

Hichamou, P. (n.d.). Prince tales of the Comoros: Legends, mysteries & enchantments from the Isles of the Moon.