Tradition: Madagascar Mythology
Alternative Names: Kalanoro
Category: Dwarf
The Myth
The Kalanoro are small, hairy humanoid spirits said to have once lived physically in the rainforests of Madagascar. They are described as having long, unkempt hair and fingernails, sharp fangs, backward-facing legs and feet, and eyes that glow red. They live alone in the wilderness and are said to eat raw meat. Their strange whining voices are frightening enough to make dogs afraid. Tradition holds that their physical forms eventually disappeared as the forests were destroyed, but the Kalanoro continued to exist as spirits.
The Kalanoro can be dangerous and unpredictable. They are sometimes feared as malevolent beings who rob or kill people and abduct children. A Sakalava story tells of Kalanoro taking children away because they believed the children’s parents were mistreating them. Once the parents fulfilled the Kalanoro’s demands, the children were returned unharmed. Yet they are not always hostile toward humans. They can become loyal servants and protectors, taking a paternal interest in the people they are attached to. They may steal on behalf of their human companions, reveal hidden knowledge, or help with healing, while in more recent traditions they have also become associated with alcoholism.
People seeking the help of a Kalanoro traditionally approach its human owner at night and communicate with the spirit through a wall or closed door. The Kalanoro may speak through the human in a high, nasal voice and is believed to possess knowledge of healing and clairvoyance. It can also reveal taboos through dreams and visions, warning people about actions they must not perform. In Malagasy tradition, the Kalanoro therefore occupy an uncertain place between frightening forest spirits and powerful supernatural helpers, capable of harming people but also protecting, advising, and healing those under their care. Some traditions further connect them with the Vazimba, regarding the latter as the ghosts of Kalanoro.
Sources
“Der einkehrende Zwerg.” SAGEN.at – Traditionelle Sagen aus Deutschland. Reproduced by SAGEN.at. https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/grimm/dereinkehrendezwerg.html