Tradition / Region: Senegal Mythology, Burkino Faso Mythology
Also Known As: Dowlis, Stick Man, Night Husband
Category: Succubus

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The Myth

The Dorlis is a feared spirit from West African folklore, especially associated with traditions in Senegal and Burkina Faso. It is described as a malevolent supernatural being that visits people at night while they sleep.

By day, the Dorlis appears as an ordinary human, blending into society unnoticed. At night, however, it is believed to become invisible or transform into an animal in order to secretly enter homes. Because of its nocturnal behavior, it is sometimes called the “night husband.”

Legends portray the Dorlis as a dangerous spirit associated with nighttime visitations, sleep, and supernatural assaults during the night. People believed it could slip through tiny openings and silently approach sleeping victims.

Traditional methods said to repel the Dorlis include wearing red or black underwear inside out and placing a pair of scissors beneath the bed before sleeping.

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Sources

Blake’s. (2015, July 27). Mythes, légendes et croyances traditionnelles des Antilles-Guyane. Retrieved May 10, 2026, from https://blakes.fr/mythes-legendes-et-croyances-traditionnelles-des-antilles-guyane/

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