Tradition: Nguni Mythology, South African Mythology
Alternative Names: Tikoloshe, Tikolosh, Tonkolosh, Tonkolosi, Tokolotshe, Thokolosi, Hili
Category: Goblin
The Myth
The Tokoloshe is a dwarf-like supernatural being in Nguni mythology, particularly associated with Zulu traditions and other cultures of southern Africa. It is generally described as a mischievous and malevolent spirit capable of becoming invisible by drinking water or swallowing a stone. Although it may sometimes be invoked to frighten children, the Tokoloshe is feared for its ability to cause illness, torment individuals, and even bring about death. It is also associated with witchcraft, as people believed to harbour hostile intentions may summon the creature to attack their enemies.
According to traditional accounts, a person seeking revenge may approach a malevolent witch doctor and request the creation of a Tokoloshe. In one version of the legend, the witch doctor obtains a dead body and prepares it through ritual procedures, piercing its eye sockets and brain with a heated iron rod to prevent it from thinking independently. Special powder is then applied to shrink the body, transforming it into a vessel for the spirit. The Tokoloshe is released against its intended victim, whom it terrorises over a period of weeks, months, or even years. The person who commissions the creature must promise the soul of a loved one, although the Tokoloshe itself chooses whose soul it will claim.
The Tokoloshe is particularly associated with unexplained deaths during the night. In traditional accounts, it was blamed when people sleeping on the floors of their homes died mysteriously. One explanation connects these beliefs to the dangers of indoor fires used for warmth in southern Africa’s cold highland winters. Fires burning in poorly ventilated homes could produce carbon monoxide, which can accumulate dangerously near sleeping people. Those sleeping on raised beds might be less exposed, and this contributed to the belief that the Tokoloshe could be kept away by elevating one’s sleeping place. Placing bricks beneath the legs of a bed became a well-known protective measure.
Protection against the Tokoloshe may also involve spiritual intervention. Traditional healers known as sangomas and certain Christian pastors are believed to possess the power to banish the spirit. The creature remains an influential figure in southern African popular culture, where stories about it can express genuine spiritual fears as well as provide a satirical way to criticise superstition and its influence on social behaviour.
Sources
“Tokoloshe.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed October 17, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokoloshe