Que sont les Abatwa ?

Les Abatwa sont des etres minuscules du folklore zoulou, decrits comme des chasseurs nomades assez petits pour se cacher sous un brin d'herbe, dormir dans les fourmilieres et monter sur des fourmis. On les dit dangereux malgre leur taille, car leurs fleches empoisonnees peuvent tuer un grand animal ou un homme.

Qui peut voir les Abatwa selon la tradition ?

D'apres les recits zoulous, les Abatwa sont extremement susceptibles et n'accepteraient d'etre vus que par les tres jeunes enfants, les femmes enceintes et les devins. Rappeler a un Abatwa sa petite taille serait percu comme une offense grave pouvant entrainer une attaque.

Faut-il confondre les Abatwa avec les Batwa d'Afrique centrale ?

Non. Les Abatwa du folklore zoulou sont des etres de conte, et le mot designe par ailleurs, en zoulou, les populations san d'Afrique australe. Les Twa ou Batwa d'Afrique centrale sont un tout autre groupe, des peuples chasseurs-cueilleurs bien reels de la region des Grands Lacs, malgre la ressemblance des noms.

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ABATAWA

neutral

Spirit

☥ SpiritZoulou →Zoulou — ZoulouElder

Gender: Masculine/FeminineSign: féérie

The Abatwa, umutwa in the singular, are tiny beings of the folklore of the Zulu of South Africa. Tradition describes them as nomadic hunters so small that they can hide beneath a blade of grass, sleep in anthills and ride ants. Despite their size they are feared, for they are armed with poisoned arrows capable of felling large game or a man. Touchy and proud, they are said to bear ill any reminder of their smallness. According to the accounts, only very young children, pregnant women and diviners can catch sight of them. This figure was collected in the nineteenth century by the missionary Henry Callaway in his gatherings of Zulu tales and traditions. Commentators note that the word abatwa also designates, in Zulu, the San populations known as Bushmen, hunter-gatherers of southern Africa, so that the storybook creature overlays the memory of a real people. They should not be confused with the Twa or Batwa, pygmy peoples of Central Africa, who bear a neighbouring name but form a distinct ethnic group.

Powers & Attributes

faery

Role in the ROHO universe

Keeper of the two hands. ABATAWA sends the fevers and withdraws them as the measure demands. Bound to the Zulu pantheon. Its alignment depends on the invoker's protocol.

Sacred Mask

An ancient ritual mask of sacred wood, old metal and black stone, engraved with symbols of faery, embodiment of the power of Abatawa

Era

Ancient cycle

Frequently asked questions

What are the Abatwa?

The Abatwa are tiny beings of Zulu folklore, described as nomadic hunters small enough to hide beneath a blade of grass, sleep in anthills and ride ants. They are said to be dangerous despite their size, for their poisoned arrows can kill a large animal or a man.

Who can see the Abatwa according to tradition?

According to the Zulu accounts, the Abatwa are extremely touchy and would accept being seen only by very young children, pregnant women and diviners. To remind an Abatwa of his small size would be taken as a grave offence that could bring on an attack.

Should the Abatwa be confused with the Batwa of Central Africa?

No. The Abatwa of Zulu folklore are storybook beings, and the word moreover designates, in Zulu, the San populations of southern Africa. The Twa or Batwa of Central Africa are another matter entirely — very real hunter-gatherer peoples of the Great Lakes region, despite the resemblance of the names.

Related spirits

EHLOSE IDLOZI INTULO PUKQILI

Sources and references

Henry Callaway, Nursery Tales, Traditions, and Histories of the Zulus (1868)