Qu'est-ce que le Dodo dans le folklore africain ?

Le Dodo est un ogre dévoreur d'hommes des contes d'Afrique de l'Ouest, surtout chez les Haoussa. Géant et métamorphe, il hante les arbres isolés et engloutit ses victimes. Il sert souvent d'épouvantail dans les récits destinés à mettre en garde les enfants.

Pourquoi le Dodo est-il lié à la sorcellerie ?

Dans l'animisme haoussa, dodo désigne aussi des esprits malfaisants. La tradition rapporte que certaines personnes leur offrent des sacrifices pour obtenir de l'aide dans des entreprises néfastes, ce qui associe la figure aux pratiques de sorcellerie et de magie.

Le Dodo appartient-il à la mythologie khoisan ?

Non. Les sources documentées rattachent le Dodo aux traditions haoussa et ouest africaines, non aux peuples khoisan d'Afrique australe. Aucune figure nommée Dodo n'est attestée dans la mythologie khoisan, ce qui invite à la prudence sur cette classification.

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DODO

neutral

Demon

✦ SoulKhoisan →Bushman — BushmanElder

Gender: MasculineSign: sorcellerie

Dodo designates, in the traditions of West Africa — in particular among the Hausa of Nigeria and Niger — a monstrous, man-devouring creature. The tales describe it as a giant ogre, sometimes furnished with long hair and a tail, able to swallow beasts and humans, haunting isolated trees such as the baobab or the tamarind. A shapeshifter, it takes the form of various animals to deceive its victims and often serves as a bogeyman in the tales meant for children. In Hausa animism, the term dodo also applies to malevolent spirits to whom certain people offer sacrifices to obtain help in harmful deeds, which attaches the figure to witchcraft. Certain readings see in it an old storm deity progressively reduced to the rank of demon under the influence of the monotheistic religions.

Powers & Attributes

witchcraft

Role in the ROHO universe

Weaver of the invisible threads. DODO handles the subtle energies and teaches the language of correspondences. Bound to the Khoisan pantheon. Its alignment depends on the invoker's protocol.

Sacred Mask

An ancient ritual mask of vegetable ivory, amethyst and sacred wood, engraved with symbols of witchcraft, embodiment of the power of Dodo

Era

Ancient cycle

Frequently asked questions

What is the Dodo in African folklore?

The Dodo is a man-devouring ogre of the tales of West Africa, above all among the Hausa. Giant and shapeshifting, it haunts isolated trees and swallows its victims. It often serves as a bogeyman in the tales meant to warn children.

Why is the Dodo bound to witchcraft?

In Hausa animism, dodo also designates malevolent spirits. Tradition reports that certain people offer them sacrifices to obtain help in harmful undertakings, which associates the figure with the practices of witchcraft and magic.

Does the Dodo belong to Khoisan mythology?

No. The documented sources attach the Dodo to the Hausa and West African traditions, not to the Khoisan peoples of southern Africa. No figure named Dodo is attested in Khoisan mythology, which calls for caution about this classification.

Related spirits

COGAZ COTI HEISE GA GORIB

Sources and references

Arthur John Newman Tremearne, Hausa Superstitions and Customs: An Introduction to the Folk-Lore and the Folk (1913)