ELOKO
antagonistThe Devourers
The Eloko — plural biloko — is a creature of the folklore of the Mongo-Nkundo peoples of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The term refers to dwarf beings that haunt the densest, darkest parts of the equatorial forest. They are held to be spirits of ancestors, often people who died violently or were badly buried, returned to guard jealously the game and rare fruits of the forest. Hairless, their bodies covered in grass and clothed in leaves, they have burning eyes and a maw that can open wide enough to swallow a human being. They carry little bells whose sound is said to bewitch travellers — only hunters equipped with amulets escape their spell. They lure their prey with a soft voice, then devour it.
Powers & Attributes
Role in the ROHO universe
Soldiers of the NZI infiltrated into the forests of the NZA. They corrupt the vegetation and ensnare the minor spirits.
Sacred Mask
A mask of dark foliage studded with ritual bronze bells.
Era
3,000–1,000 BCE — Cycle of Powers
Words of the Spirit
“Do not listen to the bell in the forest.”
Frequently asked questions
What is an Eloko?
A dwarf creature of the equatorial forest in the Mongo-Nkundo folklore of the Congo, often understood as the spirit of an ancestor who died violently, a jealous guardian of the game and rare fruits of the forest.
Why the little bells?
The biloko carry little bells whose sound is reputed to cast a spell on passers-by. Only hunters protected by amulets can resist it.
What do they look like?
They are described as hairless, their bodies covered in grass and clothed in leaves, with eyes of fire and a mouth that can open wide enough to swallow a person whole.
Related spirits
Sources and references
- Wikipedia (EN) : Eloko
- Wikidata : Q5367107