The Shape-Shifting Monsters of African Lore

The Shape-Shifting Monsters of African Lore

This article relates to Black Leopard, Red Wolf

Stories of shapeshifters have permeated literature and art from the beginning of civilization. Therianthropy, or the changing of a human into an animal, is perhaps the most commonly known trope of the shapeshifting genre, with illustrations of such changes dating back all the way to 13,000 BC.

In his novel, Black Leopard, Red Wolf, Marlon James brings together many different therianthropy tropes to create an interesting kaleidoscope of the real and the imagined. The shapeshifters in the story can be heroes or monsters, they are sometimes tragic and sometimes terrifying. Beyond all else, they are rich with symbolism and imagination.

There is the Impundulu, the Lightning Bird, common to Zulu and Xhosa legends. The picture to the right is of a hammerkop, which is believed by some cultures to be a manifestation of the mythical bird. This creature can call lightning at will and often belongs to a witch or witch doctor. The Impundulu also drinks blood and, by doing so, sometimes infects its prey with its own power.

Then there is the Adze, the vampiric firefly that can turn into human form. In its human body, the Adze consumes human organs and as a firefly it spreads disease. Victims, if not killed, become witches.

Finally, there are the werehyenas, violent and unpredictable. Just as their fully animal counterparts are rumored to do, they dig up graves and prey on the sick or dying.

Though varied in their form and power, these shapeshifters have several commonalities. First, they are all particularly fond of children. Second, they are all disease-carriers. They are also responsible for hurting and destabilizing large groups of people.

These implications take on a whole new meaning when put into real-life context. There are stories of specific groups of people becoming scapegoats in their community and, as a result, being labeled as shapeshifters. For example, in Ethiopia, blacksmiths were widely believed to be werehyenas. In other areas of Africa, Jews were also labeled as werehyenas and, as such, were feared and shunned.

Marlon James gives us another side to the shapeshifter myth in which they are the heroes of the story. One of the most endearing characters in Black Leopard, Red Wolf is the Leopard. Powerful, charismatic and mysterious, this creature is the epitome of a hero - he swoops in to save lives and often initiates adventures. The Leopard is a powerful figure in African mythology, often associated with rulers. He is revered for his abilities and accepted wherever he goes. So goes the Leopard in our story - he is welcomed and loved by many, though he offers his love to few.

In mythology, shapeshifting happens for many reasons - in some cases it is a punishment or a curse, in others it is an escape or a liberation. In Marlon James' novel, it is both at once. The good and the bad shapeshifters find freedom in their other forms, yet they are also lashed with difficulty, separated from those that loved them as they pursue their opposing goals.

Photo of hammerkop by and (C) 2007 Derek Ramsey (Ram-Man)

Filed under Cultural Curiosities

This "beyond the book article" relates to Black Leopard, Red Wolf. It originally ran in March 2019 and has been updated for the February 2020 paperback edition. Go to magazine.