Y is for Yumboes Faeries have been described as the Good People or the Good Neighbours in many cultures. In African Folklore, the Yumboes are known as the bakhna rakhna, “Good People”. Folklore The Fairy Mythology Illustrative of the Romance and Superstition of Various Countries. by Thomas Keightley, [1870] When evening’s shades o’er Goree’s Isle extend,The nimble Yumboes from the…
J is for Jengu If there is a big body of water, stories of merfolk can be found. Folklore The Element Encyclopedia of Fairies by Lucy Cooper An African water spirit in southern Cameroon beliefs, the jengu, dwelling in rivers, streams, and the sea, is a benevolent and healing force who also acts as an intermediary…
U is for Ululate. ululate v howl or wail as an expression of strong emotion Oxford English Dictionary Hyenas, those giggling beasts, freaked me out in The Lion King when I was just a little girl. I got over it. And then I learned of the Werehyena. Folklore The Magicality of the Hyena: Beliefs and Practices in…
Last week we looked at what I write: Dark Fantasy. This week we’re looking at what features in my writing. Once upon a time I wrote about what folklore is and why folklore is important. I wrote about how we embrace it in our Disney movies and young adult novels – disguised as fairy tales….