Tokolossie

Clifton South Africa*

In sommige kulture bestaan bonatuurlike oortuigings en beïnvloed individue deur mitologiese idees en figure. In Suid-Afrika is die tokoloshe ‘n voorbeeld van ‘n bonatuurlike kultuur
figuur, vermoedelik kort, stewig en harig, soortgelyk aan ‘n kabouter, wat sy slagoffers in die nag terroriseer terwyl hulle slaap. In staat tot onsigbaarheid, die tokoloshe het glo ‘n groot penis en kan verwoesting en vernietiging veroorsaak, beide sielkundig, fisies en seksueel, in ‘n mens se lewe. Die studie het ten doel gehad om die rol van mitiese wesens, spesifiek die tokoloshe op geestesgesondheid, te verken en te beskryf onder ‘n steekproef AmaXhosa-individue wat in landelike gemeenskappe in die Oos-Kaap, Suid-Afrika woon.

Vier (4) homogene fokusgroepe, bestaande uit vyf (5) individue elk van die AmaXhosa landelike gemeenskappe is uitgevoer en die volgende temas is uit die data onttrek:

(1) Kulturele geloof in die bestaan van die tokoloshe,
(2) Oorsprong en doel van die tokoloshe,
(3) Die tokoloshe, vrees en geestesgesondheid.

Hierdie studie het bevind dat AmaXhosa sterk glo in die bestaan van die tokoloshe, en dat dit glo ontstaan het uit ‘n ander bonatuurlike geloof, heksery. Hulle beskryf die tokoloshe verder as ‘n bose gees, wat op bevel van ‘n heks swart magie gebruik om ongeluk vir mense te veroorsaak. Die studie verskaf konteks aan die behoefte aan sielkunde om sy begrip van bonatuurlike kulturele oortuigings wat geestesgesondheid in Suid-Afrika beïnvloed, te verbreed. Hierdie studie was ook belangrik, gegewe die gebrek aan sielkundige inligting wat tans beskikbaar is oor bonatuurlike oortuigings en geestesgesondheid. Gegewe die sentraliteit wat sulke oortuigings in die lewens van baie kulture in Suid-Afrika speel, is sulke studies noodsaaklik as die sielkunde van relevansie ontwikkel wil word.

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In some cultures, supernatural beliefs exist and influence individuals through mythological ideas and figures. In South Africa, the tokoloshe is an example of a supernatural cultural
figure, believed to be short, stout, and hairy, similar to a goblin, who terrorises its victims during the night while they are asleep. Capable of invisibility, the tokoloshe is believed to have a large penis and can cause havoc and destruction, both psychologically, physically, and sexually, in one’s life. The study aimed to explore and describe the role of mythical creatures, specifically, the tokoloshe on mental health, amongst a sample of AmaXhosa individuals residing in rural communities in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.

Four (4) homogenous focus groups, comprising five (5) individuals each from the AmaXhosa rural communities were conducted and the following themes were extracted from the data:

(1)  Cultural belief in the existence of the tokoloshe,
(2) Origins and purpose of the tokoloshe,
(3) The tokoloshe, fear, and mental health.

This study found that AmaXhosa strongly believe in the existence of the tokoloshe, and that it is believed to have originated from another supernatural belief, witchcraft. They further describe the tokoloshe as an evil spirit, who at the command of a witch, uses black magic to cause misfortune to people.   The study provides context to the need for psychology to broaden its understanding of supernatural cultural beliefs that influence mental health in South Africa. This study was also important, given the dearth of psychological information currently available on supernatural beliefs and mental health. Given the centrality such beliefs play in the lives of many cultures in South Africa, such studies are necessitated if the psychology of relevance is to be developed.

https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/ejc-linga_v21_n1_a10#:

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In Zulu mythology, Tikoloshe, Tokoloshe or Hili is a dwarf-like water sprite. It is considered a mischievous and evil spirit that can become invisible by drinking water.  (onthou gerus Marikana era toe hulle as ‘onsienlik’ beskyf is)

Tokoloshes are called upon by malevolent people to cause trouble for others. At its least harmful a tokoloshe can be used to scare children, but its power extends to causing illness or even the death of the victim. The creature might be banished by a n’anga (spiritual healer), who has the power to expel it from the area.

In many Xhosa legends the tokoloshe is a demon that looks like a baboon and has a connection to water. It’s described as short, bulky, and has a high forehead and balding head, it walks around during night or day swinging its long arms like a monkey. But, it has many powers and can shapeshift if it chooses to. It can take human form, which will make is look almost normal since some of its monkey-like traits will still show. It may also take the form of a big black bird-like creature with a skull head so that it can fly over villages in search of victims.

Like other creatures, the tokoloshe can be used by magicians against their enemies. Such partnerships are usually the result of a pact made between the witch and creature. In return for helping the witch, the tokoloshe may ask for her cow’s milk, food, lodging or sex with the witch as payment. If the witch is male, the creature will ask for the same items, but instead it will want the man to find a woman for it to sleep with.  Sometimes when doing the magicians evil deeds it will take on the form of the skull-headed bird (hili) instead, spreading disease wherever it goes. It’s said that the touch of the creature’s claw can create a lingering sickness that even the most powerful magician can’t dispel.

Strange attacks plague the township’s women, leaving the leaders at a loss to defend them. At the same time Mthnuzi, a shrewd businessman, is becoming wealthier and more popular with the ladies – something is amiss. The local reverend, Simon Nkosi, learns that Mthunzi is controlling a Tokoloshe to fulfill his greedy desires. In his greed he breaks a golden rule of maintaining control over the beast, and it goes on a rampage. Now its thirst for blood is strong and comes after Mthunzi’s women, saving the one he loves for last. Together with Reverend Simon they must take on a mythical beast that has never been defeated.

http://asouthernlifeinscandaloustimes.blogspot.com/2011/12/blood-tokoleshe.html

There are many examples as well – to kill animals to satisfy themselves and the Tokoloshe.

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Video

Tokoloshe

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