Tokkelosh

From TinWiki.org

The Tokkelosh (Tikolôsj – Zulu, Tokkelossie – Afrikaans) is a mythical creature that has its origin in the black, and mostly rural cultures in South Africa. It is a short hairy “man” with exceptionally large genitals that terrorizes disobedient wives and sometimes children. He is also described as a “water-spirit” or “water-sprite”.

1 History
2 Who and what
3 Sex
4 Protection
5 Afrikaans culture
6 Proof of existence
7 References
8 External Links
9 Related Discussion Threads

[edit]

History

It’s unknown exactly where and when the legend of the Tokkelosh started. The legend goes back as far as written history goes and healthy memory serves. Local South African tribes did not have any writing methods of recording history – other than rock paintings. Local tribesmen confirmed that some of the creatures depicted in rock paintings, are portrayals of the Tokkelosh. History was carried on by word of mouth from the old generation to the next generation, and this is the main method of how the legend of the Tokkelosh was kept alive.

The legend of the Tokkelosh can mainly be found in the Xhosa and Zulu cultures but are not limited to these. There are also similar legends amongst the Swazi, Sotho and Tswana cultures. In the 1700’s to early 1900’s the legend of the Tokkelosh was well-known in the Afrikaner culture, but without the sexual connotation.

[edit]

Who and what

The Tokkelosh is described as a short, naked, hairy, black man – or rather half man, half animal. A close resemblance to a Cape Baboon. It supposedly has a face that could either be that of a man or of a monkey. Although he is predominantly covered with hair, he is often described with a beard. His hands and feet are exceptionally big. His genitals are also unusually large – sometimes ridiculously so. His scrotum (and testicles) are often described as so big that he can carry it over his shoulder. (From this his Zulu name “tikolôsj” that actually translates to “Bag-carrier”.)

Other sightings include attributes like the ability to make himself invisible by putting on a hat. There are also legends where he pretended to be human – by hiding under clothes and actually helped people to complete tasks, such as difficult manual labor, but that is about as positive as the descriptions go. He is known to suck the milk from the udders of cows. He is also the messenger for witches and sorcerers (sangomas). He would be the one to deliver a message from the “masters of the dark art” and even deliver illnesses that in many cases cause death.

The Tokkelosh is also a brutal killer. He would kill his victims with his bare hands, breaking their necks and leaving them with faces looking back.

[edit]

Sex

Another attribute – the one that makes the Tokkelosh so popular, is his sexual abilities. In short the Tokkelosh can be described as a “sexual superman”. According to folklore there is “not a single black man” that can achieve the same sexual feats as the Tokkelosh. The Tokkelosh will visit woman at night and rape them. Some women will “invite” him by putting food out for him. When you do have sex with him, you must speak in a hushed voice, not to anger him, and also never look him in the eyes.

Some believe that he visits unfaithful wives, and others believe that he will visit women that are neglected by their husbands.

It may be the cultural background and traditions of the local black tribes that spawned the legend of the Tokkelosh. An actual “old wives tale”. In the above-mentioned cultures there is a system called “lobola”. When a man wants to marry a young woman he must pay the father of the woman for the right to marry her (Much like the arranged marriages of old Western societies). Traditionally he would make the payment with cattle. In the end the woman has no say in whom she gets married to. Polygamy is also an accepted practice in these cultures. These two factors could leave the women from being sexually unsatisfied. Many believe that it’s this sexual frustration that caused the women to create the Tokkelosh character or to use him as an “excuse” when they commit adultery.

[edit]

Protection

Many of the Tokkelosh believers still keep to the “ancient” traditions, sometimes religiously. According to the tradition you can put your bed on bricks (one brick under each leg). You can then sleep peacefully knowing that you are too high for the Tokkelosh to reach you. As extra measure you can sprinkle salt around your bed, and in the morning you’ll see his footprints in the salt, and you’ll know if he visited your room. It is also unwise to venture outside alone, after dark.

[edit]

Afrikaans culture

From the 1700-1900’s the Tokkelosh (Tokkelossie – Afrikaans) was a well-known character in Afrikaner (Dutch colonists) culture as well. He did not have the same sexual connotation as in the black cultures and are more described as animal-like – also called “water-baboon”. He would dress in woman’s clothes and catch naughty children and children that stays outside after dark.

[edit]

Proof of existence

There is no proof that the creature actually exists, other than eyewitness-accounts. Many eyewitnesses are also reluctant to “report” a sighting, out of fear of being ridiculed. (There is no authority or group to report Tokkelosh sightings.)

In cultures where they believe that the Tokkelosh exists they will often tell you that only those who believe can see him, or that he doesn’t want to be seen by everyone – especially men.

The fact that the Tokkelosh has been described in many different South African cultures with the same physical features and characteristics creates the idea that something either did or still does exist.

The legend of the Tokkelosh is slowly dying in South Africa with the fast development of the country. Luckily the legend and believe is still strong amongst the older folks and in rural areas.

There is a small museum – The Tokkelossie museum – in the Northern Cape in the Langeberg to pay tribute to the legend of the Tokkelosh.

Image: [[1]] This is a black artist's depiction of the Tokkelosh, called "Meeting with the Tokkelosh"

[edit]