While traveling through the greater portion of South Africa, we encountered a fantastic mythical creature the country’s indigenous peoples believe to take to the skies. The Zulu, Pondo, and Xhosa of South Africa all maintain variations of stories depicting the fabled Lightning Bird (not Zapdos)[2]. Depending on the region, the locals dub this beast impundulu, thekwane, izulu, and even ishologu[2]. As recent as 2005, residents have murdered children because they believed the supernatural influence of this creature was at play[1]. After returning from our travels we could not resist further research into the legends of the Lightning Bird, which is vampiric in nature, as it feeds on human blood and has been respected and feared in its native environments and is more obscure than the traditional vampire. What better way to kick start our adventure blog than to delve into this mystical bird? |
The peoples of South Africa ascribe countless supernatural properties to the Lightning Bird. The lightning bird is a striking one, with black and white feathers; however, it is also said to have iridescent, metallic feathers, which shift from green and blue hues, not unlike peacock feathers. It is a unique bird said to be similar in appearance to the impundulu bird. It appears in strikes of lightning and can be caught and killed only as the lightning and the bird hit. Although there are no confirmed killings of this magnificent creature, the natives believe its fat has medicinal properties. Curiously, it is deemed important to destroy eggs when they are found but having a lightning bird’s egg is also considered good luck. If you come across a lightning bird’s nest, don’t destroy it, or bad storms will result! According to many of the believers, thunder sounds whenever the beast flaps its wings, and when the bird descends from the sky to lay eggs, lightning strikes the earth and a fairy circle is created. Many believe the eggs can be ground into a powder for voodoo uses, including concoctions to feed your enemies and curse them.[1]
But where do these birds come from? Not much is known of the origin of these birds, as tribes would often pass down stories of this powerful beast through vocal renditions of accounts and encounters. However we could not give up on finding the source of this fabled bird! A story which relates to the origin of the lightning bird is the story of Kagara, which portrays a being controlling lightning. In another venture for information we found that, according to local Tanzanian legend, “[w]hen Kayura, ruler of the storm (he is the son of the one-legged lake-god Mugasha), is so disposed he sends these birds out: the flashing of their feathers is the lightning and the rushing sound of their wings the thunder.” [?] It appears that Tanzanians believe these birds to be ruled by Kayura (also called Zulu Kayurankuba), though the birth of the birds is still unclear. Perhaps it is descended from Kagara and his influences with lightning? The lightning bird is considered the physical embodiment of lightning, a bird sent from the sky god, a bird delivering fire to the earth, or a bird with a fiery form. Its true form and origin remain a mystery.[6]
The lightning bird is particularly interesting because it is considered by some to be a vampire. When this creature is not out causing storms, it can found kidnapping children to suck their blood. Another power of the impundulu is its shapeshifting capacities. The bird can take on the form of a seducer to bait out victims[5], not unlike modern vampires. It does in fact feed from the blood of its victims and is associated with magic, particularly witch doctors. Like the vampires of Iroquois legend, the birds are intelligent, able to hunt their prey, and feed upon their victims. Invulnerable to bullets and other weaponry, the only way to kill the lightning bird is to do so with fire, which is also a common practice to kill vampires[3]. Heaven doctors, akin to vampire slayers, attempt to kill these birds.[1]
However the lightning bird does have a number of distinctions from the modern idea of vampires, or even the early depiction of the vampire. Let us first contrast these magnificent birds from the European and New England vampires.
The New England vampire, which is the early American vampire, rests in its grave and hunts only at night. The impundulu has a situational restriction as well, but not limited to a single location. The bird is summoned by storm, and delivered by lightning strike during a female thunderstorm (thunderstorm with lightning). The early American vampire killed its victims, often through a lengthy process over time. The lightning bird, by contrast, does not usually kill its victim, although can (and does) cause severe harm to the victim. The New England vampire is killed through a variety of means, including by fire. The impundulu can only be killed by fire, but it is only possible to kill right as the lightning strikes. Dead victims of the lightning bird are buried specially, else a drought will result.[6]
Like the modern vampire, the impundulu feeds from the blood of its victims. It can manifest in the form of a bird, which it does in the presence of women. The final form of death for vampires and lightning birds share the element of fire.[5]
While the Lightning Bird is merely a myth to us, it still affects natives in South Africa significantly. Deaths caused by lightning strikes are attributed to the lightning bird. This is exemplified even in stories such as Mia Couto’s “The Day Mabata-bata Exploded”, which portrays a boy who believes the explosive death of his cow to be caused by a lightning bird, instead of a land mine, which was the actual cause of explosion. Superstitions, such as mirrors attracting lightning and a witgat tree is never struck by lightning, cause even more lightning related deaths in South Africa. The vampiric qualities of this beast are interesting, but more importantly, they help us delve into the human psyche and evaluate the cultural significance of blood as a life essence. This legendary creature is truly a noteworthy beast of South Africa which continues to have lasting cultural impacts.
But where do these birds come from? Not much is known of the origin of these birds, as tribes would often pass down stories of this powerful beast through vocal renditions of accounts and encounters. However we could not give up on finding the source of this fabled bird! A story which relates to the origin of the lightning bird is the story of Kagara, which portrays a being controlling lightning. In another venture for information we found that, according to local Tanzanian legend, “[w]hen Kayura, ruler of the storm (he is the son of the one-legged lake-god Mugasha), is so disposed he sends these birds out: the flashing of their feathers is the lightning and the rushing sound of their wings the thunder.” [?] It appears that Tanzanians believe these birds to be ruled by Kayura (also called Zulu Kayurankuba), though the birth of the birds is still unclear. Perhaps it is descended from Kagara and his influences with lightning? The lightning bird is considered the physical embodiment of lightning, a bird sent from the sky god, a bird delivering fire to the earth, or a bird with a fiery form. Its true form and origin remain a mystery.[6]
The lightning bird is particularly interesting because it is considered by some to be a vampire. When this creature is not out causing storms, it can found kidnapping children to suck their blood. Another power of the impundulu is its shapeshifting capacities. The bird can take on the form of a seducer to bait out victims[5], not unlike modern vampires. It does in fact feed from the blood of its victims and is associated with magic, particularly witch doctors. Like the vampires of Iroquois legend, the birds are intelligent, able to hunt their prey, and feed upon their victims. Invulnerable to bullets and other weaponry, the only way to kill the lightning bird is to do so with fire, which is also a common practice to kill vampires[3]. Heaven doctors, akin to vampire slayers, attempt to kill these birds.[1]
However the lightning bird does have a number of distinctions from the modern idea of vampires, or even the early depiction of the vampire. Let us first contrast these magnificent birds from the European and New England vampires.
The New England vampire, which is the early American vampire, rests in its grave and hunts only at night. The impundulu has a situational restriction as well, but not limited to a single location. The bird is summoned by storm, and delivered by lightning strike during a female thunderstorm (thunderstorm with lightning). The early American vampire killed its victims, often through a lengthy process over time. The lightning bird, by contrast, does not usually kill its victim, although can (and does) cause severe harm to the victim. The New England vampire is killed through a variety of means, including by fire. The impundulu can only be killed by fire, but it is only possible to kill right as the lightning strikes. Dead victims of the lightning bird are buried specially, else a drought will result.[6]
Like the modern vampire, the impundulu feeds from the blood of its victims. It can manifest in the form of a bird, which it does in the presence of women. The final form of death for vampires and lightning birds share the element of fire.[5]
While the Lightning Bird is merely a myth to us, it still affects natives in South Africa significantly. Deaths caused by lightning strikes are attributed to the lightning bird. This is exemplified even in stories such as Mia Couto’s “The Day Mabata-bata Exploded”, which portrays a boy who believes the explosive death of his cow to be caused by a lightning bird, instead of a land mine, which was the actual cause of explosion. Superstitions, such as mirrors attracting lightning and a witgat tree is never struck by lightning, cause even more lightning related deaths in South Africa. The vampiric qualities of this beast are interesting, but more importantly, they help us delve into the human psyche and evaluate the cultural significance of blood as a life essence. This legendary creature is truly a noteworthy beast of South Africa which continues to have lasting cultural impacts.
- "Impundulu the Lightning Bird." Road Travel Africa. February 12, 2015. Accessed June 2, 2015.
- Jedrej, M C. Dreaming, Religion and Society in Africa: Session : Conference : Papers. Leiden: E.J. Brill, 1992.
- Barber, Paul. "Forensic Pathology and the European Vampire." Journal of Folklore Research 24 (1987): 1-32. Accessed June 1, 2015. https://www.jstor.org.
- "MYTHS: THE LIGHTNING BIRD." Https://ramblingsoftheclaury.wordpress.com. March 11, 2015. Accessed June 2, 2015.
- "Lightning Bird." WOW.com. February 6, 2015. Accessed June 2, 2015.
- Trengove, E., and I.R. Jandrell. "STRATEGIES FOR UNDERSTANDING LIGHTNING MYTHS AND BELIEFS." International Journal of Research and Reviews in Applied Sciences 7 (2011). Accessed June 2, 2015. http://www.arpapress.com/.