January 10, 2024
Guyanese Folklore and Fables
Guyana has a very rich and diverse folklore tradition stemming from its indigenous peoples as well as later immigrants from places like Africa, India, China, and Europe. Guyana’s diversity is reflected in a myriad of spirits, ghosts, shapeshifters, and mythological belief traditions that draw from all the various cultures now found there. The country’s relatively recent colonial past meant that folklore was preserved more actively into modern times as well. Guyanese folklore is similar to other Caribbean folklore, but also has some unique elements that distinguish it from other regions. Let’s take a look at some of them.
Jumbie:
A Jumbie (also spelled Jumbee) is a ghost, spirit, or demon. It seems from Obeah, which was developed by Afro-Guyanese and other Africans throughout the Caribbean. It is believed that people who are evil in life are destined to become a Jumbie in death to
haunt the nights.
Often friends will say to you, “don’t let Jumbie hold you” if you have to walk alone at night. It is especially scary if your walk at night took you by a cemetery.
In Guyana, as well as other colonized countries, the Silk Cotton tree is called the Jumbie Tree because it is thought to harbor ghosts. One such tree in a village called Mahaicony, there is a Silk Cotton tree that several Guyanese government leaders have tried to cut down to make way for new roads, but no contractor would dare cut it down because of fear of Jumbies. Many previous attempts to cut it down resulted in death or afflictions to the person. The history of strange occurrences around that particular tree have existed since 1758, when there were attempts to clear the land. There were mysterious disappearances of slave masters who ordered the tree cut down. Read more about it in this 2018 article that claims that “this tree is responsible for more deaths than rattlesnake bites in Guyana.” [link]
Kanaima:
The Kanaima is a bush devil that haunts the deep jungles of the Rupununi stalking prey. The Amerindians of the area describe it as a jaguar-like humanoid that is a skilled hunter and can transform into forest animals and imitate their sounds. They have the ability to travel far distances in a short time because of their ability to shape-shift into different creatures such as bats, tigers, and jaguars.
This folklore was most likely created by Shamans of the different Arawak tribes that lived in the region. Protection of the villages from the Kanaima, and other such demons, was something that only the most powerful Shamans could do, thereby increasing their power and worth in the communities.
Interestingly, this folklore has even made its way into modern television and books; appearing in the Hulu series Salem in 2014.
Baccoo:
The Baccoo (also sometimes spelled Bakoo or Bacoo) is the spirit of an old man that haunts sugar plantations and haunts night workers by riding on their backs, according to Guyanese folk tales.
It can become vengeful if disrespected or exploited if it is not given bananas and milk.
There have been many sightings of this creature, some even make it to the local newspapers such as this one. [link: Mabaruma police assaulted by ‘Baccoo’ – Guyana Chronicle]
Masakuraman:
The masakuraman (also spelled massacooramaan) dwells in the rainforests near bodies of water and attacks small boats in the river. Descriptions portray it as having hooved legs like a deer, an old man’s face, backwards feet, and vines twisted around its body.
Amerindians and miners who work in the interior of Guyana say that the masakuraman lures victims deeper into the dense forest until they are thoroughly lost, then drives the victims mad.
Legend has it that this story was created by slave masters who wanted to scare slave from running away. Many slaves who ran away used the many waterways in Guyana to escape deeper into the interior. The name likely is a combination of the word MASSA, which was the plantation owners, and the word CURABAN which is a tracker who hunted run-away slaves.
Mami Wata:
A Mami Wata (also sometimes spelled Mama Wata) is folklore that can be traced back to West Africa. One of the many that survived the Transatlantic slave trade, as described in this post. [link]
Many times, she is described as a mermaid goddess who protects coastal villages and bodies of dark, murky water. The stories vary throughout the routes of the Transatlantic slave trade, but because Guyana’s waters are often dark in color it can be especially scary for children when they hear these tales.
In 2016, the singer Beyonce incorporate this legend into her music for the song Formation and dressed like the water-goddess. Additionally, the Smithsonian did a story on the many faces of Mami Wata that follows her incarnations spanning Africa, the Caribbean, Brazil and the United States. [link]
Moongazer:
The Moongazer is reportedly a spirit that only comes out during a full moon. It is an unusually tall man who gazes at the full moon motionlessly while straddling the entire road.
It is said that only his shadow can be seen by the light of the full moon and if anyone tries to pass under the Moongazer he reportedly has the ability to suck their brains out. Others sources report that the Moongazer can snap his legs together cutting the passerby in half.
This folklore is said to have been told by Dutch plantation owners to prevent the slaves from stealing sugarcane.
Ol’ Higue:
The Ol’ Higue is possibly the most feared creature by kids in Guyana. Sometimes called the Ole Higue or Old Hag, she is known to suck the blood of people, especially babies.
Legend has it that she is a soucouyant who appears as a reclusive old woman by day but sheds her skin at nights and stores it in a calabash or mortar. She then turns into a ball of fire before going out to suck the blood of babies. It is said that she can enter through the keyholes of doors or windows, leaving black and blue marks on the victim’s bodies in the morning.
Many stories and poems have been written about Ol’ Higue, like this poem that is incredibly detailed. [link] It was told that she could be killed if you turn the key in keyhole while she in entering, or if you can find her skin in the calabash and put some pepper on it. The pepper will burn her to death when she tries to reenter her skin.