Popobawa

With Popobawa (plural: Mapopobawa ( Swahili), Popobawas ( English ) ) is on the Tanzanian island of Pemba called a great man, one-eyed, fabulous bat - like creature which, according to several witnesses, the people who live there occasionally insecure or damaged.

Etymology

The word Popobawa consists etymologically derived from the two components popo ( Swahili: Fledermaus ) and bawa ( Swahili: wings ) together. Local is referred to as the essence of Zain Haider, and in the Arab Haydar Leo means by which the hazard is taken into account. Zain Haider justifies its name as a " description of a ghostly shadow of a ghost ," the attaches of the night to attack.

Background

With the colonial masters and their notions of civil society, particularly the coast of East Africa has been heavily Christianized since at least the early 18th century. Today, the three major religions in the whole of Tanzania are approximately evenly with one third each: Christianity, Islam and the typical indigenous peoples nature religion. The performances of other powers except in one God are still widespread, especially in the rural population and are reflected for example in the creation of art objects very plastic resist.

Events

Therefore, is not surprising when an unexplained phenomenon, as it was documented in 1970 in Pemba for the first time, this ancient faith evokes again. Eight years later, the character reappeared, and in 1995 it caused a mass hysteria that spread to the neighboring island of Zanzibar, Dar es Salaam and other coastal cities.

In October 1995, the local " The Guardian" (Dar Es Salaam ) reported these events. Thus, according to the testimony is even a man reportedly killed and seriously injured another. Since only men so far came during sleep loss, these fled from their homes and huts and gathered around large fire, where they felt safer in the community. Even the evening news reported in its issue of 28 February 2007 about it.

Assessment

To what extent these reports and the news agree about is not comprehensible for non-participants. A large part of the population " civilized cultures " will draw such descriptions in doubt. But you should not fail to be of immense importance developed such incidents for less and have close to nature religions arrested cultures. In view of these figures have significance as Popobawa a high priority in a society such as Tanzania. In addition, the figure Popobawa received in countless works of fine art and literature.