Resources · Creatures, deities & other beings
Folklore Dictionary
Meet the beings of folklore and mythology: explore creatures, deities and spirits by name, description and associated tradition.
2,016 reference entries · 1,598 in the creature catalogue · 418 in the deity catalogue
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Dictionary coverage
Zoom or move the map, then choose “Filter to this area” to list beings with a tradition location in that view. You can combine this with a collection, character family or search term.
Beings associated with a tradition
2 entries at 49 tradition locations · 0 without tradition coordinates
Markers use tradition coordinates linked through source names, recorded aliases, language groups or reviewed associations. Deity links awaiting review are labelled as suggestions. Language-group links show cultural context, rather than verified occurrences in every tradition. Select a marker to list deities, creatures or all dictionary entries for its tradition, or examine its narratives in a new tab. Counts cover all matching entries across every results page.
Use the location filter or the list below to browse associated places.
Browse associated places without the map
- Aka, Baka (Badjue) and other Western (Bantu speaking) Pygmies (1)
- Bemba (Wemba, Babemba; incl Ambo, Lala, Lamba, Bisa), Holoholo, Kaonde (1)
- Boa, Komo, (Ba)Nyanga, Mbole (1)
- Bushoong: (Ba)kuba, Dengese, Ngongo; Yansi (1)
- Chagga (Jagga; incl Wasu), Pare, Digo (1)
- Comoros Islands (1)
- Congo (Koongo, Bacongo; incl Vili, Fioti, (Ma)Yombe, MuKunyi), Ndombo, Luango (Loango), Zombo (Sambo), Laadi (Laari), (Ba)Fioti, Woyo (Kiwoyo), Ronga (1)
- Duala (Douala), Basa (Basaá), Kwiri (Kweli), Isubu (1)
- Enenga, Mpongwe, Kuta (Koto), Nkomi, Masango, Mindumu, Mbede, Mitsogo, Bawunga, Ndumu (Ndumbo), Duma, Teke, (B)wende (1)
- Fang (Pangwe), Eton, Bafia, Batanga, Benga, Bube (Bubi), Buheba, Yaunde (Ewondo), Yebekolo, Koko, Bulu, Beti (Beti-Bulu), Sekiani, Eghap (1)
- Fipa (Bafipa), Iramba, Bende (1)
- Ganda, (Ba)Nyoro, Nyankole, Masaba (Gisu), Luia (=Luyia, Haya, Luhya, Bantu Kawirondo; incl. Vugusu, Maragoli) (1)
- Gogo, Kaguru, Luguru, Zigula, Taveta, Shambala (Sambala), Bondei, Taeta, Dabida; Zaramo (1)
- Hehe, Pangwa (Upper Rufudji area), Bena, Matumbi, Ngoni, Pogolo, (Ma)konde, Mawiha (1)
- Herero (Herrero) (1)
- Ila (Baila) (1)
- Kamba, Tharaka (1)
- Kerewe, Sukuma, Kwaya, Kumbi, Busiba, Gusii, Suba (1)
- Kete, Luba-Kasai, Bena (Bene) Lulua; (Bena-)Kanioka (1)
- Kikuyu, Chuka, Embu, Emberre, Mwimbe (1)
- Kosa (Xosa, Xhosa) (1)
- Lega, Bangubangu (1)
- Lingala, (Ba)Ngala, Ntomba, Kioque, (Ki)Bangi, Bolia, Balolo, Boloki, (Ba)Akwa, (U)Poto (1)
- Lozi (Losi, Rotse, Barotse), Lui, Subiya (Subia) (1)
- Luba (Baluba, Luba-Katanga, Shaba), (Ba)Holoholo, Tumbwe, Bena-Piana, Tabwa, Benabena-Mitumba, Zela, Bene-Marungu (1)
- Luchasi (Ngangela), Chokwe (Konwe); Mbukushu (1)
- Lunda (Alunda) (1)
- Maka (Makaa), Baya, Kaka (1)
- Malawi (incl Nyanja, Banyanja, Manganja), Tumbuka (incl Henga), Nsenga, Matengo, (Ba)Wenda (1)
- Mbundu (Umbundu, Kimbundu, Chimbundu, Ovimbundu), Kwanyama, Owambo (=Ambo) (1)
- Mongo (Mongo-Nkundu), Nkundu, Ngelima, Ngombe, (Ba)Tetela), Pende, Wu(Kusu), (Ba)Mbala (incl Saie, Kwilu) (2)
- Mozambique (1)
- Ndebele, Pedi, Thonga (Tsonga incl Ronga), Hlengwe, Matabele (Tebele) (1)
- Nyamwesi, Sumbwa (1)
- Nyatutu, Kiniramba, Isanzu (1)
- Nyungwe (Tete) (1)
- Rwanda (incl Hutu, Tutsi, Kiga), Rundi, (Ma)Shi, Banyabungu; Rega (1)
- Safwa, Mkulwe, Ngonde, Kinga, Nyakusa, Nyamwanga (1)
- Sakata (1)
- Shone (Shona, =Mashona, =Karanga), Makoni (Shoni dialect), Remba (=Hungwe, Wahungwe); Zezuru, Rozwi, Ndau (Vandau) (1)
- Soko (1)
- Songe (Kisonge), Bena-Matembo (1)
- Swahili, Midjikenda (incl Giryama), Nyika, Duruma; Ngindo, Kiluguru and other Islamic groups of the Eastern Coast of Africa (1)
- Tonga (Tsonga; incl, Soli, Sala, Lenje) (1)
- Tswana (Chwana), Suto (Soto; incl Pedi, Mbire) (1)
- Yaka (in Angola and Congo) (1)
- Yao, Makua (1)
- Yeyi (1)
- Zulu, Swazi (1)
Browse the dictionary
2 matching entries
Mapped traditions counts linked traditions with map coordinates. Suggested associations awaiting review are included.
| Name | Tradition | Description | Mapped traditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| AkongoDeity catalogueDivine and sacred beings (suggested) | Ngombe | Akongo is the supreme creator deity of the Ngombe, identified in the source with the Democratic Republic of Congo in central Africa. Akongo is considered to have given form and substance to the world and everything within it. | 1 |
| BumbaDeity catalogueDivine and sacred beings (suggested) | Boshongo (Bantu) | Bumba is a creator god in the Boshongo (Bantu) tradition of southern Africa. He brings the world into being from chaos through an act of vomiting prompted by stomachache, producing the earth, sun and moon, followed by all living beings, including humanity. | 49 |
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How to cite: Fielder-White, Jonathan (2026). The Folklore Database. Citation version 1.261029.1 (29 October 2026). https://folkloredatabase.com.
0009-0006-1672-4451
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