Obayifo

An obayifo is a vampire-like mythological creature from West Africa coming from the folklore of the Ashanti.^[1] It is known as asiman by the Dahomey people.^[1] The obayifo was also considered a kind of witch. In Ashanti folklore, obayifo are very common and may inhabit the bodies of ordinary people.^[2] They are described as having shifty eyes and being obsessed with food.^[2] When travelling at night they are said to emit a phosphorescent light from their armpits and anus.^[2]

Obayifo are believed to kill children by remotely sucking their blood and to enter the bodies of animals to attack humans.^[3] They are also said to suck the life from the land and weaken crops, particularly cacao. The Obayifo is also said to be able to travel as a ball of light.^[4]

See also

• Asanbosam
• Adze
• Soucouyant

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Davison, Carol Margaret; Paul Simpson-Housley (1997). Bram Stoker's Dracula: Sucking Through the Century, 1897-1997. Dundurn Press Ltd.. pp. 354. ISBN 1550022792. http://books.google.com/books?id=brj7yfaBkPAC&pg=RA2-PA354&d. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} Williams, Joseph J. (2003). Psychic Phenomena of Jamaica. Kessinger Publishing. pp. 62. ISBN 0766135381. http://books.google.com/books?id=VAeh8IfzgPoC&pg=PA62&d. 
3. ^ Morrish, Ivor (1982). Obeah, Christ and Rastaman: Jamaica and Its Religion. Jamaica: James Clarke & Co.. pp. 23. ISBN 0227678311. http://books.google.com/books?id=RVzFXr1TJ0oC&pg=PA22&d. 
4. ^ Suckling, Nigel (2006). Vampires. AAPPL. pp. 35. ISBN 190433248X. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=R5Kfw2qmjwYC&pg=PA35.