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Horror and Supernatural

A fascinating category that explores the depths of fear, mystery and the unexplained through the lens of African traditions. African horror and supernatural tales are rich in folklore, ancestral spirits and mythical creatures, providing a unique and haunting reading experience.

What is Horror and the Supernatural in literature?

This category focuses on themes of fear, terror, and wonder at the unknown. In Africa, this genre draws on a vast store of myths, legends, and oral traditions to create narratives that are both frightening and deeply rooted in culture. These stories often feature spirits, ghosts, wizards and other supernatural beings who interact with the world of the living.​

Main themes of Horror and the Supernatural

Spirits and Ghosts

African stories are often populated by spirits and ghosts who haunt the living, seeking justice or revenge. These spirits are often linked to ancestral beliefs and funeral rites.

Wizards and Witches

The figure of the sorcerer or witch is omnipresent in African horror literature. These characters possess occult powers and can invoke curses, illnesses or inexplicable phenomena.

Mythical creatures

Mythical creatures, such as tokoloshes, asanbosams and mami wata, fill stories of fear and mystery. These supernatural beings are often metaphors for collective fear and cultural taboos.

Curses and Rituals

Curses and rituals play a central role in many African horror stories. These elements create an atmosphere of tension and suspense, where the sacred and the profane meet.

Cultural influence and impact

 

Horror and the Supernatural offer a path to explore the collective fears, taboos and deep beliefs of different African cultures. These narratives often serve as a mirror to social and political concerns, using the supernatural to comment on tangible realities. As readers delve into these stories, they discover a cultural richness and narrative depth that goes far beyond simple fear.

Emblematic works of Horror and the Supernatural in Africa

The Icarus Girl

by Helen Oyeyemi

A captivating story that mixes the fantastical and the supernatural, exploring childhood fears and the influences of Yoruba beliefs.

 

Tail of the Blue Bird

by Nii Ayikwei Parkes

This novel incorporates elements of Ghanaian folklore and mythology, creating a plot around mysteries and unexplainable phenomena.

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Cover of the novel Little Icarus by Helen Oyeyemi.jpg
Cover of the novel Tail of the Blue Bird by Nii Ayikwei Parkes
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