The Sasabonsam, or sometimes Asanbosam, is a vampire-like folkloric being from the Akan people. It belongs to the folklore of the Akan of southern Ghana, as well as Côte d'Ivoire, Togo and 18th century Jamaica from enslaved Akan. It is said to have iron teeth, pink skin, long red hair and iron hooks for feet and lives in trees, attacking from above. In the forests of West Africa, there were rules of renewal, and the Sasabonsam would enforce these rules. They take up territory in the trees in the forests, where they live and feed on people that wander into their home. It becomes a territorial aspect for them. While being humanoid, these creatures have bat-like features, including wings which can be nearly 20 feet wide. A good representation can be seen from The British Museum with the Sasabonsam figure they have in their collection. It is carved out of wood and estimated to have been made in 1935.
In mythology, it is usually portrayed as an archetypical ogre; according to A Dictionary of World Mythology:
...the hairy Sasabonsam has large blood-shot eyes, long legs, and feet pointing both ways. Its favourite trick is to sit on the high branches of a tree and dangle its legs so as to entangle the unwary hunter.
Both the ogre and vampire versions have iron teeth.
Popular culture
Sasabonsam are featured in the 2021 fantasy novel Skin of the Sea by Natasha Bowen.
Two characters, Asanbosam and Sasabonsam, brothers, appear in Marlon James's 2019 novel Black Leopard Red Wolf. They are "monstrous eaters of human flesh." One of the brothers, Sasabonsam, has wings.
References
- ^ Konstantinos (1996). Vampires: The Occult Truth. Llewellyn Worldwide. p. 27. ISBN 1-56718-380-8.
- Bunson, Matthew (1993). The Vampire Encyclopedia. London: Thames & Hudson. p. 11. ISBN 0-500-27748-6.
- Long, Edward (1774). The History of Jamaica Or, A General Survey of the Ancient and Modern State of that Island: With Reflexions on Its Situation, Settlements, Inhabitants, Climate, Products, Commerce, Laws, and Government. Vol. 2. pp. 445–475.
- Cellania •, Miss (30 October 2020). "Sasabonsam Enforced the Rules of Renewal in West African Forests". Neatorama. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
- Holiday (2010-01-12). "Asanbosam and Sasabonsam". Vampires. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
- "figure | British Museum". The British Museum. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
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