BLOGGERS POST: DWARF CREATURES – AN AFRICAN/CARIBBEAN CONNECTION

I know I am supposed to post ‘Bloggers Posts’ on Wednesdays, but I was so excited when blogger Iman sent this fascinating post in. This is actually an educative post because she’s bringing light to something we’ve never discussed here before. Within the post you will see what she has written and the name these entities are called in her country and also in Ghana. Yet still, I, Obara Meji, am aware of these beings and others that resides in bushes and forests and other parts of nature who are benevolent and also malevolent (we need both), who assist mankind in their evolution and also on their journey. St. Lucia, which the blogger speaks about, many people may not know but this small island is an extremely spiritual place. When it comes to spiritual baptists, the religion that is throughout the Caribbean and most talked about from Trinidad (also known as Sango Baptists, although there may be difference in the two somehow), this all began in St. Lucia, unbeknownst to many. I don’t want to overshadow her posts but I’ll explain somethings in the comments. Thank you Iman for contributing a post, you will go down in history for being the first blogger to do this on this day.

Read and enjoy!

Iman

Here in St Lucia, we have a myth that centres around what is known as the ‘Ti bolom’. In fact, there are many contradictory beliefs about them. They are generally said to be about 3 foot tall or even shorter, sexless and genderless, but taking the form of a small adult. One notable difference with humans, though, is that their feet are turned backward. They could be compared to elves or goblins, and are not of the physical realm but may sometimes be seen with the physical eyes.

They are said to live in the forest, and people conjure them to protect their property and their interests. Ti bolom can be trained to be good or bad, and are used as a source of power by their conjurers. They are said to be very strong and should be fed with raw meat. They could be conjured through séance at a bamboo tree, or at the point where four roads meet (crossroads). Often it is said they are conjured on Good Friday.

Back in the day, many St Lucians were convinced they guarded the banks, and there were even reported sightings of Ti Bolom in banks.

Now most St Lucians would probably dismiss all of this as superstition.

But what really interested me was when I was doing research on the Akan people of Ghana. They seem to have a very similar kind of concept, except their creatures are more benevolent.

This is what I picked up from my research:

There are good spirit beings called mmoetia, the Ashanti word for dwarves, who live in the forest, among rocks and trees. They are also said to look human but to be very short, and their feet are also said to be turned backwards. Some of them may have beards or dreadlocks.

They take a priest into the forest to teach him about herbalism. The priests are said to be able to see them, whereas other people cannot. Some priests return from the forest with their hands tied behind their back, and this is a sign that one of the creatures is present.

Instead of raw meat, mmoetia are fed with bread, biscuits and other foods. The priests also provide the mmoetia with white powder.

It is said that with prayer and sacrifice, mmoetia will grant wishes for financial success, prosperity and protection, to decent, good people, but that mmoetia can also bring misfortune on people who have done wrong.

Personally, I don’t know anything about these creatures in terms of personal experience. I just thought it was so interesting how a small, bearded human-type spirit, with backwards feet, who lives in the forest, made its way across the Atlantic from Ghana to St Lucia. I love to see African-Caribbean connections!