What does a hyena mean in Africa. Encyclopedia of symbols

Hyena: Assistant to the Sorcerers

The Africans considered hyenas to be assistants to sorcerers and witches. In some tribes it was believed that witches ride hyenas, in others - that sorcerers take the form of hyenas in order to devour their victims, then they again turn into ordinary-looking people. In Sudan, there are legends about evil sorcerers who sent predatory hyenas to kill their enemies. In East Africa, it was believed that the souls of people who were eaten by hyenas shine in the eyes of these predators sparkling in the dark. At the same time, it was believed that deceased ancestors could use hyenas in order to ride them from the world of the dead to the world of the living in order to visit their living relatives.

The picture shows the mask of the hyena union Ntomo from Mali.

Source: "Symbols of Africa" ​​Heike Ovuzu