El Naddaha, the Caller
In rural Egypt, a woman's voice calls men by name from the Nile at night, and those who follow are never seen again.
What was reported
El Naddaha, 'the caller', is a figure of Egyptian folklore, especially in villages along the Nile and its canals. She's described as a beautiful woman who calls men by name in the night. Those who follow her voice to the water, the stories say, are never seen again, or come back mute or out of their minds.
The legend has been told for generations and appears in Egyptian films and stories.
Explanations offered
Folklorists see El Naddaha as a warning about the Nile and its canals at night, especially for young men, much like the kelpie or the Lorelei. Night sounds over water, and the real risk of drowning, give the story its force.
- When
- Told for generations
- Where
- Villages along the Nile, Egypt
- Witnesses
- Egyptian village tradition
- Status
- Legend
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.