The Biloko of the Forest
In the Congo rainforest, people tell of small, grass-covered beings living in hollow trees, who ring tiny bells to cast spells on travellers.
What was reported
The eloko (plural biloko) is a creature of the folklore of the Mongo people of the central Congo Basin. Biloko are dwarf-like, without hair but covered in grass, with sharp claws and snouts, and they live in the hollows of great trees deep in the forest.
They carry small bells whose ringing is said to enchant anyone who hears it. They're often described as angry spirits of ancestors who guard the forest's game and fruit, and travellers and hunters were warned to carry protective charms.
Explanations offered
The biloko are folk figures, tied to respect for the forest and the ancestors. Their stories have been collected by folklorists since the 20th century.
- When
- Told for generations
- Where
- Équateur, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Witnesses
- Mongo folklore
- 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.
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