The Güije
In Cuban folklore, a small, dark imp called the güije lives in rivers and pools, and plays tricks on anyone who comes too close.
What was reported
The güije, or jigüe, is a figure of Cuban folklore: a small, dark, child-sized being with long hair who lives in rivers, ponds and pools. He is said to come out to sun himself on rocks and to play pranks, splashing people or stealing things from riverbanks.
Parents warned children not to swim alone in deep pools, or the güije might get them.
Explanations offered
The güije is a folklore figure, with roots in African and Indigenous Taíno traditions. Like many water spirits, the stories serve as a warning about the dangers of rivers.
- When
- Told for generations
- Where
- Rivers of central Cuba
- Witnesses
- Cuban 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.