The Miengu of the Wouri River
In the river at Douala, the Sawa people say, live water spirits with long hair and gap teeth. Every year, a diver goes down to bring back their message.
What was reported
Among the Duala and other Sawa peoples of coastal Cameroon, the miengu (singular jengu) are water spirits who live in rivers and the sea. They're often described as beautiful, with long, curly hair and a gap between their front teeth, and are believed to bring good fortune, protect against sickness and act as go-betweens with the world of the spirits.
Each December, the Duala hold the Ngondo festival on the banks of the Wouri River. Its high point is a ritual in which a diver goes under the water and returns, it's said, with a message from the spirits about the year ahead.
Explanations offered
The miengu are part of a living religious tradition, related to the wider family of water spirits found along the West and Central African coast, such as Mami Wata. The Ngondo festival is also an important celebration of Sawa culture and history.
- When
- A living tradition
- Where
- Douala, Littoral, Cameroon
- Witnesses
- The Sawa peoples of coastal Cameroon
- Status
- Folklore
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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