The Kishi, Who Has Two Faces
Angolan legend tells of a charming stranger who has a second face hidden in the back of his head: the face of a hyena.
What was reported
In stories told in Angola, the kishi appears as a handsome, charming man who comes into a village and wins people over. But he hides a secret under his long hair: a second face on the back of his head, the face of a hyena, with powerful jaws.
The tales warn of being taken in by a stranger whose charm hides something dangerous.
Explanations offered
It's a folklore figure, a moral tale about trust and appearances. Folklorists compare it to two-faced creatures in other traditions, such as the Japanese futakuchi-onna. There's no evidence it's ever been anything but a story.
- When
- Told for generations
- Where
- Angola
- Witnesses
- Angolan 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.