The Mmoatia
In the forests of Ghana, Akan tradition tells of the mmoatia, tiny forest people with backward feet who speak in whistles.
What was reported
In Akan folklore in Ghana, the mmoatia are small beings, about the height of a child's knee, who live deep in the forest. Their feet point backwards, and they talk to each other in a language of whistles.
They can be mischievous, stealing food and beer, but they are also said to know the secrets of healing plants, and some traditional healers say they learned their knowledge from them.
Explanations offered
The mmoatia are figures of folklore. Like similar 'little people' in many cultures, they reflect respect for the forest and its knowledge, especially of medicinal plants.
- When
- Told for generations
- Where
- Ashanti forests, Ghana
- Witnesses
- Akan 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.