‘The Impundulu is a mythological creature in the folklore of the tribes of the Southern Africa including the Pondo, the Zulu and the Xhosa. The impundulu, which translates as “lightning bird” takes the form of a black and white bird, the size of a human which is said to summon thunder and lightning with its wings and talons.’ [Wikipedia]

The lightning bird is known to have super special powers, and for being generally creepy all round. Among certain African tribes the Hammerkop is believed to be the lightning bird. The creature only manifests itself as a bird to women and, ‘In one instance a village girl described a black bird that ran up her hoe and left claw marks on her body before it flew back to the clouds.’[Wikipedia]

Both the bird and it’s eggs can be found where lightning strikes, and parts are often used in traditional medicine, sometimes to catch thieves. Apparently the lightning bird also enjoys a good blood fest, and can be found sucking on human blood, most notably enemies of the witchdoctor. Yum yum! Of course it is also known to seduce naughty girls MissYucki read that “In 2005, a South African man was convicted of culpable homicide after killing a two year old child he believed to be an impundulu.” [Wikipedia]

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