To generally appreciate the uniqueness of Caribbean folklore one must understand how it came about.

Firstly, Caribbean folklore, just like a lot of the history from the region, is essentially passed on from generation to generation by the way of the mouth.

In fact, almost everything that is done in a social community in the Caribbean is transmitted orally; our beliefs, myths, legends, heroes, practices, culture, and customs.

Once you start to expose yourself to Caribbean folklore, you may wonder where the foundation of these stories and their characters lay.

This origin began with the African slaves from Africa’s Gold Coast. These slaves made up most of the slaves the occupied in the Caribbean region.

Here are six dominant characters of African-Caribbean folklore.

No. 1: Anancy, Ananse, Ananci, Anase, Anansi, Ananci, Krokoko, and Brer Nancy

That is correct, this particular character of Caribbean folklore’s name is spelled that many ways; but, believe me, in every one of those instances, we are referring to the same individual.

Another interesting fact about characters in Caribbean folklore is that they take on different forms depending on the location in the Caribbean.

Anansi is no different.

Anancy Stories are sometimes referred to as ’Nancy Stories’.

Anansi got his name from ananse, the Asante word for spider. He is typically described as a half man half spider and, at other times, he is depicted as just a spider.

Anansi is one of the most intelligent of the Caribbean’s folklore characters.

There are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to Anansi the spider not only is he very intelligent and quick-witted, but also very tricky!

Essentially, most of us from the Caribbean know that Anansi always survives the odds, always!

No. 2: Papa Bois

Papa Bois is another half man and half creature compilation.

What is interesting about this particular character is the comparison between the African description and the Caribbean one.

In Africa, ‘Papa Bois’ is described as an African deity that manifests in many forms; sometimes a deer and, at other times, an old man clad in tattered clothing.

When he appears as an old man, he is described as being extremely old and sometimes hairy. He is exceptionally strong and very muscular. He also has cloven hoofs and a beard made of leaves.

‘Papa Bois’ is said to be the guardian of the forest and sounds a cow’s horn when hunters are approaching.

African legend establishes that he does not condone hunting just for the sake of hunting; nor does he tolerate callous destruction of the forest.

Now in the Caribbean, ‘Papa Bois’ mainly comes out of the islands of Grenada, St. Lucia, and Trinidad & Tobago with a touch of French influence.

‘Papa Bois’ is also referred to as “Maître Bois”, which means the master of the woods.

He is also called “Daddy Bouchon”, which means the hairy man . This is a French patois name that means father wood or father of the forest.

He is most commonly referred to as the keeper of the forest. He happens to be married too! His wife is known as Mama D’Leau or Mama Dlo.

In the Caribbean, ‘Papa Bois’ is described as a short old Black man with cloven hooves. In some instances, he has two cloven hooves; and in other instances, his left leg ends in a large hoof.

In Africa, he has leaves growing out of his beard. In the Caribbean, his beard is made of leaves.

Caribbean folk-tales establish that in spite of the fact that ‘Papa Bois’ is extremely old and short, he is known to demonstrate massive strength and has very prominent muscles.

This old man is said to be exceptionally fast when running. In fact, he said to be faster than a deer.

Within these three Caribbean locations, ’Papa Bois’ body is completely blanketed with hair that is very similar to that of a donkey’s.

Known for having two small horns emerging out of his head, he uses a bull’s horn to warn animals of approaching hunters.

In the Caribbean, he can metamorphose into a deer. When he does this, it is usually to lure hunters deep enough to render them hopelessly lost.

His wife, remember her, ‘Mama Dlo’? Well, she is also accused of doing the same thing. (More on that later) Must be how they met.

As one legend is told, if you ever meet ‘Papa Bois’ make sure you are very polite; and whatever you do, do not look at his hooves.

Grenada has an interesting twist to ‘Papa Bois’. Grenadians describe his as a gigantic manicou or opossum. Here, in addition to his art of metamorphosis, he has the ability to appear and disappear out of thin air.

No. 3: La Diablesse or Jabless

Here we have another legend that has a cloven hoof.

As established by oral history, the devil woman or ‘La Diablesse’ is sometime reported as being an elderly woman with a cloven hoof.

If you are on an abandoned road late at night, keep a watchful eye out, as she is known to suddenly emerge from behind a tree.

Then, there are others who tell of a young woman. One description said she is usually dressed in the clothing that is ancient. Other descriptions claim that she is adorned in a bright turban made of the island’s madras.

The Jabless’ fashion also includes chemise with half sleeves enhances with a lot of lace and embroidery. Not to mention, she has an infamous for being adorned in gold referred to as zepingue Tremblant.

There’s a dead giveaway when it comes to a Jabless. So if you are being approached one lonely night on a long winding road by a beautiful woman, don’t forget to check her feet. Based on whose telling it, she can have one or two hooves.

Her objective is always the same, no matter what form she takes. That is to lure the unsuspecting to their death or just turn them mad!

No. 4: Mama Dlo, Mama Dglo or Mammy Wata

Remember Papa Bois’ wife?

Here’s another legend that goes by many names depending on the location; but physical description has consistent characteristics.

‘Mama Dlo’, as we will call her here, has a French meaning which is ‘mother of the water’ or, in French, ‘mama de l’eau’. She is also known as ‘Mammy Wata’ in West Africa.

‘Mama Dlo’ is very similar to the mermaid folklore of Europe.

‘Mama Dlo’ is also rumored to feast on children and is known to take on different shapes.

No. 5: Soucouyant

Another hair raising legend of the Caribbean is the ’Soucouyant’. This name is, once again, a French one. Essentially, this name means to suck.

The Soucouyant usually manifest as a woman, sometimes old and sometimes young, that sheds her skin at night.

With her skin off, the Soucouyant flies through the night skies looking for victims’ blood to suck.

Yes, the Soucouyant is the Caribbean equivalent of a vampire. She is said to travel as a ball of fire, as well.

No. 6: Ligahoo or Loup-Garou

‘Ligahoo’ is a fearsome shapeshifter in Caribbean folklore.

This particular legend is claimed to have control over nature and is able to shape shift into an animal.

In the Caribbean, Ligahoo is called the ‘Loup-Garou’ and is described as a person, usually a man, who sold his soul for the ability to change into a an animal. This would allow him to kill and not worry about being caught.

Although, depending on the location in the Caribbean, he can be just about any type of animal, one of which includes a werewolf.