bestiarium:The Chitapo [Lamba mythology; African mythology]River and lake spirits are a very common

bestiarium:

The Chitapo [Lamba mythology; African mythology]

River and lake spirits are a very common motif in myths and legends from around the world. One such example is the Chitapo from the mythology of the Lamba people, who live in what is now Zambia.

This is a female lake spirit, who resides at the bottom of a lake and hoards diamonds and emeralds. Chitapo are malicious and lure people to a watery grave, not unlike sirens and mermaids in European legends. It is also said – though this part is a bit unclear – that when a child is born under ill omens, a Chitapo disposes it the newborn baby. I am not sure how she does this, and what her motives are for doing so.

These beings are sometimes described as mermaids, with the upper body of an attractive woman and the lower body of a fish. However, this may not always have been the case, as some anthropologists propose that the mermaid-like imagery may have resulted from conflation between the myth of the Chitapo – a water spirit taking the form of a human woman – and the Funkwe – a giant water snake with the tail of a fish. The two myths do overlap to some extent, with locals claiming that the two creatures inhabit the same lakes in some instances, such as in lakes Nakamwale, Kashiba and Namulolobwe. It is also said that the Funkwe serves as a guardian for the Chitapo, and guards the latter’s treasure.

It is also possible that the Chitapo was changed into a mermaid under the influence of European colonists or travelers, who may have told stories about mermaids.

Lake Nakamwale has a different take, where the lake spirit often takes the form of a small diamond, which sits in the mouth of the giant snake, protecting it from harm.

Sources:
Spiegel, Brian, “Water Spirits and Mermaids: The Copperbelt Chitapo” (2008). Anthropology Publications. Paper 2.
(image source: Diane Özdamar, the image is a general mermaid, but I couldn’t find images of the Chitapo specifically)

Chitapo, the 206th Known One.