#asasabonsam

Theodora Capat, “The Asasabonsam”

The Asanbosam is a vampire in the folklore of the Akan people of Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire. It is said to have pale skin, blood-shot eyes, fangs made of iron, and hooked feet that point both ways.

The Asanbosam uses its unique feet to hang upside down from branches, snatching up unwary passersby. It has also been said to sit in trees and attack people with its feet. There are even stories of the creature using its feet to drain its victim's blood.

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The Asanbosam, Asasabonsam, or more commonly Sasabonsam is a vampire-like folkloric being from the Akan people. It belongs to the folklore of the Akan of southern Ghana, as well as Côte d'Ivoire, Togo and 18th century Jamaica from enslaved Akan. It is said to have iron teeth, pink skin, long red hair and iron hooks for feet and lives in trees, attacking from above.

In mythology, it is usually portrayed as an archetypical ogre; according to A Dictionary of World Mythology: ...the hairy Sasabonsam has large blood-shot eyes, long legs, and feet pointing both ways. Its favourite trick is to sit on the high branches of a tree and dangle its legs so as to entangle the unwary hunter. Both the ogre and vampire versions have iron teeth.

Cryptid of the Day: Asasabonsam

Monster of the Week: The Asasabonsam

When we think of vampires, we often envision the European type, not realizing that there are all types of vampires throughout the world. One of the more interesting variations of the vampire myth is a creature known as the asasabonsam. The asasabonsam is a peculiar vampire derived from Ghana lore. The Republic of Ghana is located along the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean in West Africa. The word “Ghana” means “Warrior King.”

The legend of the asasabonsam likely comes from the Ashanti people of Southern Ghana. However, the people of Togo and the Ivory Coast also speak of a similar creature.

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