#miengu

Jengu

Plural: Miengu

Origin: Cameroon, West Africa

Classification: Merfolk, Spirit

Appearance: The miengu are beautiful mermaid water spirits with long hair and gaps between their teeth

Hello everyone, 

I would need some help in order to write a good, credible character for my urban fantasy novel. She is from Cameroon, coming to Paris to study medicine, and, for story-related reasons (spoilers in private if you need more info) she is related to the mythical creature “jengu” or “liengu”. While researching, I had found information on a healing dance Cameroon women practice, but I can’t find it anymore... The jengu/ liengu appears in the traditional beliefs of the Sawa people (Duala, Bakweri...) and I think I remember one of these groups practiced the healing dance too. 

Unfortunately, reliable sources on African mythology are frustratingly difficult to come by, and if any world mythology book mentions it, there’s nothing more but a few pages.

So, to be more precise: if you know anything about one of these two subjects, I’ll be very happy to get some help from you. 

Second point, but just as important: I humbly ask for help for writing this character as a person. As I am a white, European woman, I am afraid of making mistakes due to my complete lack of experience, and I really do not want to end up writing an unrealistic African character. If you can help me with describing her physically, find a good name, or providing any insight to what a Cameroon woman’s life is like from any aspect, I would be very, very grateful. 

[Fr]

Voilà !

J'ai fini mon petit Mijen.

C'est la première fois que j'essaie un éclairage de dos. Je suis contente du résultat.

J'ai aussi fait le timelapse de ce dessin. Je le posterai plus tard loul.

Pour le moment je savoure mon petit Mijen miom 🤧🤭❤️❤️

[Eng]

Voilà !

I finished my little Mijen.

It's the first time I try a backlight. I'm happy of the result.

I make the timelapse too. I will post it later.