•º Masterpost List of Faeries (and related Magical Beings) from POC ‘Mythologies’ º•
~. requested by popular demand .~
It is so important for people of color to see ourselves in real life, and in the art and media we consume. We have been conditioned to Eurocentric, whitewashed versions of our cultural stories. We have stories and tales that are filled with magic and meaning, lessons and life. They are a reflection.
We forget that we are as old as the moon and our voices as radiant as the sun.
Here is a personal list of Faeries (and related magical beings) from various POC Mythologies. This list is in alphabetical order. Additionally, it is in order by continent. The countries and ethnic groups included in many of the definitions are there for preciseness. I tried to make this list as inclusive and correct as possible from my folkloristic research. ♥
My greatest wish is that you may find this information useful and inspiring. *:･✧
Arathaso (Burmese): they are malevolent tree-dwelling spirits.
Bela (Indonesian): a tree nymph or dryad.
Diwata (Filipino): a faery.
Duwende (Filipino): a dwarf.
Eingsaung nat (Burmese): a benevolent house faery, much like a brownie.
Gnan (Tibetan): malevolent water and tree-dwelling beings that can bring illness.
Hantu Rinaba (Malaysian): a spirit that dwells within the deep forests of Malaysia.
Jalpari (Indian): a malevolent siren that lured men who rejected her wiles.
Jinn (Saudi Arabian): also known as Genie (Jinnee) they are faery-like beings born of fire. According to the lore, Jinn were created 2,000 years before God created Adam from the Earth. Evil jinn are revolting in appearance, but the good Jinn are very beautiful. They are also natural shapeshifters.
Kapre (Filipino): a tree nymph.
Khidi (Saudi Arabian): a benevolent water nymph.
Mambang Tuli Harus (Malaysian): a sea-dwelling spirit that has the ability to control currents.
Mbon (Malaysian): a Malaysian sylph.
Nat (Burmese) - a supernatural being, they can be faeries or village guardians. Some are benevolent or malevolent, but they all need offerings to appease them.
Niidono (Japanese): a sea siren.
Ningyo (Japanese): mermaids with a more fish-like body.
Nuno sa Punso (Filipino): a goblin.
Pampahilep (Indonesian): tree-dwelling spirit from the Dayak people’s mythos. The Pampahilep are able shapeshift into humans.
Peri (Persian): a faery. A peri’s evil counterpart is called a Deev.
Pulang Gana (Indonesian/Malaysian): an earth spirit from the mythos of Iban people of Borneo.
Rafusen (Japanese): a faery who adds the fragrance to plum blossom trees.
Raja Jinn Peri (Malaysian): he is considered “The King of Faeries” in Malay mythology, as well as Indonesian and Singaporean mythos.
Sa-bdag (Tibetan): fresh water nymphs.
Suvarnamacha (Thai): a sea goddess that typically appears as a mermaid.
Tennin (Japanese): they are considered to be angels or faeries in Japanese Buddhist mythology. Tennin live on mountain tops and those who wish to meet one must climb.
Trikurat (Burmese): a forest nymph.
Ts'ao (Chinese): a A water-dwelling spirit.
Yosei (Japanese): faeries that are commonly seen as cranes or swans; Japanese swan maidens.
Abantubomlambo (South African): they are benevolent mermaids from Xhosa mythos that live in the Transkei River. They teach medicine underwater to volunteers.
Abatawa (South African): extremely small faeries of Zulu mythology. They are so small that they can walk underneath grass and reside in ant hills. They are sometimes depicted as ants.
Azizan (Beninese): benevolent forest-dwelling spirits.
Balubaale (Ugandan): they are nature spirits from Baganda/Bantu mythos.
Dache (Ethiopian): tree-dwelling spirits.
Egbere (Nigerian): in Yoruba mythology, they are small beings that live in forests.
Eqqo (Ethiopian): they are river nymphs that have psychic abilities when possessing a human body.
Harun (Moroccan): a water dwelling spirit than can shapeshift into a snake.
Huntin (South African) A tree nymph from Xhosa mythos.
Ibissa Shayto (Ethiopian): a salamander (fire spirit) from Ethiopian mythos.
Ijimere (Nigerian): forest-dwelling spirits.
Kollo (Ethiopian): shapeshifting faeries that sometimes appear as horned birds. They live in mountains, trees and freshwater springs.
Mbolom (Cameroonian): mountain-dwelling spirits; neither benevolent or malevolent.
Mingehe (Congolese): forest nymph spirits from Lele mythology.
Mmoatia (Ghanian): forest-dwelling dwarves that practice magic in Asanti mythology.
Tingoi (Sierra Leonean): benevolent faeries of the Mender that can shapeshift into beautiful women.
Yumboes (Senegalese): very short, white colored faeries of Wolof mythology.
Zin (Malian/Senegalese): a water nymph from [ancient] Songhai mythology.
Ati (Polynesian): Ati is a Maori chief who according to lore caught a beautiful water faery in a fishing net and married her.
Kilyakai (New Guinean): malevolent forest-dwelling spirits.
Matabiri (New Guinean): a malevolent swamp nymph.
Matagaigai (New Guinean) a tree-spirit with deathly powers if touched when ill.
Narbrooi (New Guinean): woodland spirits that have soul-reaping abilities.
Paiarehe (Polynesian): Maori faery/faeries also known as Patupaiarehe.
Ponaturi (Polynesian): malevolent goblins that live near the seashore. They are also called sea faeries in Maori lore.
Tangotango (Polynesia): a celestial faery that comes from a race of beings from Heaven, somewhat like angels, in Maori mythos.
Te Kanawa (Polynesian): Te Kanawa is a Maori hunter who allegedly saw faeries in a sacred forest.
Toniwha (Polynesian): fresh water spirits that are respected as ancestral spirits. Not to be confused with Taniwha which are water demons.
Elves of Light Fairies (Canadian– Algonquin, First Nations): benevolent faeries from Algonquin lore.
Ka'cak (Canadian– Inuit, Aboriginal): A sea siren that feasts on drowned bodies.
Nantena (American– Athabaskan, First Nations): Alaskan faeries from Athabaskan mythology.
Pukwudjie (Canadian– Algonquin, First Nations): a faery or nature spirit.
The Little People of the Passamaquoddy Indians (Canadian– Passamaquoddy, Native American): these faeries are called the Nagumwasuck and the Mekumwasuck. Allegedly very short and very ugly in appearance. The Nagumwasuck are more benevolent and interact with humans. The Mekumwasuck are more solitary and live in the woods.
Thonenli` (American– Navajo [Dine]– Native American): a rain spirit of the Yei.
Tunkan (American – Dakota, Native American): an earth spirit.
Apuku (Surinamese): they are forest spirits bonded by the Guarana fruit native to South America.
Avure-cunha (Brazilian): very small forest faeries.
Boraro (Colombian/Brazilian): forest-dwelling spirits of the Tucano Indians mythos.
Ki-apod (Brazilian): benevolent, celestial spirits of the Tupari People’s mythos.
Saci-perere (Brazilian): they are very benevolent forest spirits; sometimes called “The Little People”.
Zakiqoxol (Guatemalan): a fire spirit.
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