A Berber petroglyph depicting a wolf or lion-like creature
Kambaltou (Tifinagh: ⴽⴰⵎⴱⴰⵍⵜoⵓ) are shapeshifting creatures of Tuareg Berber mythology. They are described as creatures that look like the cross between a gorilla and a hyena.[1]
They are shapeshifters who have the power to metamorphosize into a beast to eat animals and humans; they can devour a whole cow/camel during a single meal, but they are prohibited by law of their power, to break a single bone during their meal. If this happened accidently, the Kambaltou would be condemned to remain wild for eternity.
They are exclusively carnivorous, and can be detected through their refusal to eat anything with cereal grains.
Many skeletons found in the desert without broken bones is said to be the work of a kambaltou.[2]
References[]
- ↑ https://books.google.com/books?id=n2SGrXv4rlcC%7Ctitle=Contes et légendes touaregs du Niger: des hommes et des djinns
- ↑ https://books.google.com/books?id=n2SGrXv4rlcC%7Ctitle=Contes et légendes touaregs du Niger: des hommes et des djinns
| Creatures and Jinn of Berber mythology | |
|---|---|
| Kabyle | Taghyalt Timqber • Talafsa • Teryel • Waghzen |
| Rifain | Aicha Kandicha • Boukhencha • Talafsa • Taserdount Nisemsal |
| Shilha | Aghzen • Chaarmarouch • Taghzent • Bouda |
| Tuareg | Elas Molan • Kambaltou • Anigouran |
| Other | Tibicena • Maxios |