HISTORICAL MYTHS SURROUNDING THE LEGENDARY MADAM KOIKOI AND BABA DUDU IN NIGERIA

Cover image was created using canva

I remember back in high school, I was a relatively new student who was just starting her secondary school educational career. In jss1, I had to stay in the boarding house because my home was quite far from my school, this was actually the first time I would be leaving my family home at such a tender age but you know as a new student in a new environment and in a new system, I was all excited and ready to begin this new phase. However, prior to this moment no one explained to me the circumstances and experiences I would be facing. This is not to say that been in the boarding house was a bad thing because I enjoyed my time there, made good friends, it made me study more and I gained experience that are quite memorable till today.

Back then in school there was a common myth about how a legendary madam koi koi (woman on red heels) and baba dudu (black man) usually terrorize both male and female dormitories at night. I didn't know about this until I got in and was settled. At some point this put fear in my mind but later on, I phased it out until I experienced some of this moment. The one that constantly happened back then was the noise from the Bush baby, we would be sleeping and suddenly at night we suddenly hear the cry of a baby close to the building.

The story of the ghost of the legendary madame koikoi was about a female teacher who was very stylish and classy in a fashion sense and always wore a red stilettos while being a teacher. The stories around this myth is that she is a ghost who torments students in their dormitory hallways or toilet. it is said that she came for a revenge. The story was that apparently she was a nasty teacher back in school who would beat and punish students anyhow she liked, so one day she was reported to the school of authority for terrorizing the students and she was sacked immediately. It did not just end there, why leaving the school premises in a cab with her red stilettos she got involved in a fatal accident but it was claimed that before she died she swore to terrorize students in their sleep as a means to seek revenge. This was how the myth of madam koikoi with the red heels came about.

The second myth is that of babadudu, which I physically experienced back in school. Although, it was a thief who disguised as babadudu to look at naked girls. Apparently babadudu means black man, this person visits female or male hostels especially during late nights or early mornings when they are having their bathroom breaks. He is known to cover himself up with charcoal powder and lace this up with Vaseline or Grease, this is to make it difficult for people to catch him as his body will be slippery. All he does is to peep at ladies when having their bath or to steal their underwears for whatever reasons.

Why we were in school, as usual the time keep around the Bell at 5:30 a.m. and we all rushed out to have our bath, because we only had 30 minutes to bath and get ready for morning mass. This was going on smoothly when suddenly we heard noises from the junior section bathroom screaming baba dudu is here, before we knew what was happening everyone was in a frenzy mood running up and down trying to enter our hostels and lock the door. We were so scared that no one came out to go for early morning mass that day until the reverend sister in charge came when they was bright and told us everything was settled.

With all the experiences that happened in high school looking back now it's all nostalgia. Although there are different stories and perspectives to the origin of madame khoikhoi and baba dudu but this were the most common ones back then. It was creepy but it made our stay back in in the boarding house memorable because without such experience it would have just been bland.

The March Monthly Prompt by is still very active, it's an opportunity to take on topics of your choice and write on them. Check the link above to participate.

Thank you for stopping by my blog...

Posted Using InLeo Alpha