Lukwata
The African Great Lakes region, from where most Lukwata stories stem.
GroupingLegendary creature
Sub groupingLake Monster[1]
CountryUganda, African Great Lakes
DetailsFound in lakes, rivers and swamps

Lukwata (Luganda for 'sea serpent',[2] the nominal form of kukwata, lit. 'to seize') is a legendary water-dwelling creature in Baganda folklore, said to be found in Lake Victoria of Uganda.[3] It has been described as 20–30 feet long, with dark smooth skin and a rounded head, and known to attack fishermen and boats.[4] It's stories and folklore may have also been related in some way to stories of spirits and deities surrounding canoes and fishing.[3] Pieces of the Lukwata were thought to have magical properties and were revered as relics in eastern Africa.[5]

Despite the nature of the legend, there is no scientific evidence to support the existence of Lukwata or any other similar creature in Lake Victoria. Despite this, the Lukwata remains an important part of the cultural and historical fabric of Uganda and the cultural identity of the Baganda people.

History

British colonial administrator C. W. Hobley wrote, in 1913, that people living on both (east and west) sides of Lake Victoria told stories of the Lukwata.[6] He also reported that the "Ja Luo" people told stories of it attacking fishing canoes, and described his own uncertainty as to whether the stories, if real, could have had their origins in large pythons or some unknown animal.[6] Ideas that the Lukwata may actually represent an unknown animal persisted in other sources from the early to mid 20th century: it appeared in a 1937 article entitled "African Mystery Beasts",[5] though more recent sources prefer to focus on the Lukwata and stories surrounding it as a cultural phenomenon [3]

References

  1. ↑ Pilkingont, G. L. (1892). Luganda-English and English-Luganda Vocabulary. London, England: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. p. 61. hdl:2027/wu.89054093349.
  2. ↑ Crabtree, Willaim Arthur (1902). Elements of Luganda Grammar. London, England: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. p. 194 – via Internet Archive.
  3. 1 2 3 Kenny, Michael G. (1977). "The Powers of Lake Victoria". Anthropos. Anthropos-Institut. 77 (5–6): 717–733. JSTOR 40459181.
  4. ↑ Radford, Benjamin (May 5, 2006). Lake Monster Mysteries: Investigating the World's Most Elusive Creatures. University Press of Kentucky. p. 146. ISBN 978-0-8131-7130-2.
  5. 1 2 Hichens, William (December 1937). "African Mystery Beasts". Discovery: The Popular Journal of Knowledge. John Murray. 18: 372.
  6. 1 2 Hobley, C. W. "On some unidentified beasts." East African Geographical Review 3, no. 6 (1913): 48-52.
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