Folklore from West Africa, specifically the areas of Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, and Benin, that originate from the Ewe, Akan, Ashanti and Dahomey people.The story on this episode tells of the Adze, a creature with the ability to travel as a firefly to sneak into houses and drink the blood of children. Aside from the Adze, two other African vampires are also covered; the Asanbosam, and the Obayifo, otherwise known as the Asiman.Contact at fiveminutefolklore@gmail.comwww.fiveminutefolklore.com  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Five Minute Folklore

Adze: Vampires of Africa

Folklore from Eastern Europe, specifically Romania and Croatia.The first of two episodes dedicated to vampire folklores. This episode looks at Strigoi, the inspiration for the most famous vampire of all; 'Dracula', from the novel by Bram Stoker. There is a retelling of the opening chapters of 'Dracula' on this episode, as well as the real-life Croatian story of 'Jure Grando'; the first man in historical record to be described as a vampire.Contact at fiveminutefolklore@gmail.comwww.fiveminutefolklore.com  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

#32 - Strigoi: Vampires of Europe

Folklore from Brazil.The Protector of the Amazon Forest; Curupira, and Transforming Party-loving Dolphins from the Amazon River; Boto Encantos.Contact at fiveminutefolklore@gmail.comwww.fiveminutefolklore.com  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

#31 - Curupira & Boto Encantos

Folklore from Greenland. The Goddess of the Sea; Sedna, and the exiled wandering spirit; Tivittoq.Contact at fiveminutefolklore@gmail.comwww.fiveminutefolklore.com For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

#30 - Sedna & Tivittoq

The episode is all about the snake spirit river God; NyamiNyami, who lives within the waters of the Zambezi river, that runs between the African countries of Zambia and Zimbabwe. The story on this one is a retelling of actual events that occurred around the construction of the Kariba Dam in the 1950s.Contact at fiveminutefolklore@gmail.comwww.fiveminutefolklore.com

#29 - NyamiNyami

This festive episode of Five Minute Folklore takes a look at La Befana - the Christmas witch of Italy, who visits children to delivery gifts of the eve of Epiphany. There are many similarities between her and the more modern Santa Claus, although she is much more closely tied to the traditional Christian Christmas story.Contact at fiveminutefolklore@gmail.comwww.fiveminutefolklore.com

#28 - La Befana

This episode features two stories; both longer than usual, from two different African countries - Sudan and Libya. The Sudanese story of Fatma Al Samha, or Fatma The Beautiful if one of the most well known folklores in the ahaji style, and the story of Fatoom is a very strange Libyan tale that I have barely any information on. Contact at fiveminutefolklore@gmail.comwww.fiveminutefolklore.com

#27 - Fatma Al Samha & Fatoom: Daughter of Beggars

Slavic folklore originating in Serbia, but told over many European countries, Vila are nature spirits that are also fearsome warriors, and mesmerising dancers. Otherwise known as Wilis, they are also the inspiration for the ballet Giselle, and the Veela from the Harry Potter series.Contact at fiveminutefolklore@gmail.comwww.fiveminutefolklore.com

#26 - Vila

This episode covers two different folklores from Argentina - The Legend of the Cactus; Pasancana, and The Devil's fearsome debt collector; El Familiar. Contact at fiveminutefolklore@gmail.comwww.fiveminutefolklore.com

#25 - Pasancana & El Familiar

Celtic folklore. On this Halloween episode, I decided to look at the most famous ghost of them all - The Banshee, an omen of death which originates in Irish folklore. This episode looks at the possible origins of the myth, similar figures from other folklores, and tells a few stories, one about a young girl named Alice, and the other about a young girl named Maeveen.Contact at fiveminutefolklore@gmail.comwww.fiveminutefolklore.com

#24 - Banshee

Folklore from South Africa. Mistakenly created at the dawn of time by the Gods, the Grootslang is a cryptid that now lurks the rivers and caves of South Africa, eating elephants, and hoarding diamonds. Contact at fiveminutefolklore@gmail.comwww.fiveminutefolklore.com

#23 - Grootslang

Folklore from Estonia - The legend of Suur Tõll, otherwise known as Toell the Great, or Tyll the Giant, who defends his island of Saaremaa, alongside his wife Piret, against the attacking hordes, the evil Warlord, and his rival, Vanatuhi, The Old Vile One. Contact at fiveminutefolklore@gmail.comwww.fiveminutefolklore.com

#22 - Suur Tõll

This episode looks at the legendary trickster from the folklore of Kazakhstan - Aldar Kose. He is a hero of the lower classes who always comes out on top, by outwitting the wealthy.Contact at fiveminutefolklore@gmail.comwww.fiveminutefolklore.com

#21 - Aldar Kose

This episode is all about the guitar-playing, hair-braiding, sombrero-wearing, El Sombrerón, from Guatemalan folklore. His music can mesmerise young girls, as he attempts to woo them, and possibly steal their souls...Contact at fiveminutefolklore@gmail.comwww.fiveminutefolklore.com

#20 - El Sombrerón

Maori folklore from New Zealand on this episode - we take a look at the Taniwha, the protective, or dangerous, water-dragons. This episode explores Maori beliefs and superstitions, taniwhas role as a monster or protector, and it’s similarities to other myths, monsters, and even dinosaurs.Contact at fiveminutefolklore@gmail.comwww.fiveminutefolklore.com

#19 - Taniwha

Every episode focuses on a different famous mythological figure. Through atmospheric story-telling we learn the condensed origins of folklore tales from all over the world, and also take a look at varying interpretations, cultural differences, and how the stories have influenced other media. Hosted by Bob Shoy. Contact at fiveminutefolklore@gmail.com