AIDO-HWEDO: a Rainbow Serpent from Dahomey tribal mythology near African Republic of Benin.
Aido-Hwedo served the creator, Mawu, who was carried everywhere in Aido-Hwedo's mouth during the creation of the universe. The movements of Aido-Hwedo caused undulations, curves and twists of the rivers, mountains and valleys.
When Mawu finished creating, he asked Aido-Hwedo to coil beneath the earth to support the mountains, trees, people and animals; holding it in place and thus keeping the earth from capsizing. Since the rainbow serpent Aido-Hwedo was getting overheated in this task and couldnÕt stand heat, Mawu created the ocean around Aido-Hwedo. Since the beginning of time Aido-Hwedo has remained supporting the earth: coiled with his tail in his mouth; but from time to time when Aido-Hwedo shifts to get comfortable, earthquakes arise.
Red sea monkeys, charged by Mawu to feed Aido-Hwedo, forge iron bars which are the serpent's food. But should the supply run out it is said the famished Aido-Hwedo will chew his own tail. The serpentÕs writhing and convulsions will be so terrible that the earth will tilt. Overburdened with people and things, the earth will slip into the sea.
The creator, Mawu is also referred to as Nana-Buluku. Aido-Hwedo is also found in Aboriginal Australian, Surinam and Haitian voodoo beliefs, and goes by the name Aido Wedo.)
AMPHISBAENA: an African two-headed dragon whose name translates as "one that goes in both directions".
With one head on itÕs neck and the other on the tip of its tail, the Amphisbaena can roll in any direction by creating a circle when grasping its tail in its mouth. Portrayed as having a scaly body, feathered wings, and feet of a rooster, the female amphisbaena can keep one head awake at all times when tending over her eggs.
BIDA: a dragon from the West African Epic of the Dausi.
A dying King Dinga summoned his eldest son to pass on the secret of kingship. This son wouldn't come but Lagarre, his youngest son, did. King Dinga told Lagarre to find nine jars of water and that whomever washed in them would become king. He also told Lagarre to take the Tabele drum into the northern desert and strike it. Upon striking the drum the city of Wagadoo rose from the sand. Wishing to enter the city but finding himself encircled by the dragon Bida, Lagarre made a deal with Bida. Every year a girl would be sacrificed to Bida and in return the dragon would spew gold over the city. The annual sacrifice continued for three generations until Bida was slain by Mamadi Sefe Dekote, the lover of a sacrificial maiden. Mamadi cut off Bida's head and knocked it to the Gold Coast, which is why gold is plentiful there.
DRAGON OF THE LAKE: is a water dragon who lived in an African lake. The town by the shore gave the dragon a virgin annually in return for being allowed one day to draw water from the lake. The water was stored in cisterns so that it lasted all year. Eventually, princess Fatouma was the only girl left to offer. Upon hearing of the princess's fate Prince Hammadi went to the lake, released the princess, slew the dragon and married the princess.
HYDRA: an African water-dragon with seven heads; a dragon to whom people made offerings so that it would not stop the river flowing.
One day a pregnant woman found that her water jar had been filled with mud. She asked the Hydra for help... in return for her child. Agreeing, the Hydra cleaned out the jar and filled it with water. Later, the woman gave birth to a baby girl, Jinde Sirinde. When Jinde was old enough, she too went to the river to collect water.. but one day the Hydra took Jinde away to be his wife.
Jinde pleaded to return to see her parents one last time. The Hydra agreed to let her visit for one day, but threatened to come after her if she did not return. Jinde went to her parent's house but they feared the Hydra too much to help her. She then went her loverÕs house. When the Hydra came for Jinde, her lover took his sword and killed the monster by cutting off all seven heads.
ISA BERE: an African dragon who lived in the mountains of Futa Jallon and caused a major drought by drinking the Niger river dry.
King Samba and his bard, Tarafe, battled the dragon for eight years, using up 800 spears, eventually slaying the dragon with a blow to the heart which released the waters of the Niger.
