Known as the Lightning Bird or even Impundulu for the belief in some cultures that people who tamper with its nest will be struck by lightning, the bird is certainly one of the strangest looking birds in Africa. The Impundulu is the only species in the family Scopidae and is the subject of many beliefs throughout South Africa. It is a mythological creature that features strongly in the tribes of the Pondo, Xhosa, and also Zulu folklore.
The nest of the Lightning Bird is the source of many of the myths surrounding the bird. The main chamber is 30 to 60 cm in diameter with an approximately 50 cm tunnel leading out to the least accessible side of the nest. The shell of the nest is constantly added to and is made up of sticks, leaves and even plastic. Some nests can weigh up to 200 kg and can take months to build. The nest is often used by snakes, owls, and monitor lizards. All creatures are feared by many African peoples and this adds to the beliefs surrounding the bird.
Some of the tribes believe the Impundulu is the Lightning bird because of its long shaggy crest and curved bill, whilst other tribes believe that it manifests itself through lightning or to women in its true form. Thunder is created when Impundulu laps his wings, and lightning when he descends to earth to lay his eggs. Fairy circles that are created in the fields, usually by mushrooms, show where the lightning struck and where you have to dig to get the Impundulu’s eggs.
When the eggs are grounded into a fine powder and mixed with a fish that shines in the dark and a few other medical ingredients, then you can supposedly use this concoction if you want your enemy to be struck by lightning! Although some believe the eggs to be bad luck, and will therefore be destroyed immediately. When the Impundulu is not creating meteorological havoc, it is believed that he caries children away and drinks all the milk. The Impundulu is also a rainmaker, with powers to cause people to have sex, can afflict disease and some even believe that it can suck blood or suck the breath out of people with Tuberculosis.
It is strongly associated with witchcraft. It is said to be a vampire bird that is often a servant, confidant, or a familiar witch, or witch doctor. The lightning bird cannot be killed by shooting or stabbing and it cannot be drowned or poisoned. The only way it can be killed is by burning with fire if it can be caught, otherwise, it is said to be immortal and outlives its masters. Legend says that it is inherited from mother to daughter in the family of the witch or witch doctor to whom it belongs and will do the bidding of its current master.
It will visit and cause bad luck or illness to anyone that its master commands it to. It is said to possess an insatiable lust for blood sometimes transforming into a handsome young man who seduces women to drink their blood. For all these reasons and because it is the servant of witches or witch doctors it is considered to be an evil creature. Witches and witch doctors are believed to be able to transform their shape into that of a hyena and the Lightning bird or Impundulu is often seen riding on the back of a hyena.
Sources: Coffee And Creatures, Siyabona Africa.