Mnyazi

vampire · Kenya · East Africa

Mnyazi refers to vampiric returning dead in Kenyan coastal (Swahili/Giriama) belief—jealous/greedy ancestors rising as red-eyed blood-drinkers to prey on kin. Protection: iron, garlic, Islamic amulets (hirizi). Term may derive from Swahili nyama (meat) + zi (spirit). Documented in Kenyan coastal ethnography (Lambert) but less widely than Shetani/Popobawa.

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