Found in: North Africa, the Horn of Africa, and the Middle East
The term 'Werehyena' is a newer term used to refer to those therianthropes said to transform into hyenas (as opposed to werewolves, which obviously transform into wolves). Different regions refer to them by different names; some lore even depicts them as the reverse, hyenas in the form of or disguised as humans.
In western Sudan, the Werehyena are humans who are said to be magically powerful healers, blacksmiths, or woodcutters in human form that transform and terrorize people at night, especially lovers. According to their lore, the Werehyena is cannibalistic in hyena form. It can be recognized in human form by their hairy bodies, red and gleaming eyes, and nasal voice.
In Ethiopia, where they are referred to as Bouda or Buda, it is traditionally believed that all blacksmiths are really wizards or witches that transform into hyenas at midnight, robbing graves and consuming the bodies. Many Ethiopian Christians view Ethiopian Jews with suspicion of being Bouda, as blacksmithing is a traditional profession for Jewish men in Ethiopia - though this, of course, is more a manifestation of antisemitism.
Some among the Berber people also refer to Werehyenas as Bouda. They are described as men or women who turn into hyenas at night and return to human form at dawn.
In the Lake Chad region, Werehyenas are referred to as Bultungin. It was once believed that one or two villages in that region were entirely populated by them.
In Persia, half-human, half-hyena people were referred to as Kaftar, and were thought to habitually slaughter children. A medical treatise written in 1376 described how to cure them.
Artist notes: Pencil on paper.
Last updated 11/11/15
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