Lightning bird

The lightning bird, known as impundulu, thekwane, izulu, or inyoni yezulu ("bird of the sky/heaven"), is a powerful mythological creature in the folklore of the Nguni peoples of South Africa, particularly prominent in Zulu and Xhosa traditions.

This legendary creature manifests as an enormous black and white bird, approximately human-sized, capable of summoning thunder and lightning with its wings and talons. The impundulu is a vampiric entity with an insatiable thirst for blood, typically serving as a familiar to witches or traditional healers. While primarily appearing as a bird, it possesses shapeshifting abilities, sometimes taking the form of an attractive young man to seduce women.

Some communities identify the hammerkop bird as the physical manifestation of the lightning bird, while others believe it reveals itself only through lightning strikes, except to women to whom it may appear in avian form. Descriptions vary across different accounts—some depict it as resembling a black rooster that leaves claw marks on victims, while others describe it with iridescent peacock-like feathers or with striking red tail, bill, and legs.

The impundulu's fat holds significant cultural importance, either as the fuel that ignites lightning strikes or as a powerful ingredient in traditional medicine. Those seeking this prized substance must supposedly capture the bird at the moment lightning strikes the ground, or excavate it from the strike location. According to legend, the creature lays large eggs underground at lightning strike sites, which may be considered either auspicious or ominous depending on context.

This mythological being shares similarities with vampires, particularly its immortality—the impundulu outlives its human masters and passes from mother to daughter within a witch's family. Though impervious to conventional weapons, poison, or drowning, folklore suggests it can be destroyed by fire.

Traditional healers play a central role in managing interactions with the lightning bird. They may prepare remedies using supposed extracts from the creature to track thieves or address other community concerns. The impundulu is widely feared as a witch's companion, sometimes spotted riding on a hyena's back (as witches supposedly can transform into hyenas). As a familiar serving witches, it can allegedly cause illness, misfortune, and various afflictions when dispatched against someone.