Long ago, the quiet nights of Kuwait, spent between the sea and desert, inspired its people to weave tales that evoked fear, excitement and anticipation, reflecting the lifestyle of that time. Though these stories are now recounted as mythical folktales, they have been passed down through generations, becoming an integral part of Kuwait’s heritage.
Heritage researcher Salem Abdullatif Al-Misbah shared with Kuwait Times some of the most popular mythical characters that shaped these narratives:
Bu Darya
This water demon is said to resemble a human. It was believed to climb aboard ships, capture sailors and drag them underwater to attack them. Sailors would scream and shout if it appeared on their ship and wave knives at it, making it flee back into the sea. Misbah mentioned that a similar creature, called "Al-Atoom", is described in Arabic literature as a sea creature with fish-like tails and arms but no legs.
Edaida
Appearing in the form of fire or glowing embers that move away when approached, this imaginary character was used to scare children and keep them from going out at night. It’s also known as "Daw Edaida" in the Kuwaiti dialect or "Edaida Fire".
Tantal
Depicted as a very tall and strange figure with long arms, a big head and intimidating eyes, Tantal was said to appear on roads at night. People believed they could use a long needle to threaten it and make it run away.
Hemarat Al-Gayla
"Hemarat” means a female donkey, and "al-gayla" refers to noon in classical Arabic, said Misbah. In the past, people believed in a creature that looked like a donkey and would harm anyone who crossed its path on the road at noon. Children were warned about it to keep them from going out during that time. Misbah added that some also called it "Umm Hemaar" and described it as a woman with a donkey’s leg, though it is likely a different character.
Umm al-Sa'af and al-Leef
This scary old woman with messy hair and wings was believed to fly around, threatening children to sleep at night. According to Misbah, the character was inspired by a type of palm tree known as "Umm al-Sa'af and al-Leef”, which makes noise during dark, windy nights, causing children to mistake it for a frightening creature. Some say it was used to scare misbehaving children who disobeyed their parents.
Even though these tales have nearly disappeared, they remain vivid in the memories of many. They continue to inspire movies, plays, books and even paintings, encouraging artists to express their imagination in creative ways.
"I have always been fascinated by Kuwaiti mythology. These horror tales are crafted to give you chills, yet they do so in a unique and intriguing manner, tailored to keep children from wandering around,” said Nawaf Al-Hmeli, a Kuwaiti fine artist who painted two mythical Kuwaiti creatures from his imagination: Tantal and Hemarat Al-Gayla.