‘When Your Palms Itch, You Will Receive Money’, and Other African Myths · Global Voices
Prudence Nyamishana

Three-legged pots commonly used in Botswana. If a young woman eats out of a pot, she supposedly will not get married. Creative Commons image by Rach151.
Africans, like people elsewhere in the world, use Twitter in many ways. Sometimes it's to have a laugh at themselves. Sometimes it's to find common ground across countries and cultures. Sometimes it's both.
For example, @IGtiz, a Kenyan student, has started the #100AfricanMyths hashtag to share myths that are passed on from generation to generation in African countries, mostly orally.
Myths in Africa serve different socio-cultural needs. Parents, for instance, use myths to keep their young ones in check.
Here is a sample of some of the more hilarious African myths.
Faith Mulungi, a Ugandan radio presenter, tweeted:
When your palms itch,you will receive money#100AfricanMyths
— Faith Liam Mulungi (@Omulungi_Hawt) September 27, 2016
@PatohShanqueels explained a common myth that went around schools where caning took place:
#100AfricanMyths putting Onions under your armpits made you faint when the teacher beat you 😂😂😂😂😂😂
— Soldier ↪ (@PatohShanqueels) September 27, 2016
Do not cut your nails at night, according to @xolelwandengane in South Africa:
U can't cut ur nails at night, coz the witches will come and pick them #100AfricanMyths
— Amanda black 🌹 (@xolelwandengane) September 27, 2016
Flo Letoaba, a South African radio talk host, added this one to the mix:
If you eat out of a pot while cooking, you won't get married #100AfricanMyths
— Flo Letoaba (@florenceletoaba) September 27, 2016
Whistling at night can be very dangerous — supposedly:
#100AfricanMyths If you whistle at night, a snake will visit your room
— The Usual Suspect (@Jude_Mugabi) September 27, 2016
Children were taught not to laugh at the disabled, according to @NaughtyMilz in Uganda:
If you laugh at a lame person you would give birth to a lame child…. #100Africanmyths
— ռɨʟօtɨċ (@NaughtyMilz) September 27, 2016
An owl is a messenger of death, says @iGitz_:
If an owl screechs near your house, someone is gonna die. #100AfricanMyths
— African President👑 (@iGitz_) September 27, 2016
Do not sweep away luck from your house, Vinnie from Kenya warned:
Never sweep dirt from your house at night, that is like throwing away luck from your home #100AfricanMyths
— Vinnie (@vinny_wa) September 27, 2016
Myths were also used to getting children to concentrate in class:
#100AfricanMyths
Sitting in the front row at school will guarantee you a pass
— Tumi Sole (@tumisole) September 27, 2016
Although the myths were from various parts of Africa, Dickens Jnr, an African American in the US state of Michigan, said that he had heard all them:
Relating to most of the #100AfricanMyths tweets is just 😂. I swear I have heard almost each one Of them.
— Dickens jr (@iickens) September 27, 2016