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