In
Central African mythology, a sort of fresh-water
mermaid traditionally known to have white skin and African features. They can be met at
waterfalls though they actually live in
villages elsewhere where they presumably have legs and live in houses and such.
Men desiring a Siren for a
wife would have to make arrangements with her
mother and provide a large
dowry or
bride-price.
Legend in
Ngouha2,
Congo tells that a man from there once tricked a Siren into letting him
marry her daughter by use of
magic. When the
mother shook off the
spell, she sent
torrents of rain to wash out the
village. The
villagers forced the man to flee and the rain subsided. The man was seen years later without his wife and refused to speak of the events.
The portrayal of Sirens as white-skinned reportedly predates the arrival of
Europeans.