Dimu: An Ancient Character in Modern Bantu Language Tales

Abstract This article begins with a table which shows modern words for “ogre”, e. g., zimu in Zulu, irimu in Kikuyu and dimo in Sotho, in Bantu language tales and relates them to the Proto-Bantu term, dimu. Using insights from depth psychology, Aarne-Thompson-Uther classification and, especially, performance theory, the paper examines the character of the ogre in a number of theoretical areas. These include the relationship between tradition and creativity, the development of narrative meaning and how the ogre functions as a symbol with special reference to stories found in eastern and southern Africa.