Baclou
Field Report
The Baclou is a spirit creature from West African and French Caribbean voodoo traditions. It is believed to be summoned using dark rituals and kept in small containers to serve its master. In exchange for wealth or protection, the Baclou may demand offerings or eventually turn on its owner. The spirit is said to operate invisibly, stealing or sabotaging enemies. Legends warn against mistreating or neglecting the creature. It has no fixed appearance but is often imagined as a small, mischievous figure. The Baclou is sometimes confused with gremlins or imps. Its myth serves as a warning about selfish magic.
Classification
Type:Spirit Familiar
Location:Benin, Togo, French Antilles
Traits:Tiny humanoid, often hidden in a box or jar, spirit-based
Threat Assessment
Danger Level: 3.5
First Reported: 1800s
Sightings: 11
Reveal Full Dossier
Behavioral Patterns
It behaves according to how it is treated—generous to those who respect it and vindictive to those who don’t. Most stories involve it working behind the scenes rather than taking direct action.
Folklore & Origins
Caribbean and West African folklore warns of a goblin-like creature that grants wealth in exchange for a soul.
Media Documentation
Referenced in Guadeloupean folklore and French Caribbean spirit lore collections. Occasionally mentioned in comparative demonology texts. Media mentions are rare and tied closely to regional oral tradition.
Hoax Analysis
The Baclou is a spirit figure in West African and Caribbean folklore. No sightings or hoaxes have been documented, and it is widely recognized as a mythological being rather than a biological entity.