E98: Elifasi Msomi

This week, Wendy & Beth discuss Elifasi Msomi, who between 1953 and 1955, hacked 15 people to death in the valleys of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. He said he was driven by an evil being known as the tokoloshe.

We share some listeners letters (4:37), dive into some stats (12:15), followed by a deep dive into the setting of South Africa (13:20).  Then we get into Msomi’s early life and the lore of the tokoloshe (31:00), the timeline (40:50), and the investigation & arrest (43:42).  We talk about “Where are they now?”(47:31), our Take Aways and what we think made Msomi snap (48:58).  

As usual we close out the show with some tips on how not to get murdered (53:45) and we wrap up with some shout outs (57:27). 

Thanks for listening! This is a weekly podcast and new episodes drop every Thursday, so until next time… look alive y’all, it’s crazy out there!

Where to find us:

Our Facebook page is Fruitloopspod and our discussion group is Fruitloopspod Discussion on Facebook; https://www.facebook.com/groups/fruitloopspod/

We are also on Twitter and Instagram @fruitloopspod

Please send any questions or comments to fruitloopspod@gmail.com or leave us a voicemail at 602-935-6294.  We just might read your email or play your voicemail on the show!

Want to Support the show?

You can support the show by rating and reviewing Fruitloops on iTunes, or anywhere else that you get your podcasts from.  We would love it if you gave us 5 stars!

You can make a donation on the Cash App

https://cash.me/$fruitloopspod

Or become a monthly Patron through our Podbean Patron page

https://patron.podbean.com/fruitloopspod

Articles/Websites

Good, Meaghan. (02/10/2017). 1956: Elifasi Msomi, witch doctor. Executed Today. Retrieved 10/13/2020 from https://www.executedtoday.com/2017/02/10/1956-elifasi-msomi-witch-doctor/

Murderpedia. (n.d.). Elifasi Msomi. Retrieved 10/13/2020 from https://murderpedia.org/male.M/m/msomi-elifasi.htm

Killer Cloud. (n.d.). Elifasi Msomi. Retrieved 10/13/2020 from https://killer.cloud/serial-killers/show/68/elifasi-msomi

The Basics. (10/24/2013). South Africa’s Ten most prolific Serial Killers. Retrieved 10/17/2020 from https://getthebasics.wordpress.com/2013/10/24/south-africas-ten-most-prolific-serial-killers/

dbpedia. (n.d.). Elefasi Msomi. Retrieved 10/17/2020 from http://dbpedia.org/page/Elifasi_Msomi

Darklight News. (09/24/2020). Opinion: Man Claims to be possessed by Tokoloshe, Murder’s 15 with an ax. Opera News. Retrieved 10/18/2020 from https://za.opera.news/za/en/crime/119dbbd816a8510a5640d950f10f76a6

Ajam, Kashiefa. (10/02/2018). Serial killers come from all walks of life. Saturday Star. Retrieved 10/18/2020 from https://www.iol.co.za/saturday-star/serial-killers-come-from-all-walks-of-life-17318557

The Spokesman-Review. (07/12/1955). Fairy Blamed for 15 Deaths. Retrieved 10/18/2020 from https://www.newspapers.com/image/568628355/?terms=elifasi%2Bmsomi

The Gazette. (02/11/1956). Chiefs Make Sure Slayer Not Saved by Evil Spirit. Retrieved 10/18/2020 from https://www.newspapers.com/image/421224850/?terms=elifasi%2Bmsomi

Chicago Tribune Service. (07/12/1955). The Corpus Christi Caller-Times. African Axe Slayer Claims He Was Bewitched by Fairy. Retrieved 10/18/2020 from https://www.newspapers.com/image/21990254/?terms=elifasi%2Bmsomi

Tshabalala, Vusile. (12/21/2020). How many blacks died under Apartheid. Volkstaadt.net. Retrieved 10/19/2020 from http://www.volkstaat.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=746:how-many-blacks-died-under-apartheid-rsa&catid=89:apartheid-eng&Itemid=147

Books

Steiger, B. (2010). Elifasi Msomi, Seized by the Tokoloshe. In Real vampires, night stalkers and creatures from the darkside (p. 94). Detroit, MI: Visible Ink Press.

Podcasts

Bryant, Charles W. “Chuck”; Clark, Josh (Hosts). (3/19/13). How Stuff Works. How Apartheid Worked [Audio podcast]. Retrieved10/15/2020 from https://www.stitcher.com/s?eid=22316022&refid=asa

Video

JayKhalo Dot TV.  (7/18/2020). South African Tokoloshe/Axe Killer: Elifasi Msomi|Nail Care Day & Bevs| Johnny Jay Khalo [Video File]. Retrieved 10/18/2020 from https://youtu.be/vtGT51cHAKk

History

Wikipedia contributors. (10/15/2020). Truth and Reconciliation Commission (South Africa). Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved10/16/2020 from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Truth_and_Reconciliation_Commission_(South_Africa)&oldid=983681233

Wikipedia contributors. (10/11/2020). KwaZulu-Natal. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 10/16/2020 from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=KwaZulu-Natal&oldid=983029040

Wikipedia contributors. (10/15/2020). Bantu Education Act, 1953. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 10/17/2020 from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bantu_Education_Act,_1953&oldid=983622038

Wikipedia contributors. (09/22/2020). Tikoloshe. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 10/17/2020, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tikoloshe&oldid=979728834

Wikipedia contributors. (5/9/2020). 1946 African Mine Workers’ Union strike. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 10/18/2020 from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1946_African_Mine_Workers%27_Union_strike&oldid=955797882

Wikipedia contributors. (9/29/2020). South Africa Act 1909. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 10/18/2020 from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=South_Africa_Act_1909&oldid=980980111

Wikipedia contributors. (10/07/2020). Natives Land Act, 1913. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 10/18/2020 from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Natives_Land_Act,_1913&oldid=982310797

Wikipedia contributors. (10/18/2020). Population Registration Act, 1950. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 10/18/2020 from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Population_Registration_Act,_1950&oldid=984155070

Wikipedia contributors. (09/28/2020). Bantustan. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 10/18/2020 from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bantustan&oldid=980761358

Evans, Marissa. (02/22/2009). Sharpeville Massacre. Black Past.  Retrieved 10/18/2020 from https://www.blackpast.org/global-african-history/sharpeville-massacre/#:~:text=The%20Sharpeville%20Massacre%2C%20which%20occurred,came%20to%20symbolize%20that%20struggle.

Martin, Denise. (n.d.). Sangoma. Britannica. Retrieved 10/18/2020 from https://www.britannica.com/science/sangoma

South African History Online. (n.d.). The June 16 Soweto Youth Uprising. Retrieved 10/19/2020 from https://www.sahistory.org.za/article/june-16-soweto-youth-uprising

Brown, Molly. (09/2008). Why Are South Africans Afraid of Tokoloshis?. The Lion and the Unicorn. Retrieved 10/18/2020 from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/236820221_Why_Are_South_Africans_Afraid_of_Tokoloshes

Paranormal Stories. (07/20/2007). Tokoloshe. Retrieved 10/18/2020 from http://paranormalstories.blogspot.com/2007/07/tokoloshe.html

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (12/12/2007). Natal. Encyclopaedia Britannica.  Retrieved 10/18/2020 from https://www.britannica.com/place/Natal-historical-province-South-Africa

Phantoms and Monsters. (09/08/2010). Legendary Humanoids: Tikoloshe, African Vampire. Retrieved 10/19/2020 from https://www.phantomsandmonsters.com/2010/09/legendary-humanoids-tikoloshe-africas.html

Msomi, S’thembiso. (08/03/2018). No one in feared gang was a Msomi, leaving me to always explain. Sowetan Live. Retrieved 10/19/2020 from https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/opinion/columnists/2018-08-03-no-one-in-feared-gang-was-a-msomi-leaving-me-to-always-explain/

How Not to Get Murdered

How to Spot a con artist
https://www.nasaa.org/2700/how-to-spot-a-con-artist/

Shout Outs

BSP: Believer Skeptic Podcast
http://www.bspodphx.com/

13 Days of Halloween (Podcast)
https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/how-stuff-works/13-days-of-halloween 

Vampires vs. the Bronx
https://www.netflix.com/title/80998174 

Unsolved Mysteries Season 2
https://www.netflix.com/title/81026055

The Haunting of Bly Manor
https://www.netflix.com/title/81237854

Ad

Andstillivote.org
https://andstillivote.org/
#andstillivote

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/civilandhumanrights
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/civilrightsorg/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/civilrightsorg

EveryPlate.com
https://www.everyplate.com/ 
Code: FRUIT3

Music

“Abyss” by Alasen: ●https://soundcloud.com/alasen●https://twitter.com/icemantrap ●https://instagram.com/icemanbass/●https://soundcloud.com/therealfrozenguy●

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

“Charangos” By LATASHÁ 
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCB32w_fAJftImQkRUZ8Ju-Q
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

“One Way” by Yung Kartz 
https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Yung_Kartz
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

“Start as You Mean to Go On” by Birch
https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Daniel_Birch
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

“Solve the Damn Mystery” by Jesse Spillane
http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jesse_Spillane/
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Connect with us on:

Twitter @FruitLoopsPod

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/fruitloopspod

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Fruitloopspod and https://www.facebook.com/groups/fruitloopspod