Urban Legends & Night Scare
This coastal spirit is said to take human form, often appearing as a beautiful woman or an animal, and is heavily feared in Mombasa.
Jini (Djinn)
This hit Netflix series features teens fighting monsters from the Upside Down, like the Demogorgon and Vecna.
Stranger Things
You must survive five nights working as a security guard surrounded by haunted animatronics in this massively popular game series
Five Nights at Freddy's (FNAF
This orange vegetable is carved into a spooky face to create a Jack-o'-Lantern
pumpkin
The terrifying moment a teacher walks into class and says, "Tafadhali chukua karatasi moja" (Please take out one piece of paper).
a surprise CAT (or random test)
These legendary individuals are believed to run around naked at night, disturbing neighbors by throwing stones on mabati roofs or knocking on doors.
Night Runners?
The terrifying, haunted porcelain doll that anchors a massive horror movie universe alongside The Conjuring.
Annabelle
In this hit Roblox horror game, players must open doors and hide from entities like Rush, Ambush, and Figure.
DOORS
The famous phrase kids say when going door-to-door demanding candy on October 31st
"Trick or Treat
The spooky term for eating this tough mix of beans and maize that boarding students often complain about cracking their teeth on.
What is githeri (or murram)
According to Kenyan boarding school myths, chanting this name in the dorm bathroom mirror will summon a ghost
Bloody Mary (or Pinky Pinky)
This quiet horror movie features creatures that hunt you instantly if you make even the slightest sound.
A Quiet Place
This faceless, tall, suited figure became a massive internet creepypasta and video game villain.
Slender Man
This flying nocturnal mammal is commonly associated with vampires and haunted houses
a bat?
The horrifying realization that you've reached the front of the dining hall line, only to hear the prefect shout this word.
"Imeisha!" (It's finished)
If you pick up this type of dropped coin on the streets, coastal urban legends warn that you might turn into a goat or a snake.
bewitched coin (or juju)?
In this movie, a clown named Pennywise terrorizes kids by transforming into their worst fears.
IT
This survival horror game features terrifying infected known as "Clickers" and follows Joel and Ellie across a ruined America.
The Last of Us
According to superstition, crossing paths with this specific colored animal brings bad luck.
a black cat
The intense fear of returning home for the holidays without this official document showing your term's grades.
a report form
A legendary, terrifying half-human, half-creature said to haunt the highways at night, often associated with the older "Chuma Ulete" stories.
blood-sucking ghost (or vampire/wanga)
The killer in the Scream movies wears this iconic mask inspired by an Edvard Munch painting.
Ghostface
When playing horror titles on a Meta Quest 3, this is the term for the physical reaction of suddenly jumping back out of fear when a monster appears.
jump scare
This classic, slow-moving monster was brought to life by a mad scientist using lightning and electricity.
Frankenstein's monster
The slang term for a "ghost" university student who is never seen in class all semester but magically appears in the exam room.
a submarine