Werewere

The werewere is a mythical creature found in the folklore of the Caribbean, particularly in Dominica and other islands of the Lesser Antilles. It is a type of shapeshifter, specifically a vampire or bloodsucker, similar to the soucouyant of Trinidad and Tobago or the lougarou of French-speaking regions.

The werewere is said to be an old woman who transforms into a ball of fire at night. She sheds her skin, which she hides, and flies through the air seeking victims, typically babies or young children. The werewere sucks the blood of its victims, leaving them weak or ill.

Unlike some other Caribbean shapeshifters, the werewere is not always associated with a specific animal form beyond the ball of fire. The focus is on its vampiric nature and its ability to shed its skin. Protection against the werewere often involves sprinkling salt or rice around the house, or placing objects known to deter evil spirits, such as garlic. Finding the shed skin of a werewere and placing salt on it is believed to prevent her from transforming back and can lead to her death at sunrise. Belief in the werewere, while declining, still persists in some rural communities.