In Europe, when you wanted to frighten children you just needed to mention the bogeyman or the devil , pictured or imagined with his tail, trident and with fire coming out from his eyes. In our North African regions it wasn’t just imagination since all the children and most part of adults felt, saw or heard beings from the great beyond that might alternate an ethereal constitution with a more carnal one, depending on the circumstances. The character which frightened us most was Aicha Kandicha, a being coming beyond death and it was strange to find any children who hadn’t noticed this old woman with long and greasy hair, wrinkled features, noticeable hump, cruel and flashing look and open, teeth less mouth. Or she could appear walking on the waters with the look of a gentle fairy, wearing a shining kaftan and as she was approaching the shore she changed into the appearance described above.
She frightened us so much that only mentioning her made us go to sleep, eat o behave. She is the most fascinating character of our region that we remember with a mixture of fear, affection and nostalgia at the same time.
