The Vanishing Hitchhiker in Africa

The first possible variant of the urban legend The Vanishing Hitchhiker occurs in Acts 8: 26-40 with the conversion of an "Ethiopian" by the hitchhiking apostle Philip. More recent variants in the Gambia and Somalia exhibit a different plot, but retain the vanishing hitchhiker motif. A fem...

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Veröffentlicht in:	Research in African literatures 2007-09, Vol.38 (3), p.24-33
1. Verfasser:	Johnson, John William
Format:	Artikel
Sprache:	eng
Schlagworte:	Africa African history African literature African studies Analysis Area studies Automobiles Bible Bible and literature Bible as literature Biblical literature Contemporary legends Death & dying Folk beliefs Folk music Folklorists Folktales History Hitchhiking Humanities Influence Legends Motorcycles Narratives Oral tradition Passengers Sacred texts Traditional culture Urban areas Urban folklore
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Beschreibung
Zusammenfassung:	The first possible variant of the urban legend The Vanishing Hitchhiker occurs in Acts 8: 26-40 with the conversion of an "Ethiopian" by the hitchhiking apostle Philip. More recent variants in the Gambia and Somalia exhibit a different plot, but retain the vanishing hitchhiker motif. A female hitchhiker spends time with a man, who is later unable to locate her, but who finds his coat on her grave. The found-coat variant is part of a widespread cycle of vanishing hitchhiker legends. Could the story have originated in Africa? This article deals with this issue and with widespread occurrences of this legend.
ISSN:	0034-5210 1527-2044
DOI:	10.2979/RAL.2007.38.3.24