American Indian linguistics
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Native American Legends: Lofa
Name: Lofa
Tribal affiliation: Chickasaw
Alternate spellings: Lhofa, Lonfa, Lhonfa, ɫofa, Klofa
Pronunciation: similar to thlo-fah, often anglicized to loh-fah
Type: Monster,
American Indian bigfoot
Related figures in other tribes: Shampe (Choctaw),
Stick Indian (Northwest Coast),
Bush Indian (Alaskan)
The Lofa is a malevolent, ogre-like monster of Chickasaw folklore. His name literally means
"flayer" or "skinner," a reference to his gruesome habit of flaying the skin from his victims.
In some legends he attempts to abduct Chickasaw women. He is sometimes described as a giant
and other times as a large, hairy, smelly man, leading some people to associate him with the Bigfoot legend.
Lofa Stories
Story of the Wildcat Clan:
Chickasaw myth about a hunter encountering a Lofa in the woods.
Recommended Books of Related Native American Legends
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Southeastern Native American Legends:
Book comparing the traditional stories of the Chickasaw and other Southeast tribes.
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Additional Resources
Splendid Land, Splendid People
Chickasaw tales
Chickasaw Indian language
Chickasaw tribe
Mississippi reservations
Southeast Indians
Muskogean language family
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