Keibu Keioiba
An illustration of the tiger head of the Keibu Keioiba of Meitei folklore
GroupingMythology and Folklore
Sub groupingMeitei mythology (Manipuri mythology)
Similar entitiesWerewolf, Manticore, Lai Khutsangbi, Yenakha Paotabi
FamilyHybrid creature
FolkloreMeitei folklore (Manipuri folklore)
Other name(s)Kabui Keioiba
Country
RegionManipur

Keibu Keioiba, also known as Kabui Keioiba, is a mythical creature with the head of a tiger and the body of a human in the Meitei mythology and folklore of Manipur. He is often described as half man and half tiger.[1]

Legend says he was once a skilful priest named Kabui Salang Maiba. With his witchcraft, he transfigured himself into the form of a ferocious tiger. As a punishment of his pride, he could not completely turn back to his original human form.[2][3]

Story

A life-size statue of Keibu Keioiba in the MMRC & Unity Park (Menjor Multipurpose Research Centre and Unity Park), Khangabok, Thoubal district, Kangleipak

Keibu Keioiba was human in daytime and tiger during nighttime. During night, he wandered around for food in his tiger form. One night, he came across an old woman's house. He was to devour her. The old woman said that her wrinkled skin would not be tasty. She suggested him a neighbourhood's young beautiful lady named "Thabaton" in her place.[4] Thabaton was the only sister in a family with seven brothers. The old woman informed Keibu Keioiba about the absence of the seven brothers at home. The brothers had gone for a work for a very long time. Keibu Keioiba was instructed some tricks by the old woman. The trick was to open the door of Thabaton's house. As instructed by the old woman, Keibu Keioiba did so. At first, he failed. But at the second time, he succeeded to make Thabaton open the door.[5] Keibu Keioba forcefully took Thabaton away from her house. Meanwhile after the incident, the seven brothers returned home from their work.[6] They found Thabaton missing in the house. They asked the old woman about their sister. She told them that Keibu Keioiba had taken her away. The seven brothers prepared their weapons. They set out in search for their sister. On the other hand, Keibu Keioiba did not eat Thabaton. Instead, he made Thabaton his wife. They lived together in the woods. The seven brothers never stopped searching for their sister in the woods. One day, they saw Thabaton. When they came close to her, they saw a man and a baby with her. The brothers gave a signal to Thabaton about their arrival. When Keibu Keioiba went away for a hunt, Thabaton met her brothers. They planned to escape from that place.[7] When Keibu Keioiba returned, Thabaton gave him an Utong (bamboo pipe). The Utong was hollow on both the sides. She told Keibu Keioiba to fetch some water from the stream with that Utong. Keibu Keioiba went out to fetch water with the hollow Utong. In Keibu Keioiba's absence, the seven brothers burnt the house of Keibu keioiba and killed the baby. They ran away with their sister.[8] On the other hand, Keibu Keioiba could not fetch the water with the Utong. Whenever he fetched water, the water leaked afterwards. A crow was observing his activities from a treetop. The crow said, "Keibu Keioiba Naning Namang Hotrong Ho, Natu Leima Kangkok". The crow's statement indicates the foolish nature of Keibu Keioiba and the escape of his prisoner-wife. The crow said it multiple times. Keibu Keioiba noticed the crow's strange statement. So, he quickly returned home. When he reached home, he found his burned house, his dead son and his wife missing. His anger knew no bound. So, he charged towards the house of Thabaton. The seven brothers were already aware that Keibu Keioiba would come back. So, they were all prepared with their weapons. As soon as Keibu Keioiba came towards them, they fought Keibu Keioiba with their weapons. Finally, Keibu Keioiba died at the hands of the seven brothers. After the death of Keibu Keioiba, Thabaton and her seven brothers lived happily ever after.[9][10]

Movie character

Keibu Kei-Oiba
Keibu Keioiba (Tiger Head) character
Keibu Keioiba trying to devour the old woman while the latter is persuading the former to try beautiful and youthful Thabaton instead of her
First appearance
  • film
  • 2009
Created byBhumenjoy Konsam
Based onKeibu Keioiba
Designed byBhumenjoy
Portrayed byBhumenjoy
In-universe information
AliasKabui Salang Maiba
NicknameKabui Keioiba
Gendermale
TitleTiger Head
Occupationcarnivore
AffiliationMeitei folklore
Weaponno
SpouseThabaton
Significant othertalking crow
Children1
ReligionMeitei religion
OriginKangleipak (Meitei for 'Manipur')

In the 2009 Meitei language animation film Keibu Keioiba (Tiger Head), the character of Keibu-Kei-Oiba was uniquely designed to a humanoid tiger, which had to speak dialogues in human voices. The facial structure of the character was twisted out of the normal shape of a real tiger to a little bit extend. It was done so as to bring adjustment to the human voice and the speaking actions during digitalization.[11] Artist Bhumenjoy faced great challenges in making the visual character of Keibu Kei-Oiba, as the character is about the combination of a human and a beast. Various faded colours were used by the drawing team to adapt to the story.[12]

In contemporary culture

Similar characters

See also

References

  1. ↑ –S Sanatombi (2014). মণিপুরী ফুংগাৱারী (in Manipuri). p. 57.
    –Regunathan, Sudhamahi (2005). Folk Tales of the North-East. Children's Book Trust. ISBN 978-81-7011-967-8. Archived from the original on 13 June 2022. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
    –Singh, Moirangthem Kirti (1993). Folk Culture of Manipur. Manas Publications. ISBN 978-81-7049-063-0. Archived from the original on 13 June 2022. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
    –Devy, G. N.; Davis, Geoffrey V.; Chakravarty, K. K. (12 August 2015). Knowing Differently: The Challenge of the Indigenous. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-317-32569-7. Archived from the original on 13 June 2022. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
    –Sangeet Natak. 1985. Archived from the original on 13 June 2022. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
    –Krasner, David (2008). Theatre in Theory 1900-2000: An Anthology. Wiley. ISBN 978-1-4051-4043-0. Archived from the original on 13 June 2022. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  2. ↑ Devy, G. N.; Davis, Geoffrey V.; Chakravarty, K. K. (12 August 2015). Knowing Differently: The Challenge of the Indigenous. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-317-32569-7. Archived from the original on 13 June 2022. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  3. ↑ S Sanatombi (2014). মণিপুরী ফুংগাৱারী (in Manipuri). p. 57.
  4. ↑ B. Jayantakumar Sharma; Dr. Chirom Rajketan Singh (2014). Folktales of Manipur. p. 74.
  5. ↑ B. Jayantakumar Sharma; Dr. Chirom Rajketan Singh (2014). Folktales of Manipur. p. 75.
  6. ↑ S Sanatombi (2014). মণিপুরী ফুংগাৱারী (in Manipuri). p. 58.
  7. ↑ B. Jayantakumar Sharma; Dr. Chirom Rajketan Singh (2014). Folktales of Manipur. p. 76.
  8. ↑ B. Jayantakumar Sharma; Dr. Chirom Rajketan Singh (2014). Folktales of Manipur. p. 77.
  9. ↑ B. Jayantakumar Sharma; Dr. Chirom Rajketan Singh (2014). Folktales of Manipur. p. 78.
  10. ↑ S Sanatombi (2014). মণিপুরী ফুংগাৱারী (in Manipuri). p. 59.
  11. ↑ Nishikanta, Naorem. "Bhumenjoy Konsam on the Chemistry of Making Keibu-Kei-Oiba – Part II | Manipur Times". Archived from the original on 30 July 2019.
  12. ↑ Nishikanta, Naorem. "Bhumenjoy Konsam on the Chemistry of Making Keibu-Kei-Oiba – Part II | Manipur Times". Archived from the original on 30 July 2019.
  13. ↑ Keibu Keioiba (2009) - KLMDb, archived from the original on 12 April 2022, retrieved 13 June 2022
  14. ↑ Nishikanta, Naorem. "Bhumenjoy Konsam on the Chemistry of Making Keibu-Kei-Oiba – Part I | Manipur Times". Archived from the original on 6 April 2022.
  15. ↑ Nishikanta, Naorem. "Bhumenjoy Konsam on the Chemistry of Making Keibu-Kei-Oiba – Part II | Manipur Times". Archived from the original on 30 July 2019.
  16. ↑ "YAMATA AMASUNG KEIBU KEIOIBA – 21st Bharat Rang Mahotsav 2020". Archived from the original on 22 April 2021.
  17. ↑ "Heisnam Tomba's Play: Yamata Amasung Keibu Keioiba". StageBuzz. 16 February 2020. Archived from the original on 13 June 2022.
  18. ↑ A Knock at the Door. Oryx Press. 1992. p. 116. ISBN 978-0-89774-733-2. ... it may remind you of the Euro- pean tale " Beauty and the Beast . " The tiger - man who falls in love with the girl he kidnaps is known as Kabui- Keioiba ...
  19. ↑ Beck, Brenda E. F.; Claus, Peter J.; Goswami, Praphulladatta; Handoo, Jawaharlal (1999). Folktales of India. University of Chicago Press. p. 103. ISBN 978-0-226-04083-7.
  20. ↑ "Heisnam Tomba's Play: Yamata Amasung Keibu Keioiba". StageBuzz. 16 February 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
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