The Yoruba people, who originate from southwestern Nigeria and the adjoining parts of Benin and Togo, believe that the Iroko tree is inhabited by a spirit called the Iroko-man. Anyone who stands face-to-face with the Iroko-man becomes insane and speedily dies, which is why the tree is so feared. Anyone who tries to cut down the Iroko tree will have terrible misfortune unless they say a prayer afterward to protect themselves.

African legends say that Iroko lives at the top of the tree in its canopy, with the limbs reaching so high into the sky that it’s considered the throne of God. There are spirits of all kinds that live at the core of the tree and their job is to keep Iroko from descending below the earth’s core. It’s also claimed that the spirit of the Iroko-man can be heard in houses that use Iroko timber, as his spirit is trapped in the wood.