From the earliest time, owls have featured strongly in myths and legends, mostly in very negative contexts.
Around the world, including Africa, owls are seen as birds of ill omen, frequently associated with death. For example, an owl foretold the assassination of Julius Caesar and in the Bible, owls are associated with death and decay. Isaiah prophesied that fall of Babylon using the presence of owls to emphasise the desolation of the ruined city.