Books with title Folktales from Africa

Folktales are timeless and, although they are a product of a particular culture, they have universal relevance because they give insight into the human condition. In Folktales from Africa, award-winning South African author Dianne Stewart has retold stories from the length and breadth of the African continent. Beautifully illustrated by Marjorie van Heerden, this collection of twenty stories is certain to entertain and delight the reader, as well as give insight into the countries from which the tales have been sourced.

This addition to the Pantheon Fairy Tale and Folklore Library completes Roger Abrahams's masterful survey of taletelling in the black world by showing the vital forms African stories took as they entered the New World. These 107 tales come from the canefields of the antebellum South, the villages of Caribbean islands, and the streets of contemporary Philadelphia. Throbbing with life, they range from earthy comedy (in recounting the scandalous doings of tricksters Rabbit and Fox) to inventive "just-so" stories explaining why the world is the way it is, to moral fables about encounters between masters and slaves, kings and servants, black and white. Together, they robustly demonstrate the ways an uprooted people have drawn from the traditions of their past to fashion a life -- and with it, a whole new and vital culture -- in the New World.

The deep forest and broad savannah, the campsites, kraals, and villages—from this immense area south of the Sahara Desert the distinguished American folklorist Roger D. Abrahams has selected ninety-five tales that suggest both the diversity and the interconnectedness of the people who live there. The storytellers weave imaginative myths of creation and tales of epic deeds, chilling ghost stories, and ribald tales of mischief and magic in the animal and human realms. Abrahams renders these stories in a narrative voice that reverberates with the rhythms of tribal song and dance and the emotional language of universal concerns.With black-and-white drawings throughoutPart of the Pantheon Fairy Tale and Folklore Library

The deep forest and broad savannah, the campsites, kraals, and villages—from this immense area south of the Sahara Desert the distinguished American folklorist Roger D. Abrahams has selected ninety-five tales that suggest both the diversity and the interconnectedness of the people who live there. The storytellers weave imaginative myths of creation and tales of epic deeds, chilling ghost stories, and ribald tales of mischief and magic in the animal and human realms. Abrahams renders these stories in a narrative voice that reverberates with the rhythms of tribal song and dance and the emotional language of universal concerns.With black-and-white drawings throughoutPart of the Pantheon Fairy Tale and Folklore Library

A collection of hugely entertaining stories, drawn from the rich folklore of many countries throughout Africa, and brought sparklingly to life with humour and rhyme by Ghanaian author, Nii Ayikwei Parkes, writing under the name used for his children's work, K. P. Kojo. Find out how selfish Lion gets his comeuppance, go to a Frog wedding in the Sky Kingdom, discover the days when the earth's creatures were all mixed up and much more in tales which reflect the very best and the very worst of human nature. Includes endnotes with a glossary, additional information, and activities that children can do to explore the stories further. 'Needs to be three times as long and sitting on a shelf in every school library' - Mark Haddon

Drawn from all parts of Africa, these stories convey the fierce sense of justice inherent in African peoples, their powers of patience and endurance, and their supreme ability as storytellers. A greedy spider, an evil shark, flying horses, a cruel baboon, a scheming tortoise, and a cunning hare are among the many animal characters in this riveting collection. Yet even though animals feature prominently in most of the stories, humans are not neglected either. Meet blacksmiths, kings, chiefs, peasants, and even an African Superman. There are also answers to such important questions as why the crab has no head, why the sun and moon live in the sky, and why flies buzz. The tales are collected from all across the continent--from Nigeria to Congo to South Africa--and translated from over a dozen languages like Swahili, Bantu, Fulani, Zulu, and Yoruba.

American Bookseller - Pick of the ListThe range and mastery evidenced in the stories selected by Richard and Judy Dockrey Young―veteran storytellers and teachers in their own right―is due in large part to the fact that they include so many favorite stories of acclaimed African and African-American storytellers. Designed to entice even the most reluctant reader, these stories are not only fun to read, but are bound to be repeated and shared. The seven sections – Young Heroes and Heroines, Animal Fables, Trickster Stories, Parables About People, Bigger Than Life, In the Park and in the Dark, and Brother Rabbit Today – are introduced by brief topical essays and include individual story notes to further enhance both the learning and the enjoyment of these stories.In his introduction to African-American Folktales, Dr. Rex Ellis underscores the multicultural opportunity afforded by this collection: "They are stories that continue to be told by African Americans because...they transcend color and culture. They are stories that represent our common experience."

TALES FROM AFRICA is a collection of folktales brought to life with humour and poetry by Ghanaian author, K. P. Kojo.Find out how selfish Lion gets his comeuppance, go to a Frog wedding in the Sky Kingdom, discover the days when the earth's creatures were all mixed up and much more in these brilliantly crafted tales which reflect the very best - and the very worst - of human behaviours.Rich in the folklore of the many different countries of Africa, Ghanaian author, K. P. Kojo brings each story to life with humour and poetry, making them perfect for sharing and reading aloud to children of all ages.Includes endnotes with a glossary, additional information as well as ideas for activities that children can do to explore the stories further.'Needs to be three times as long and sitting on a shelf in every school library' - Mark Haddon

As a child in his native Kenya, Dr. Vincent Muli wa Kituku learned many stories from his mother. She told him stories as she cooked, as she washed, and as she harvested corn. Now, Dr. Kituku presents eighteen of those folktales in both English and Kikamba, the language of Kituku's East African culture. Comments following each story develop the story's themes and moral direction. The stories, together with the author's comments, provide an excellent foundation for discussion with children in any environment.

The plays: 'The Man Who Loved to Laugh', 'Mr. Hare Takes Mr. Leopard for a Ride', 'Ananse's Trick Does Double Work' and 'The Turtle Who Wanted to Fly'. From the man who loved laughing, to the antic tricks of Ananse and Mr. Hare, to the dreams and wishes of a musical turtle, these plays fill a need for humorous, meaty, dramatic material for children. They are a pleasure to read and ideal for sharing and acting with friends. They can also be a stimulus to your own improvisations. The ideas for acting, dance, costumes and music are informative and helpful, suggesting ways to make working with these scripts a truly creative process. Carol Korty has been involved with children's theatre as a performer, director, playwright and teacher, and her experience and enthusiasm are reflected in this rich, entertaining collection.