In west african lore anansi is known as a trickster god, and is often depicted as either a spider, a human or a combination of both. The annotated african american folktales the annotated books kindle edition by henry louis gates, maria tatar. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the annotated african american folktales the annotated books. Folktales are a fun way for us to learn lessons or morals that can help us every day. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. This famine had lasted so long that any existing source of food had been completely depleted. Anansi became the king of all stories after proving to nyame that he could trick a jaguar, hornets and a fairy. Thus many of the stories are attempts by anansi to trick others for his own gain. A cat and her strong friends a house in the sky a sly cat a story about the tongue a tale about a jackal a whip out of the tail of a cow dinner of the lion fool of the king. West african folktales commentary on african folktales and a companion blog to tuesday, february 21, 2012.
Request pdf the folktale and social values in traditional africa africans, like people elsewhere in the world, have a. West african coast as well as other major cities of the world. Why the cheetahs cheeks are stained a traditional zulu story where stories come from a traditional zulu story jabu and the lion a traditional zulu story clever jackal gets away a traditional zulu story the curse of the chameleon a traditional zulu story honeyguides revenge a traditional zulu story. In nigeria, folktales are very popular and perhaps the most popular are tales about anansi. Apr 17, 2016 a collection of folk tales mostly centred around anansi. A common character in african folktales is the trickster usually an animal. Barker 18821929 compiled by an american missionary, west african folk tales by william h barker is a delightful collection of folk tales from nigeria, ghana, mali, mauritania and other countries along the west coast of africa. The heavy pot, hanging in front of him, made hi s ascent almost impossible.
Performer maimouna jallow is on a mission to revive african folktales and give them a. Sally horowitz library media specialist northside elementary midway, ky why study west africa. Pdf african folktales particularly, yoruba folktales are on the verge of extinction due to. A collection of folk tales mostly centred around anansi. African folktales in the new world indiana university press. African american folktale, storytelling tradition that evolved among enslaved african americans in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Here i post all things relating to a growing collection of west african folktales as recalled by myself from growing up in nigeria and other willing contributors. West african culture free download as powerpoint presentation. Anansi sealed up the jar and sent it off to nyankupon. The people from africa included unique characteristics in their folklore, showing their way of life and the animals and plants that surround them. Books on africanafrican american folktales, supplementary videos i. Africa is the second largest continent in the world. This book has a wide variety of folktales from several countries in west africa. I would use the folktales from this book to teach morals or introduce my students to what folklore is. In the old days the mouse made stories from all that she saw. Again and again he tried to reach the top of the tree, where he intended to hang the pot. African folktales south african folktales outa karels stories south african folklore tales at world of tales stories for children, folktales, fairy tales and fables. Christian holidays and festivals were another occasion for european and african cultures to merge and influence one another.
One of the most important animal tricksters of west african legends is anansi, who acts on behalf of the sky god, nyame. Pdf a model for animation of yoruba folktale narratives. The theme in this west african folk tale is that goodness, respect, and obedience are rewarded. For african americans, many of the characteristics of anansi are also found in the brer rabbit trickster character whose great. Stories from west africa anansi goes fishing the gift of a cowtail switch.
On this vast continent, folk tales and myths serve as a means of handing down traditions and customs from one generation to the next. African and africanamerican folk tales that are perfect to share with children. Recount stories, including fables, folktales, and myths from diverse cultures. Every country has its folktales, and this one comes from japan. The animals and birds are often accorded human attributes, so it is not uncommon to find animals talking, singing, or demonstrating other human characteristics such as greed, jealousy, honesty, etc. The one which led to nothings palace was, of course, wide and well made. I have put together a collection of some common west african proverbs. These books blend together a rich combination of history, fable.
Playful and sly, they teem with talking animals and shapeshifting tricksters, with pacts and promises made and broken, and with impossible deeds done through chicanery and magic. I praise them for their efforts and point out a few examples of excellent thinking i observed while walking the room. Anansi, the trickster spider, is one of the most important characters in west african folktales and folklore. Read by david barnes, lucy burgoyne, christabel, tammi l. African folktales will captivate students interest in reading and storytelling. Clever jackal gets away african folktale hawu, hawu, hawu, my children, gogo began one evening. Chinye is an african girl who lives with her stepmother nkechi and stepsister adanma. We already know that anansi the spider is originally from west africa but he is also found in folktales in the usa and the caribbean.
The earliest humans we know of are discovered in africa. Folktales are stories passed on from adults to children without ever being written down. Apr 07, 1994 the theme in this west african folk tale is that goodness, respect, and obedience are rewarded. His stories also arise in the caribbean, south america and north america among african diaspora populations. African folktales told in english into other african languages. These stories spread in various forms to other countries like the west indies, suriname, the netherland antilles, etc and can be still heard today. In fact, thanks to folktale characters like anansi the spider, we can see that the cultures in these parts of the world we have studied in this chapter are all closely related. African, caribbean, african american and african canadian communities. I love reading fables and folklore especially native american or african folktales. West african oral and written traditions ha for centuries, the beliefs, values, and knowledge of west africans were transmitted transmitted. Nevertheless, im grouping these picture books together because i think it is a useful way for parents to get started sharing these books with their children. Its a short 5 minute geared towards understanding how you use this site.
The people of tokoyos village made their livelihood diving for pearls. This study examines the function of folktales as a process of educating and preparing children for 21st century challenges. It brings together mythic, fantastic, and comingofage tales, some transcribed more than a hundred years ago, others dating to modernday africa. Reinventing african oral traditions and national heritages through film images. There are distinctive narrative elements of african folktales that make them ideal for beginning storytellers. Students will be motivated to read west african folktales, since they are amusing, fascinating, and appealing. Other stories are about why certain animals act in certain ways. Folktales african folktales clever jackal gets away at world of tales stories for children from around the world. To read folktales of west africa which explain creation anctothei natural. Librivox recording of the west african folk tales by william h. Many african folktales use animals who act like humans in order to teach a lesson. In exchange for guns and other european goods, west africans sold slaves, usually either captured in war.
Coles, lizzie driver, esther, ezwa, hefyd, julian jamison, evamarie quinones, roolynninms, shurtagal. The road leading to anansis house was only half cleared. Select two or more african andor african american folktales. Each chapter is separated by which country the folktales originated from. Some of these lessons include discipline, moral uprightness, hard work and courage. These 123 tales reflect the rich oral tradition of west african folklore.
Taking the role of trickster, he is also one of the most important characters of west african, african american and caribbean folklore. These tales deal with themes common throughout west africa and the world. I too began writing stories that merged the old with the new. Can you find, label and color west africa, north america, and the caribbean, the three regions where people tell the story of anansi. African folktales, like anansi and turtle, help kids learn about other parts of the world. One night they send chinye out into the dangerous jungle to fetch water. You know, cleverness is a very important thing to own. The latest work from harold scheub, one of the worlds leading scholars of african folktales, is the broadest collection yet assembled with tales from the entire continent of africa, north to south. Jul 18, 2017 nevertheless, im grouping these picture books together because i think it is a useful way for parents to get started sharing these books with their children. In the african folk tales, the stories reflect the culture where diverse types of animals abound.
Storylegend handed down from generation to generation usually by oral retelling often convey a lesson about life elements of a folktale moral lesson theme illustrates a moral belief. Stories from west africa anansi goes fishing the gift of a cowtail switch why turtle lives in water one good meal deserves another african folktales. Today, many folktales are available in both print and digital form like the one below, and if you read them really carefully, you just may catch a whiff of wood smoke as you imagine the folk tale being told under the african stars. Readers everywhere and of any age will be both entertained an.
The annotated african american folktales the annotated. The ox of the wonderful horns and other african folktales by ashley bryan. Selected books on africanafrican american folktales librarymedia center resources. Not only so, but his servants had strewn it with beautiful skins and carpets, in preparation for his return. In an effort to improve this site, we invite you to participate in our first reader survey. Why, cleverness has helped nogwaja out of the cooking. A west african folktale by obi onyefulu long ago there lived a girl called chinye. Bringing the rain to kapiti plain by verna aardema e aar. African folklore tales about animal tricksters often describe how helpless creatures manage to outwit fierce animals. He often takes the shape of a spider and is considered to be the god of all knowledge of stories. Praying to the spirits of what was the religious practice of the west african muslims that began before islamic influence reached the region. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Africanamerican folktales are the storytelling and oral history of african american slaves during the 17001900s.
Each storychild had its dress white, blue, red, green and. Anansi is a west african god who often takes the form of a spider. Once students have completed step one, i call their attention back to the front of the room. Keeping the tradition of african storytelling alive. There is an interesting narration to tell how african folk tales were born. Other tales explain why an animal looks or acts the way they do, or how that animal came to have a specific character trait. I have a penchant for pourquoi tales from all cultures and this list reflects that interest. It is observed that children stand to benefit from lessons derivable from folktales. The heritage of the griot 1995 and kare kare zvako. There is a rich, fertile legacy of folklore from africa.
When slaves arrived in the new world from africa in the 1700s and 1800s, they brought with them a vast oral tradition. Youth services section, main library leroy collins leon. Oct 28, 1995 i love reading fables and folklore especially native american or african folktales. It is the story of a young pearl diver named tokoyo. Comparison between any of the tales and a european, african, or other american variant dorson, american negro folktales, provides comparative references highlights both the political analysis and the art of the africanamerican tale. Nkechi and adanma treat chinye badly, making her do all the work. South african folktales began to be translated in the second half of the nineteenth century and english translations of the tales of the indigenous people of south africa were first published in books for children at the end of the century jenkins, 2002. These essays, devoted to traditional narratives found in africa and in the new world, represent the last major research project of william bascom 19121981, eminent authority on african art and folklorehis intention was to demonstrate the african roots of african american folktales. The folktale and social values in traditional africa request pdf.
The mouse goes everywhere into rich peoples houses and into the poorest peoples houses, too. African folklore, myths and legends victoria falls guide. He is the son of the sky god, nayame, and the earth goddess, asase ya. This lesson explains in detail how the cultural legacy of west africa influences our culture today in the areas of art and music, as well as oral traditions. In west african lore anansi is known as a trickster god, and is often depicted as either a spider, a human. The annotated african american folktales npr coverage of the annotated african american folktales by henry louis, jr.
They continue to be the historians, genealogists, advisers to nobility, entertainers, messengers, and praise singers in communities. Scribd is the worlds largest social reading and publishing site. Christmas traditions of john canoe, or jonkanoo, took different forms in african diaspora communities in the caribbean, bahamas, and southern united states. There, he thought, wisdom would indeed be beyond the reach of every one but himself. Indeed, american readers will recognize such characters as brer. Comparison between the toldfortrue story malitis and any of the foodstealing stories in the john cycle.