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A review by danelleeb
African Folktales by Roger D. Abrahams
3.0
Number, I've lost count but I'm nearing twenty, book of my fairy/folktale collection. This one, African Folktales had hardly any Anansi/Brer Rabbit/etc. stories, which was what I was expecting (those are in the Afro-American collection). Most of the stories in this volume rely on performance, and it's in those performances that tie the stories to this huge continent with such a varying population.
The book is divided into five parts. Part 1: "Tales of Wonder from the Great Ocean of Story" contains the most tales that are similar to those I've read in other collections - the tales that require one to pass multiple tests, or coming upon a magical animal/helper, sorceresses, etc. etc. My favorite was 'Demane and Demazana' - a Hansel and Gretel type of story in which a password is used to keep the two children safe from cannibal-ogre.
Part 2: "Stories to Discuss and Even Argue About" contains short stories that are about how to behave in society. The author describes them as being either "dilemma tales" (tales without an end) and "moral examples" (tales that have a "do-unto-others" vibe). An interesting aspect of these stories is that they often don't end and are meant for the group to discuss. By far the most unusual story beginning was from 'The Four Champions:' "The Horny Head Champion, the Penis Champion, the Farting Champion, and the Testicles Champion set off on a journey together."
Part 3: "Tales of the Trickster and Other Ridiculous Creatures: Tales to Entertain" are the most common type of story in Africa and as the author points out, "the strangest to Western readers." The tales of the Trickster center around both the doings and undoings and how he/she is both creative and destructive.
Part 4: "Tales in Praise of Great Doings" are stories that read like myths. These often describe heroic deeds. This section had 2 stories, but one was completely told in a bard-like manner and went on for pages and pages - as if you were reading a script.
Part 5: "Making a Way Through Life" is where we find the stories of courtship and courtship quests, marriage, and the role of women.
There were some things that stuck out and a few stories that were similar to familiar fairy tales (one in particular was very Jack and the Beanstalk-ish).
Not my favorite book of tales, but definitely interesting and worth the read.
The book is divided into five parts. Part 1: "Tales of Wonder from the Great Ocean of Story" contains the most tales that are similar to those I've read in other collections - the tales that require one to pass multiple tests, or coming upon a magical animal/helper, sorceresses, etc. etc. My favorite was 'Demane and Demazana' - a Hansel and Gretel type of story in which a password is used to keep the two children safe from cannibal-ogre.
Part 2: "Stories to Discuss and Even Argue About" contains short stories that are about how to behave in society. The author describes them as being either "dilemma tales" (tales without an end) and "moral examples" (tales that have a "do-unto-others" vibe). An interesting aspect of these stories is that they often don't end and are meant for the group to discuss. By far the most unusual story beginning was from 'The Four Champions:' "The Horny Head Champion, the Penis Champion, the Farting Champion, and the Testicles Champion set off on a journey together."
Part 3: "Tales of the Trickster and Other Ridiculous Creatures: Tales to Entertain" are the most common type of story in Africa and as the author points out, "the strangest to Western readers." The tales of the Trickster center around both the doings and undoings and how he/she is both creative and destructive.
Part 4: "Tales in Praise of Great Doings" are stories that read like myths. These often describe heroic deeds. This section had 2 stories, but one was completely told in a bard-like manner and went on for pages and pages - as if you were reading a script.
Part 5: "Making a Way Through Life" is where we find the stories of courtship and courtship quests, marriage, and the role of women.
There were some things that stuck out and a few stories that were similar to familiar fairy tales (one in particular was very Jack and the Beanstalk-ish).
Not my favorite book of tales, but definitely interesting and worth the read.