West+African_Folktales

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I chose to research folktales from the West African area. Many of the themes of these stories are consistent throughout the region. The stories transcend the current borders, because the borders have not been around as long as the tales. Stories that have been written by writers originally from this area include the most background information with the book. Newer publications also include more information about the story origins, whereas older publications, especially in the US, don't.

Dayrell, Elphinstone. //Why the sun and the moon live in the sky//. Illus. by Blair Lent. 1968. 26p. Houghton Mifflin. $13.60 (978-0-395-29609-7)
 * [[image:Why_the_sun_and_the_moom.jpg width="220" height="240"]] || === ===

In this pourquoi tale, the sun, his wife the moon, and the water all live on the earth together. The sun invites the water to visit his home, but the water does not think the sun’s house can accommodate him and all his people. After the sun and the moon build a larger house, they insist that water can now visit. When water arrives with all of his people, the fish and the animals, they flood the sun and the moon out of their house. The sun and the moon are forced up into the sky to live.

This story was originally published as part of the collection, //Folk Stories from Southern Nigeria//, by Elphinstone Dayrell in 1910. Dayrell was a district commissioner of Sourthen Nigeria, the story was told to him bu the Efik-Ibibio peoples of Southeastern Nigeria.

Titlewave lists this Publishers Weekly review (April 13, 1990) //Striking primitive illustrations aid in the retelling of this African folktale about the consequences of an overwhelming visit from Water and his people. Ages 4-8. (Apr.)//

Another version of this tale was published in 1995, written and illustrated by Niki Daly. This version is also based on Dayrell’s retelling. The most noted difference between the two versions is the illustrations. According to a 1995 School Library Journal review of the Daly version, Blair Lent’s illustrations are more representative of Nigerian folklore. The book itself was a Caldecott Honor Book for 1969. The publisher’s note in the book states that the “illustrations have been influenced by all Africa.”

An online version of the tale can also be found at the website Motherland Nigeria ( [] ). ||


 * [[image:Hatseller_and_the_monkeys.jpg width="223" height="240"]] || Diakite`, Baba Wague`. //The hatseller and the monkeys//. 1999. 32p. Scholastic Press. $15.29 (978-0-590-96069-4)

This tale tells the story of a hatseller, BaMusa, who is off to a neighboring town to sell his dibiri hats at a festival. In his rush to get started, BaMusa does not eat breakfast and has to stop during his journey and rest at base of a mango tree. While he is asleep, monkeys sneak down and steal his hats. When he awakes, he is frustrated and hungry and tries several things to get his hats back. After he eats some of the mangoes, he is able to think more clearly and realizes that the monkeys are imitating him. He throws his own hat to the ground and of course the monkeys do the same. Finally he gets his hats back and learns the lesson, “it is with a full stomach that one thinks best.”

The author, who grew up in Mali, includes a note at the end of the book. He tells the story of how he first heard this tale growing up, and he lists other well-known versions of this tale, including Esphyr Slobodkina's //Caps for Sale//. Diakite` also discusses the significance of monkeys, and other animals in African tales, as teachers of lessons for people

The book reflects the author’s culture throughout. The story begins by telling about the tradition of hat making in BaMusa’s family. The author uses Mali names and sounds throughout. It would be interesting to compare the sounds the monkeys make in this story to the sounds in //Caps for Sale//. Even the illustrations reflect Mali culture in their colors and designs, right down to the delightful monkey borders. ||


 * [[image:Magic_Gourd.jpg width="200" height="240"]] || Diakite`, Baba Wague`. //The magic gourd//. 2003. 32p. Scholastic Press. $16.95 (978-0-439-43960-2)

In a time of famine, Brother Rabbit is rewarded for an act of kindness by Chameleon with the gift of a magic gourd. The gourd becomes filled with whatever one wishes. Rabbit uses the gourd to give food and water to his family and those around him. A greedy king hears about the gourd and takes it for himself. When Rabbit meets Chameleon again, he tells him what the king has done. This time Chameleon gives Rabbit a rock, which, when not called by its respectful name, hits the speaker over and over again. The Rabbit uses the rock to teach the king a lesson and to regain the magic gourd. The lesson for this story is that doers of good deeds will be rewarded, while those that are greedy and selfish will be punished.

The author was born in Mali, West Africa. This book contains his extensive notes, including a glossary of words in Bambara the national language of Mali. The book also includes the traditional song of praise along with its translation. The author also discusses the traditional mud cloth patterns used throughout the illustrations and their symbolic meaning to the people of Mali.

The idea of a vessel that refills itself, or even gives its owner whatever they wish can be found in folktales from all over the world. The author makes note of related tales in the back of the book as well. ||


 * [[image:Fly_Eagle_Fly.jpg width="204" height="240"]] || Gregorowski, Christopher. Fly, eagle, fly: an African tale. Illus. by Niki Daly. 2000. 32p. Margaret K. McElderry Books. $17.95 (978-0-689-82398-5)

In this retelling of a Ghanian folktale, a baby eagle is rescued by a man and brought home to his village. The man raises the eagle among the chickens. The eagle lives with the chickens and behaves like the chickens. The man assumes the eagle believes itself to be in fact a chicken. One day a friend sees the eagle and tries to convince the man that it can still be an eagle. He tries several times to show the eagle. Finally, he uses the sunrise to call the eagle up into the sky and fly away.

While the story is attributed to Ghanaian culture, the illustrations by Niki Daly depict South Africa, and are dedicated to the children of South Africa. The book also contains a foreward written by Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

An author’s note indicates the story originated in West and South Africa and attributes the story to James Kwegyir Aggrey, known as Aggrey of Africa. Aggrey was born in Gold Coast, now known as Ghana. He was a missionary and educator. ||


 * [[image:Zomo.jpg width="192" height="158"]] || McDermott, Gerald. //Zomo the rabbit: a trickster tale from West Africa//. 1992. 32p. Voyager Books. $16.00 (978-0-15-299967-4)

In this West African Trickster tale, Zomo the rabbit wants wisdom from the sky god. Sky God tells him he must complete three impossible tasks in order to earn wisdom. Zomo had to get the scales of Big Fish, the milk of Wild Cow, and the tooth of Leopard. Through cunning and a little trickery, Zomo was able to get all three things and the Sky God gave him wisdom. He told Zomo that, “three things in this world are worth having: courage, good sense, and caution.” Zomo had the first two things, but not caution. Zomo now had wisdom, but more importantly he had speed and could outrun Big Fish, Wild Cow, and Leopard.

Zomo is similar to tricksters all over the world in that he uses his cunning to outwit those that are bigger and stronger. The author notes at the beginning of the book that Zomo is related to other mischievous rabbits across the ocean such as Cunny Rabbit of the Caribbean and Brer Rabbit of the United States. According to the author’s note, Zomo originated in Hausaland, West Africa.

Most reviews of Zomo comment on McDermott’s African inspired illustrations. His use of gold, red, and green in patterns suggests the artwork was inspired by the kente cloth, as noted by Hazel Rochman of //Booklist//. ||

Wilson Web - Book Review Digest Plus (TWU databases) EBSCO – Academic Search Complete (TWU databases) Amazon.com

Works Consulted:
"Aggrey, James Emman Kwegyir." //Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th Edition// (2009): 1. //Academic Search Complete//. EBSCO. Web. 5 July 2010.

//Amazon.com: Online Shopping for Electronics, Apparel, Computers, Books, DVDs & More//. Web. 05 July 2010. .

Budin, Miriam Lang. "The Magic Gourd (Book)." //School Library Journal// 49.2 (2003): 128. //Academic Search Complete//. EBSCO. Web. 8 July 2010.

"Caldecott Medal & Honor Books, 1938-Present." //ALA | Home - American Library Association//. Web. 03 July 2010. .

Cart, Michael. " Fly, eagle , fly ! (Book Review)." //Booklist// 96.9-10 (2000): 931. //Article Citation//. Web. 6 July 2010.

Gosner, Pam. " The hatseller and the monkeys (Book Review)." //School Library Journal// 45.2 (1999): 97. //Article Citation//. Web. 6 July 2010.

Hurxthal, Nancy. " The hatseller and the monkeys (Book Review)." //The// //Horn Book// 75.3 (1999): 342. //Article Citation//. Web.6 July 2010.

Iarusso, Marilyn. " Zomo the Rabbit (Book Review)." //School Library Journal// 38 (1992): 84. //Article Citation//. Web. 5 July 2010. Kuntz, Patricia S. "The Magic Gourd." //Multicultural Review// 12.4 (2003): 87. //Education Research Complete//. EBSCO. Web. 8 July 2010.

"MOTHERLAND NIGERIA: STORIES." //MOTHERLAND NIGERIA (By Boomie O.)//. Web. 05 July 2010. . Oliff, Grace. " Fly, eagle , fly ! (Book Review)." //School Library Journal// 46.3 (2000): 225. //Article Citation//. Web. 6 July 2010.

Publisher’s Weekly. “Why the sun and the moon live in the sky (Book Review).” Amazon.com. 5 July 2010. Rochman, Hazel. " Zomo the Rabbit (Book Review)." //Booklist// 89 (1992): 146. //Article Citation//. Web. 5 July 2010.

School Library Journal. “Why the sun and the moon live in the sky (Book Review).” Amazon.com. 5 July 2010. //TITLEWAVE | Follett Library Resources//. Web. 03 July 2010. .