Product Details

• Format: Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Monterey Video
• VHS Release Date: August 25, 1998
• Run Time: 26 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6304773234
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #400,114 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This nice change-of-pace video focuses on the storyteller instead of snappy animation or effects. Nandi Nyembe tells six stories on a stage of an African hut. The stories are built around the age-old tales of African wildlife: wart hogs, monkeys, crocodiles, and the like. These tales teach simple morals: the dangers of greed, the importance of picking your friends, following your heart. Only a few still pictures accompany each story--the heart of this tape is our vivacious storyteller. Preschool dancers in native dress enter the hut after each story and playfully dance. Ms. Nyembe's rapid speech will throw some youngsters, but repeated viewings will solve this problem. (Ages 4 to 9) --Doug Thomas

From Parents' Choice®

Energy abounds in these retellings of African animal stories. Storyteller Nandi Nyembe weaves an environment of colorful garb and young girls performing African dances during original songs that follow each story. When the scene is set, the stories flow, with authentic accent, natural gestures and a minimum of reliance on cut-aways to illustrations that help to visualize the variety of animals. The effect is one of movement and rhythm and humor. We "see" greedy spider get his comeuppance, as well as the reason for baboon's bent tail. The stories were carefully selected, with lively characterizations and important life lessons. An overlay of bird sounds can be distracting during the stories; a minor but noticeable flaw. A 1998 Parents' Choice® Silver Honor.

Reviewed by Yvonne Coleman, Parents' Choice® 1998

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Educational, Amusing, Delightful, February 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Children's Stories From Africa 1 [VHS] (VHS Tape)

We love this video. The storytelling, music and the preschool dancers fascinated my 3yr old daughter. We have already watched the video twice in a day. It's a video the entire family would enjoy.

4.0 out of 5 stars Tales to educate and fascinate the whole family!, July 1, 2002

By 

Phyllis M. Kusi "fee-fee" (Atlanta) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Children's Stories From Africa 1 [VHS] (VHS Tape)

My daughter and I enjoyed this Children's video. The stories, music, dancers, and narrator make the trip to Africa quite interesting. Nandi is so lively in narrating the stories that she draws you into her country and into her tale.

The tales and their morals keep kids in line and adults wondering.