Zarma Folktales of Niger [Paperback]

Amanda Cushman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 15, 2010

Fiction. Folklore. African and African American Studies. Young Adult Fiction. Translated by Amanda Cushion. ZARMA FOLKTALES OF NIGER presents for the first time in English the folklore of the Zarma, a lesser-known tribe of West Africa. These tales run the gamut from teaching ethical and moral lessons to portraying tricksters to naming animals to farting contests to having fun. Humor and an emphasis on living justly bind the stories together. So far there have been few mentions of the Zarma people in Western texts, and no sign of their folklore, until now. While many English translations of African folklore exist already, they are mainly restricted to better-known cultures. ZARMA FOLKTALES OF NIGER captures the reality of the culture that created the tales, preserving what might otherwise have been lost from the oral tradition. Unlike similar collections of African folklore, ZARMA FOLKTALES OF NIGER provides the cultural and historical context necessary to truly appreciate and understand these tales. The introduction outlines Niger's history and describes the relationships of the Zarma to neighboring tribes, and the glossary explains common terms and expressions found in the stories. These tales will be of interest to children, general readers of folklore, and those interested in African culture, as well as to cultural anthropologists and ethnographers.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 9 Up—Cushman has translated the 14 folktales originally published as Contes Djerma Nigerien (Nouvelle Imprimerie du Niger, 1995), each one reflecting the culture and traditions of this West African people. In "The Election of the Bird King," smaller birds defeat larger birds by working together, while intelligence and strength unite in "The Donkey and the Lion." The important pilgrimage to Mecca in "The Marabout" reflects the Islamic faith common to the Zarma and the neighboring Hausa peoples while providing a more familiar trickster tale. Humorous selections like "The Fart Experts" and "The Two Bandits" show the competitiveness between the peoples. "The Betrayal" and "The Three Heroes" are dilemma tales, often found in African folklore, which require listeners to draw their own conclusions. Other stories have the morals stated clearly at the end. Cushman provides an introduction, notes for each story, and a limited glossary. While this collection may have a limited audience, it certainly illuminates the Zarma and their world.—Mary Jean Smith, Southside Elementary School, Lebanon, TN
(c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

About the Author

Amanda Cushman is an associate editor at Dana Press in Washington, D.C., where she works on books and magazines about neuroscience for lay audiences. In the spring of 2005 she lived in Niamey, Niger, where she studied Nigerian culture, art, and history, as well as the Zarma and Hausa languages.

Product Details

• Paperback: 120 pages
• Publisher: Quale Press (March 15, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0979299985
• ISBN-13: 978-0979299988
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,965,571 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Accessible, interesting, and well-translated, July 13, 2010

By 

Amber Hathaway (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Zarma Folktales of Niger (Paperback)

Although I knew very little about the Zarma culture, I was delighted to find that the stories in this book make for interesting reading without any significant background knowledge. I learned a great deal about the culture and was surprised to find common threads in both these tales and Western folktales (things like the trickster and other morality tales appear here). The translation is very accessible and lyrical, offering a wonderful balance between the literal/utilitarian and the poetic. Cushman's preface and notes provide a wealth of information as well as insights into her own experiences and the history behind the Zarma people. I have incorporated a few of these stories into my high school curriculum to great success. I cannot recommend this work strongly enough. Wonderful!