Favorite African Folktales (Paperback)

by Nelson Mandela (Editor) "This East African story about the innocence and power that children possess was recorded at the beginning of the twentieth century in Benaland, Tanganyika (now..." (more)
Key Phrases: motlopi tree, oldest crow, finest creature, Sannie Langtand, Van Hunks, Windy Mountain (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Book Description
"It is my wish that the voice of the storyteller never die in Africa."—Nelson Mandela, from the foreword

The vibrant tradition of African folktales—an oral heritage that predates Ovid and Aesop—is long and varied, but to date it has been largely overlooked in the West. Aware of this gap, Nelson Mandela selected thirty-two stories, many of them translated from their original tongues, to show the seminal role of African folklore in world literature. We meet tricksters from Zulu folklore; we hear the voices of the scheming hyena and learn from a Khoi fable how animals acquired their tails and horns. These fables present a veritable bible of stories "universal in their portrayal of humanity, beasts and the mystical." Winner of the NAACP Image Award.

About the Author
Nelson Mandela, now eighty-six years old, lives in Johannesburg and was South Africa's first democratically elected president.

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company (November 30, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0393326241
• ISBN-13: 978-0393326246
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 4.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: No customer reviews yet. Be the first.
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #168,929 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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