African Fairy Tales and Folklore: A Rich Tapestry of Stories

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African folktales and myths serve as a means of handing down traditions and customs from one generation to the next. A Gorgeous Collector's Edition of folk and fairy tales from the continent of Africa includes stories from regions now marked as modern nations such as Libya, Algeria, Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda, who inherit the folk and mythic tales of ancient peoples.
For several generations, stories from Africa have traditionally been passed down by word of mouth. Often, after a hard day’s work, the adults would gather the children together by moonlight, around a village fire and tell stories. This was traditionally called 'Tales by Moonlight'. Usually, the stories are meant to prepare young people for life, and so each story taught a lesson or moral.In the African folktales, the stories reflect the culture where diverse types of animals abound. The animals and birds are often accorded human attributes, so it is not uncommon to find animals talking, singing, or demonstrating other human characteristics such as greed, jealousy, honesty, etc. The setting in many of the stories exposes the reader to the land form and climate within that region of Africa.

Anansi the Spider (1969) | Animated African Folk Tale

This new collection is created for the modern reader. Here you'll find stories of ogres and tricksters, riddles and poems, and great heroes of history such as Liongo.Flame Tree Collector's Editions present the foundations of speculative fiction, authors, myths and tales without which the imaginative literature of the twentieth century would not exist, bringing the best, most influential and most fascinating works into a striking and collectable library. Each book features a new introduction and a Glossary of Terms.

Examples of African Folktales

Here are a few examples of African folktales that are perfect to share with children:* **A Story, A Story** written and illustrated by Gale E. Hayley tells the story of the small, yet tricky spider Anansi, and his quest to get the stories from the Sky God and give them to the children of earth.* **Anansi the Spider** written and illustrated by Gerald McDermott. Anansi originated in the Ashanti tribe in Ghana. In Anansi the Spider he is rescued by his sons, but his problems don't end there. Anansi must decide which son deserves a prize for saving his father's life.* **Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale** by John Steptoe. Mufaro's two bad tempered older daughters will stop at nothing to get a chance to become queens, but his kind and patient youngest daughter wants only to do the right thing. So when Mufaro's daughters hear that the king is looking to marry, they set off to the castle.* **Why the Sky is Far Away: a Nigerian Folktale** by Mary-Joan Gerson explains that the sun and the sky used to live close to earth. People didn't have to plant crops or cook because if they needed something they could reach right into the sky and grab it, but soon they start grabbing more than they need and their wastefulness has consequences.

African American Folktales

African American folktales evolved from the need for African slaves to hold onto their culture in an environment where they weren't allowed to express themselves or keep their old traditions.* **Sukey and the Mermaid** by Robert D. San Souci tells the story of Sukey, a young girl who is helped by a mermaid named Mama Jo to find a better life.* **Finding the Green Stone** by Alice Walker tells the story of Johnny, who loses his bright, shining green stone as he begins making bad choices.
| Title | Author | Origin | Theme || ------------------------------- | ---------------------------- | --------------- | -------------------------------------- || A Story, A Story | Gale E. Hayley | Ghana | Origin of stories, trickery || Anansi the Spider | Gerald McDermott | Ghana | Family, problem-solving || Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters | John Steptoe | Africa | Kindness, patience, inner beauty || Why the Sky is Far Away | Mary-Joan Gerson | Nigeria | Consequences of wastefulness || Sukey and the Mermaid | Robert D. San Souci | African American | Hope, magic, finding solace || Finding the Green Stone | Alice Walker | African American | Choices, consequences, self-reflection |

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tags: #Africa