Nelson Mandela’s Favorite African Folktales
Book 24 – Nelson Mandela’s Favorite African Folktales by Nelson Mandela is a cause for celebration, landmark work that gathers in one volume many of Africa’s most cherished folktales.
Mandela, a Nobel Laureate for Peace, has selected these thirty-two tales with the specific hope that Africa’s oldest stories, as well as a few new ones, be perpetuated by future generations and be appreciated by children throughout the world. In these “beloved stories, morsels rich with the gritty essence of Africa,” we meet, among many others, a Kenyan lion named Simba, a snake with seven heads and a trickster from Zulu folklore; we hear the voices of the scheming hyena and learn from a Khoi fable how animals acquired their tails and horns. Several creation myths tell us how the land, its animals, and its people all came into existence under a punishing sun or against the backdrop of a spectacularly beautiful mountain landscape.
Book Title: Nelson Mandela’s Favorite African Folktales
Author: Nelson Mandela
Genre: memoir, autobiography
Nelson Mandela’s Favorite African Folktales
Writing Style
“Nelson Mandela’s Favorite African Folktales” is a collection of traditional African folktales compiled by Nelson Mandela. The writing style of the book is simple, clear, and engaging, making it accessible to readers of all ages. Each story is well-crafted, with vivid descriptions and relatable characters that transport readers to a different world.
Translated into English and other European languages chiefly in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries from their original languages–be they Karanga, Nguni, Xhosa, or one of many others–these folktales are a testament to the craft of storytelling and the power of myth. Accompanied by dozens of enchanting, specially commissioned color paintings, Nelson Mandela’s Favorite African Folktales–culled from African countries as far-flung as Morocco, Nigeria, Uganda, and Kenya–presents a fountain of precious knowledge that will be treasured by children, as well as adults, for years to come.
Book Contents
The book contains a total of 32 folktales, each with its own unique flavor and moral lesson. The tales are drawn from various regions of Africa, including South Africa, Kenya, Sudan, and Ghana, among others. The stories cover a wide range of themes, including courage, love, wisdom, and trickery. Some of the notable tales include “The Snake Chief,” “The Magic Calabash,” and “The Hare and the Tree Spirit.” The book also includes an introduction by Mandela, in which he discusses the importance of preserving African oral traditions and passing them down to future generations.
Whether warning children about the dangers of disobedience or demonstrating that the underdog can–and often does–win, these stories, through their depiction of wise animals as well as evil monsters, are “universal in their portrayal of humanity, beasts, and the mystical.” What is particularly exciting about this book is that many of the stories, in their oral form, are almost as old as Africa itself. Most of them were, in fact, first told in various African tongues around evening fires in centuries past–tales from, for example, the San and the Khoi, the original hunter-gatherers and livestock herders of Southern Africa.
Conclusion
Overall, “Nelson Mandela’s Favorite African Folktales” is an enchanting collection that celebrates the rich cultural heritage of Africa. The book is a testament to Mandela’s passion for preserving the continent’s oral traditions and his belief in the power of storytelling. The stories are not only entertaining but also contain valuable lessons that are relevant to readers of all ages and backgrounds. The book is a must-read for anyone interested in African culture and history, as well as those who simply love a good story.[Book 24]
