Maximo ramos books on philippine mythology any local mythology enthusiast worth his salt would know that dr. Posts about african folklore written by abookofcreatures. From the freaky showstoppers that give more chills than the finest horror movies, to lighter and funny legends passed from time immemorial, africa has the most diverse stories to tell. World book s series famous myths and legends of the world collects many famous stories from around the world. A captivating guide to the ancient gods, goddesses, heroes, and monsters, a popular bestseller the first manuscript focuses on what standard views have to say about egyptian and greek mythologies. The kariba dam project, which had its fair share of tragedies was a paradigm shift in the lives of the batonga and they did not like it at all. Nigerian folk tales are epic stories that can explain the world around us. Among its one billion inhabitants, more than 1,000 languages are spoken, and there is a massive variety of ethnic religions.
Tales are rooted in nature elements and the animal kingdom. Bright is the author of famous american folktales, which gathers the most popular and shared tall tales in the usa. Spirits are less grand, less powerful, and less like humans than the gods, who often have weaknesses and emotions. African stories, fables, myths, folk tales from africa. Africa is an extensive continent with thousands upon thousands of tribes, each with their own unique culture and cycle of myths, yet borrowing from each other. Written for students and general readers, this volume gathers a sampling of the most important african american folktales. This onevolume reference provides indepth coverage of the folklore and customs practiced throughout the vast continent of africa. Check out our giveaways and exclusive cover reveals for. Book this book does not require a rating on the quality scale. The over 300 entries were written by an international group of. Many spirits are associated with physical features such as mountains, rivers, wells, trees, and springs. Many english speakers understand the terms myth and mythology to mean fictitious or imaginary. This is a wikipedia book, a collection of articles which can be downloaded electronically or ordered in print. Each entry explains the myth and gives a story, along with the culture group and what country or country the story comes from.
The deeds and misdeeds of this great seaserpent are told on both sides of the lake, from uganda to the kavirondo winam gulf in kenya. The heavy pot, hanging in front of him, made hi s ascent almost impossible. Maximo ramos is considered the dean of philippine lower mythology. For several generations, stories from africa have traditionally been passed down by word of mouth. Sponsored links additional resources books of american indian. African american culture has a rich tradition of folktales. In addition, the book also covers the beliefs and customs for certain animals, objects, and different types of people. Myths, legends and folkloric tales are stories, beliefs and customs that have been passed down from one generation to the next and are usually conveyed by word of mouth.
Anthology of stories, songs, and oral history from the naskapi and other algonquian tribes. A library of folktales, folklore, fairy tales, and mythology. This was my first experience with african mythology, and this book was a great introduction and overview. Forget hercules for a moment and allow african mythology to blow your mind. African folktales the pantheon fairy tale and folklore. The book is made up of three manuscripts with the first manuscript being the greek mythology. My regret is that they have not published more and that some of their folklore books seem out of print.
Conversely, books with low averages may contain articles with outdated assessments, or articles which may never grow beyond a certain limit simply because there is not a lot to say about them. I enjoyed this book and i am happy to recommend it. Readers learn exactly what mythology is, why it is so important to cultures, and how the mythology ties in to africa s history. African folklore is passed down from generation to generation and the stories are very important to the traditions and customs of all african people. The oral literature, traditions, recollections, legends, tales, songs, religious beliefs, customs, sayings and humor of peoples of african american descent in the americas. One of the best ways to teach our children about other cultures is through books, and in honor of black history month, i have.
The collection of folktales from nigeria consists of one book with 40 folktales collected from southern nigeria. Myths, legends, and folklore of africanamericans 96 books. African mythology myth encyclopedia god, story, legend. Books with high averages may be missing content or suffer other problems. An archive of our own, a project of the organization for transformative works. Larrington also reveals how such stories continue to inspire modern writers and artists. Mythologies of the indigenous peoples of the americas wikipedia. There, he thought, wisdom would indeed be beyond the reach of every one but himself.
Funk and wagnalls standard dictionary of folklore, mythology, and legend. Collection of innu legends and folktales from labrador. Folklorist alan dundes defines myth as a sacred narrative that explains how the world and humanity evolved into their present form. There are hills and mountains on his vast body, with rivers on one side, highlands on another, forests on the next, highlands and cliffs on other sides. Recommended books on innu mythology wolverine creates the world.
The stories are not only entertaining but serve to teach a lesson as well, sometimes of a moral value and other times of survival. An anthology native american myths part 1 when hispanics from the south and europeans from the east arrived in the what is now the united states, they found a large number of peoples who, for the most part, had discovered america several millennia earlier. African tristan strong punches a hole in the sky tristan strong 1 oct 15, 2019. The mammoth book of celtic myths and legends mammoth books.
At the heart of the folklore is the necessity to communicate the need for generosity and cooperation between people. Nevertheless, im grouping these picture books together because i think it is a useful way for parents to get started sharing these books with their children. Here we have 5 african mythological creatures that you should know. Jan 01, 2010 west african myths myths from around the world giles, bridget on. Sonnenschein, 1897, by william swan sonnenschein page images at hathitrust. Elegast can put people to sleep magically, opens locks without keys, and has a magic herb that when he puts in his mouth allows him to talk to animals. Again and again he tried to reach the top of the tree, where he intended to hang the pot. A copy that has been read, but remains in excellent condition. Often, after a hard days work, the adults would gather the children together by moonlight, around a village fire and tell stories. I have a penchant for pourquoi tales from all cultures and this list reflects that interest. These traditions usually include music, stories, history, legends.
Such stories are deeply based in nature and are rich with the symbolism of seasons, weather, plants, animals, earth, water, fire, sky and the heavenly bodies. Here, writing for history extra, larrington shares nine of the most unusual folktales that she. Weare offers tales from africa about these predators louis trichard, thoyandou by lynette oxley offers several myths and legends of the vhavenda people. Folklore expresses the sensibilities and feelings of a group rather than those of any one individual. Each tale begins with an introductory headnote, and the book. Folklore is oral history that is preserved by the people of the culture, consisting of traditions belonging to a specific culture. Most traditional african folk tales, myths and fables have a moral point to them, or is use to educate, or entertain, or to explain animal behaviour, educate on traditions or correct behaviour. Prepare to be wowed out of your boots by the following larger than life myths. Jan 1, 2015 a childrens librarian chooses her top picks in africanamerican folklore picture books for kids. However, according to many dictionary definitions, these terms can also mean a traditional story or narrative that embodies the belief or beliefs of a.
West african mythology visit the links to learn about the myths of west africa related to objects in the sky, and aspects of their world. The sun and the moon are given high status, even seen as gods in some cultures and because all african societies depend on rain, it is also held in high regard. There is no single mythology of the indigenous north american peoples, but numerous different canons of traditional narratives associated with religion, ethics and beliefs. Im continuing my folktale picture book series with native american stories. While november is native american heritage month, the perfect time to share these. African mythology discusses the creator god and ancestor worship in africa african myths and legends by samantha martin offers stories from the bushmen and hottentots folklore about hyenas by robin m.
African mythology is filled with spirits, invisible beings with powers for good or evil. In the sections we bring you all the powerful civilizations. Africanamerican folklore, like the folklore of any other people, is a tradition that is community based. The myths of africa vary from country to country and have been passed down orally through a strong communal tradition. Books about, based on, or retellings of mythology, legends, fairytales and folklore from africa. Mythology, legends and folklore of the americas asian mythology, legends and folklore.
This local folklore is the perfect setting for an eerie fictional tale. Most people are familiar with the creation of adam and eve in the book of genesis. You can subscribe to storyoftheday by rss or by email. Modern fantasy novels based on nonwestern mythology or folklore.
A primary source is a work that is being studied, or that provides firsthand or direct evidence on a topic. Here is the book list, in all its glory, and we will continue to add as many of your recommendations as possible each week, covering topics from creation myths, to the history of. Africa is the secondlargest continent in the world. Naskapi and montagnais innu legends, myths, and stories. Wikipedia books are maintained by the wikipedia community, particularly wikiproject wikipedia books. Religion and mythology differ, but have overlapping aspects. Anansi became the king of all stories after proving to nyame that he could trick a jaguar, hornets and a fairy. Critics have long recognised the value of african literatures representation of the mythic and the folkloric. His first book, epic in africa 1979, effectively ended the eurocentric view that the epic does not exist in africa. Wikipedia books can also be tagged by the banners of any relevant wikiprojects with classbook.
Beautifully illustrated, it is a perfect book for bedtime. As the worlds largest independent marketplace for new, used and rare books, you always get the best in service and value when you buy from, and all of your purchases are backed by. This is an untextbook of mythology and folklore for students enrolled in mlll3043995, an online course for the university of oklahoma. Included are nearly 50 tales grouped in thematic chapters on origins. List of books and articles about african folklore online. According to many african myths, the creation of heaven precedes the creation of earth and man was created before the animals. Tricksters and animals play a common role in their folklore. Africa is a very big area which also means the african mythology is very vast and diverse. Kwame mbalia goodreads author shelved 4 times as africanmythology avg rating 4. This writeup will focus on the best african mythology books that can enlighten you about where many of the myths and legends in african originate from. This site uses cookies to deliver our services, improve performance, for analytics, and if not signed in for advertising. Pages are intact and are not marred by notes or highlighting, but may contain a neat previous owner name. Tristan strong punches a hole in the sky by kwame mbalia, children of blood and bone by tomi adeyemi, black leopard. It includes the phantom train of marshall pass, sasquatch, the maid in the mist, paul bunyan and the hard winter, moll pitcher the fortune teller, guardian of yosemite, and.
With a population of 167 million people, nigerians form the seventh largest nation in the world. With support from the leverhulme trust and the isaac newton trust. Elphinstone dayrrell was a british colonial official in ikom and. Norse mythology by neil gaiman, the odyssey by homer, mythology by edith hamilton, american gods by neil. Native american folktales for kids written by native authors. Folklore, folktales, and fairy tales from the isle of man, a library of books digitized by books. The following ya books were inspired by real world myths and legends and unexplained talesmy favorite kinds of stories.
Online shopping for african mythology from a great selection at books store. One of the most influential collections of nigerian folklore is the 1910 collection folk stories from southern nigeria, published in 1910. Through engaging narration and colorful illustrations, myths and legends of africa helps children explore the mythologies and legends of the ashanti, ganda, zulu, and other african cultures. Although i titled this list native american folktales, i believe it would be more correct to say traditional stories you can correct me in the comments.
Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Stories and photographs chronicling the traditional life of the eyak people. Books and references on philippine mythology and folklore. In most african cultures, history and beliefs have been explained and passed on through oral traditions and storytelling. The serpentine god is the central point of batonga mythology and one needs to be prepared for a showdown with nyami nyami if he plans to disturb the peace. The best thing about this reference is its content. In her book the land of the green man, which accompanied a radio 4 series, the lore of the land, larrington explores the diverse ways in which imaginary beings have moulded the cultural history of the nation.
African mythology stories generally all have an specific moral theme to them. These tales usually combine a loosely accurate if at all account of historical events together with a mythological character often a hero or villain and a moral to the story. Joel chandler harris s uncle remus books collect many of the modified west african tales that were shared among slaves in the early united states. African mythology in art, literature, and everyday life although the myths of various african cultures have existed primarily in oral form, there are some notable exceptions. The annotated african american folktales the annotated books. One of the most popular african myths and legends is the one that has long been told about the yoruba tribe of nigeria, where people are expected to return to the clan in the form of a newborn baby, and who a child is can be determined by its resemblance to the original person. Mostly an alternate history, but when robinson is switching time periods, he places the characters in an betweenlife place based on buddhist mythology. African folklore tales about animal tricksters often describe how helpless creatures manage to outwit fierce animals. One of the most important animal tricksters of west african legends is anansi, who acts on behalf of the sky god, nyame. South african folk tales reflect the realities, often harsh, of the african landscape. These stories and myths have been told within generations. Joseph jacobs classic retelling of 82 fables and included in the harvard classics, vol. Communities use folk traditions to maintain a connection to the past even as a community evolves and changes over time.
Jan 15, 2006 african mythology is as vast as the african continent itself. Ugungqukubantwana, ugunqukubantwana usilosimapundu, the rugose beast or the nodulated beast, is a creature of superlatives. Eyak legends folklore, myths, and traditional indian stories. Categorising a story as a myth does not necessarily imply that it is untrue.
The earth is a very important element in the many myths. In his second book, myth in africa 1982, he offers incisive, aesthetically grounded, redefinitions of myth against the prevailing ritualbased definitions of the old european schools of anthropological inquiry. After a short introduction that explains the background of african myths and the storytelling traditions, this book goes on to give hundreds of different african myths. I have also limited this list to north america excluding mexico. I have yet to encounter one of the pantheon folklore series that was not a good read. These stories are drawn from the fairy books of andrew lang with accompanying audio if you would like to listen to the stories read aloud, and they cover a range of traditions. List of books and articles about africanamerican folklore. Myth and modernity in african literature centre of african. Common types of primary sources include works of literature, historical documents, original philosophical writings, and religious texts.
However, according to many dictionary definitions, these terms can also mean a traditional story or narrative that embodies the belief or beliefs of a group of people, and this. African folklore, myths and legends victoria falls guide. African myths and legends more the amaxhosa the stories here are a few among a long list of stories told by mothers and grandmothers, fathers and grand fathers to their sons and daughters as the traditional, oral history of the tribe. West african folktales 6 looking tree, he began to climb. His books have been referenced by academics and fiction writers all over the country, so naturally youd want to get your copies while supplies last. I knew little of african folklore before reading this book. The book covers mythology from many different african tribes, rather than just the wellknown ones.
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