First published 1969
Kings rule their domains while warriors venture into dangerous territories. Hunters track their prey through dense forests where animals speak and scheme. Clever tricksters outwit their opponents using wit instead of strength. Foolish characters stumble into trouble through their own poor choices. Good people face challenges that test their character while bad ones receive their comeuppance. Each tale reveals how the world came to be as it is, explaining why animals look and behave as they do. The stories move between laughter and reflection, between simple entertainment and deeper meaning. Harold Courlander retells these West African folktales with the generous spirit and energy of oral tradition. The tales capture the wisdom and humor that have sustained communities for generations.
Genres: short-stories, world-literature, african-literature, folklore
Vibes: lyrical, thought-provoking, whimsical
Tropes: found-family, tricksters
Setting: West Africa
Period: 20th-century
143 pages · Hardcover · Holt, Rinehart and Winston