Africa south of the Sahara is a land of wide-ranging traditions, history and varying cultures: with 54 countries, over two thousand languages and even more ethnic groups speaking those languages. The continent has always had a powerful tradition of oral storytelling and despite the diversity, relative lack of early written records, and the ravages of colonialism and slavery, the continent still possesses a rich body of myths, folk tales, and legends that often share similar elements, characters, and ideas between peoples.
So, although we cannot hope to present a comprehensive survey of African mythology, this collection offers a hefty selection of tales that have been passed down over the centuries and have been made available to the wider world, often written down at the turn of the century by missionaries, anthropologists, and colonial officials who made a concerted effort to transcribe as faithfully as possible the tales told to them. Although of their time, these texts still provide a valuable glimpse of the richness of African storytelling.
After an outline of some key mythological figures, elements, and beliefs, the book is split into three sections: Myths of Origin, Death and the Afterlife; Animal Stories & Fables; and Stories of Wit & Wisdom. From Obatala Creates Mankind from the Yoruba people of West Africa to The Girl of the Early Race, Who Made Stars from the San people of southern Africa, these tales cover everything from gods and creation to the outrageous adventures and behaviour of trickster characters and moral stories which entertain and edifyall collected in a gorgeously presented hardback to treasure.
