This 75th anniversary edition of a classic bestseller is stunningly illustrated and designed to enchant fans of greek, roman, and norse mythology at all ages. Zora neale hurston weaves a trove of african american folklore. The stories are not only entertaining but serve to teach a lesson as well, sometimes of a moral value and other times of survival. African folklore is passed down from generation to generation and the stories are very important to the traditions and customs of all african people. Especially those related to a particular cultural or religious tradition. We chose 20 compelling mythology books to read when youre seeking a.
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. Shes also known as a guide to the dead and is the only orisha who has one foot in the world of the living and one in the. African legends are both entertaining and educational. From two scholars, africanamerican folk tales for the next generation. The traditional african religions or traditional beliefs and practices of african people are a set of highly diverse beliefs that includes various ethnic religions. Aziza african mythology project gutenberg selfpublishing. Jul 18, 2017 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. African mythology stories generally all have an specific moral theme to them.
Jan 22, 2019 several books by nigerian author amos tutola could be considered fantasy, but my life in the bush of ghosts is the best fit. African folklore, myths and legends victoria falls guide. Posts about african folklore written by abookofcreatures. Gods of different elements have been appointed as in the tradition in africa. I have a penchant for pourquoi tales from all cultures and this list reflects that interest. This remarkable african mammal is usually featured as a goddess in african legends. We hope you enjoy this hand picked cream of the crop. Mythology, legends and folklore of the americas asian mythology, legends and folklore. One of the most important animal tricksters of west african legends is anansi, who acts on behalf of the sky god, nyame. List of books and articles about african folklore online. I encourage you to talk with your kids about the differences and the similarities of between these folk tales and western legends, myths and. African mythologies are credited for most happenings in their part of the world and revered as deities to be worshiped.
This book examines how both myth and fact contributed to the culture and traditions of the african people and how these influences and some stories continue to live on. African stories, fables, myths, folk tales from africa. Buy products related to african mythology products and see what customers say about. One of the foremost critics in contemporary american letters, christopher benfey has long been known for his brilliant and incisive essays. African american folklore, like the folklore of any other people, is a tradition that is community based.
Many of toni morrisons novels, including tar baby, use folklore in innovative ways. They are also known to have given practical and spiritual knowledge to people including knowledge of the use of fi. Many spirits are associated with physical features such as mountains, rivers, wells, trees, and springs. When a young boy flees from slave traders, he finds refuge in the african bush, but the bush is inhabited by ghosts. African mythology, legends and folklore 48 books goodreads. Encyclopedia article about african mythology books. Worshiped in ancient egypt as tawaret, the goddess of fertility and childbirth, she was essentially regarded as a protective and caring deity. Home browse literature myth and folklore african folklore.
American black folktales by virginia hamilton the people could fly is a great childrens book that even adults would love, lemieux says. The pantheon fairy tale and folklore library found in fairy tales the folkloric traditions of cultures throughout the world come brilliantly to life in these fairy tale and folk tale compilations by worldclass scholars and anthropologists. Jamaican folklore, music and riddles, featuring an indominable trickster hero. Caribbean jamaica anansi stories by martha warren beckwith 1924. Anansi became the king of all stories after proving to nyame that he could trick a jaguar, hornets and a fairy. Jan 1, 2015 a childrens librarian chooses her top picks in african american folklore picture books for kids. Heres a list of 100 free mythology and folklore ebooks i. Forget hercules for a moment and allow african mythology to blow your mind. Here is the beginning of our african folklore collection.
In this volume you will find 44 uniquely south african tales. The aziza african are a type of beneficent supernatural race in west african specifically, dahomey mythology. Spirits are less grand, less powerful, and less like humans than the gods, who often have weaknesses and emotions. A vast continent, africa is home to many cultures and a thousand or more languages. African mythology gods and spirits from the african continent. Africa isnt a single place with a single pantheon, and wed be fools to try and cover all that in. Crazy myths about african vampires african mythology is intricate, complex, and the ideals behind some of their mythological beliefs were often intertwined with actual events. Well constantly be adding new legends to this page so make sure you subscribe to our rss so that you. Discover librarianselected research resources on african folklore from the questia online library, including fulltext online books, academic journals, magazines, newspapers and more. Adze, the vampire the adze is a vampiric being from ewe folklore in togo and ghana. How marlon james reimagined african folklore to craft. List of books and articles about african folklore online research.
Jaja institute of foundation studies, rivers state university of science and technology, p. African mythology myth encyclopedia god, story, legend. African folklore tales about animal tricksters often describe how helpless creatures manage to outwit fierce animals. James is working on an epic fantasy trilogy that draws from african mythology and. This is a wikipedia book, a collection of articles which can be downloaded electronically or ordered in print. Black folklore and mythology may not be as widely known. African mythology books mythology refers to a collection of myths. Books about, based on, or retellings of mythology, legends, fairytales and folklore from africa. Wikipedia books are maintained by the wikipedia community. Folklore expresses the sensibilities and feelings of a group rather than those of any one individual. List of books and articles about africanamerican folklore.
Several books by nigerian author amos tutola could be considered fantasy, but my life in the bush of ghosts is the best fit. The annotated african american folktales the annotated books. Legends and traditions are narratives of an explanatory nature concerning creation and tribal beginnings, supernatural beings, and quasihistorical figures e. For decades, africanamerican folklore failed to capture mainstream. From two scholars, africanamerican folk tales for the next. The heavy pot, hanging in front of him, made hi s ascent almost impossible. Tricksters and animals play a common role in their folklore. West african folktales 6 looking tree, he began to climb. 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. As expected, they contain lots of animal characters and exciting adventures.
The over 300 entries were written by an international group of. There, he thought, wisdom would indeed be beyond the reach of every one but himself. African mythology is a blend of different culture with most of the themes relating to animals and especially tricksters. Tristan strong punches a hole in the sky by kwame mbalia, children of blood and bone by tomi adeyemi, black leopard.
As well the mythology book is well rounded bringing the mythologies of the african and other cultures into the genre once only dealing with greek, roman, and egyptian mythos. Living in the forest, they provide good magic for hunters. Those books are so problematic now, says james with a laugh. Accepted 4 january, 2012 myths are accounts of the origin of societies and institutions not subject to rationalization but often. Since its original publication by little, brown and company in 1942, edith hamiltons mythology has sold millions of copies throughout the world and established itself as a perennial. Traditional african belief is overwhelmingly monotheistic. 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. That is what makes africanamerican folklore so powerful and. Set in a mythological africa, its a genrecrossing epic that upends the. This onevolume reference provides indepth coverage of the folklore and customs practiced throughout the vast continent of africa. Generally, these traditions are oral rather than scriptural, include belief in an amount of higher and lower gods, sometimes including a supreme creator, belief in spirits.
This category may require frequent maintenance to avoid becoming too large. May 12, 2017 so, today were talking about african pantheons. African mythology is filled with spirits, invisible beings with powers for good or evil. See more ideas about african, african mythology and folklore. The african continent includes so many countries, regions, languages, tribes, cultures and crossovers that the sheer diversity of prevailing gods would seem overwhelming if there werent a few handy shortcuts. Although no single set of myths and legends unites this diverse population, different cultural groups and regions share some common mythological elements.
Wikimedia commons has media related to african mythology pages in this category should be moved to subcategories where applicable. Wikipedia books are maintained by the wikipedia community, particularly wikiproject wikipedia books. Again and again he tried to reach the top of the tree, where he intended to hang the pot. Many of the myths out there originate from different backgrounds. Kishi folklore kisra legend kokh kox kokou orisha kope tiatie cac kponyungo kuino kumpo leeyo legends of africa leopard society letra del ano list of yoruba deities loa lotuko mythology lozi mythology lugbara mythology maasai mythology magec maher god malagasy mythology mami wata mamlambo mande creation myth marabout marinette vodou. Top 10 african myths 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. 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. The collection of folktales from africa consists of four books with 88 stories. Buy products related to african mythology products and see what customers say about african mythology products on free delivery possible on eligible purchases. 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. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read african mythology. Africanamerican folklore, like the folklore of any other people, is a tradition that is community based. The goddess of storms and strong winds is oya, one of the wives of shango. Jan 1, 2015 a childrens librarian chooses her top picks in africanamerican folklore picture books for kids.