A Treasury Of African Folklore

A wide and varied selection of myths from various African tribes south of the Sahara.

A wide and varied selection of myths from various African tribes south of the Sahara.

Highlights the diverse oral traditions of the African American cultures of the New World.

In A Treasury of Afro-American Folklore, esteemed novelist and folklorist Harold Courlander brings together another extensive and unique collection of tales, recollections, epics, traditions, beliefs, myths, historical chronicles, and songs, this time from the numerous black cultures of the New World. This remarkable exploration, which covers the unwritten traditions and literature of the Spanish-, French-, and English-speaking islands of the Caribbean, the areas of Central and South America inhabited by people of African descent, and the black communities of the United States, brings to light amazing tales of scoundrels, heroes, rollicking adventures, and friendship, descriptions of cult life around which many traditions and beliefs flowed, insight into the social scene in places where black and white ideas intermingled and became Afro-American, and much more. With a focus on the interconnectedness of cultural inheritances throughout the Afro-American region as well as the local divergences, A Treasury of Afro-American Folklore eloquently demonstrates the powerful cultural influence of Africa on this side of the Atlantic. Book jacket.

Africa has a wonderfully rich store of folk tales that have been passed down from one generation to the next. There are stories about how the world came into being, stories that tell of the relationships between human beings and between man and his environment, and of the lessons to be learned from everyday experience. The tales are like the fairy talkes told all over the world, but they have a strong African flavour that is as real as the smell of rain on hot earth. The Best of African Folklore takes the reader into an enchanted world where animals can talk and humans are often changed into different forms, where magic is commonplace and reality is turned delightfully on its head. Despite numerous setbacks, things usually turn out all right in the end. Wicked and greedy people (and animals) come off worst and the good receive their just rewards. The gods are stern but fair, and every story has a moral for those who are wise enough to see it.

An Esquire “Best Christmas Book to Read During the Holidays” A collection of Christmas stories written by African-American journalists, activists, and writers from the late 19th century to the modern civil rights movement. Back in print for the first time in over a decade, this landmark collection features writings from well-known black writers, activists, and visionaries such as Pauline Hopkins, Langston Hughes, and John Henrik Clarke along with literary gems from rediscovered writers. Originally published in African American newspapers, periodicals, and journals between 1880 and 1953, these enchanting Christmas tales are part of the black literary tradition that flourished after the Civil War. Edited and assembled by esteemed historian Dr. Bettye Collier-Thomas, the short stories and poems in this collection reflect the Christmas experiences of everyday African Americans and explore familial and romantic love, faith, and more serious topics such as racism, violence, poverty, and racial identity. Featuring the best stories and poems from previous editions along with new material including “The Sermon in the Cradle” by W. E. B. Du Bois, A Treasury of African American Christmas Stories celebrates a rich storytelling tradition and will be cherished by readers for years to come.