Famous South African Folk Tales

This collection of folktales from South Africa has been put together the author says, not for scholarship but for a love of the sunny country where he was born. Some stories originate from Dutch sources, and some have several versions. Most are tales told by the bushmen.

A collection of fifty-four folk tales from South Africa including Cape Malay, San, Khoikhoi, and Afrikaan tales.

Sun and Moon must leave their earthly home after Sun invites the Sea to visit.

IN presenting these stories, which are of deep interest and value to South Africans, I hope they may prove of some value to those Americans who have either an interest in animals or who appreciate the folklore of other countries. Care has been taken not to spoil the ethnological value for the sake of form or structure; and in all cases they are as nearly like the original as a translation from one tongue to another will allow. They are all South-African folklore tales and mainly from the Bushmen.

A Great Read for Children. In this volume you will find thirteen uniquely South African folk tales. Stories of Why the Baboon has that Kink in his Tail, Why Old Jackal Danced the War-Dance, When the Birds would choose a King (also known as Tink Tinkie), Why the White Owl only Flies at Night, Why Little Hare has such a Short Tail and many more. In the days before the many languages of South Africa were first recorded and written, these are stories that were used by the Sangomas (medicine women) and the Umxoxi Wendaba (Umzozi Wendaaba - story tellers) to teach their children the moral lessons of life and orally pass their knowledge on to the next generation. So gather around the campfire and share the many stories in this book to the delight of young and old alike. Laugh at the stories and laugh even harder at the illustrations by J. A. Shepherd Then when the hour grows late, when sparks from the fire have stopped ascending into the black night and young heads and eyelids have grown heavy; when the dying fire is making long shadows dance across the veld, close the book with the promise that Old Hendrik will tell another African story on another day. To help young readers, we have also included a lexicon with phonetic pronunciations and translations of the African words to make it easier to sound out and understand what they are reading.