Folktales

What is a folktale?
The folktale is a story, passed down verbally from generation to generation. Each storyteller told the stories a little differently, making them more interesting and fascinating as the ages passed. Different folktales bear the characteristics of the culture, folklore and customs of the people from which they originated.

African Folktales

Vingananee and the Tree Toad click on this link to read the folktale

A strange animal called the Vingananee beats up all the other animals and eats their stew until the tiny Tree Toad offers to fight him.

Story Climaxes/High Points: Tree toad is picked up by the Vingananee and thrown so high up in the sky that the Vingananee can't see him and when he lands and the Vingananee's head he knocks him out.

Special Chants/Phrases: 
I'm the Vingananee and I am hungry.
Give me your stew or I will eat you!!

Tree Toad's song: Ka wa wa wa waa! Ka wa wa wa waa!

Who is in Rabbits house?

A Masai tale, presented in the form of a play, in which the frog gets the job of getting a monster out of the rabbit's house after the leopard, elephant, and rhino bungle the job.

Bimwili & the Zimwi (Watch Youtube version here)

A folktale from Zanzibar.... The story tells of three sisters in a Swahili village who set out on a journey to the sea. The youngest sibling trails behind, finding a lovely shell. She creates a song about her shell that she soon is forced to sing for the village monster-- the Zimwi. The singer is captures and contains the young girl in a drum. This funny looking monster entertains neighboring villages with this "singing drum". Before she reunites with her family, she has to defeat this shape-shifting Zimwi who turns into a pumpkin patch. This is an exciting read, loaded with sound effects, for 2nd to 4th grade classrooms.

Bringing the Roan to the Kapiti Plain

The tale was discovered in Kenya, Africa more than seventy years ago by the famous anthropologist Sir Claud Hollis. Sir Claud camped near a Nandi village and learned the native language from two young boys. He learned riddles and proverbs from the Nandi children, and most of the folktales from the Chief Medicine Man. This tale reminded Sir Claud of a cumulative nursery rhyme he had loved as a boy in England, and also familiar to us “The House That Jack Built.” So he called the story “The Nandi House That Jack Built” and included it in his book The Nandi - Their Language and Folktales, published in 1909. Vera Aardema has brought the original story close to the English nursery rhyme by putting in a cumulative refrain and giving the tale the rhythm of “The House That Jack Built.”

Mufaros Daughter

This African tale from Zimbabwe evokes the Cinderella story in its portrayal of Mufaro's daughters, Manyara and Nyasha, who are summoned before a king looking for a suitable wife. The scheming, selfish Manyara plots to appear first at the palace, while her considerate, loving sister takes time on the journey to care for hungry and elderly people. Manyara's haste does not work to her benefit and eventually causes her undoing. The colorful and richly textured illustrations are breath-taking and help make this picture book a favorite among children and adults.

Mufaro was a happy man. Everyone agreed that his two daughters were very beautiful. Nyasha was kind and considerate as well as beautiful, but everyone — except Mufaro — knew that Manyara was selfish, badtempered, and spoiled.

When the king decided to take a wife and invited "The Most Worthy and Beautiful Daughters in the Land" to appear before him, Mufaro declared proudly that only the king could choose between Nyasha and Manyara. Manyara, of course, didn't agree, and set out to make certain that she would be chosen.

Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters

John Steptoe has created a memorable modem fable of pride going before a fall, in keeping with the moral of the folktale that was his inspiration. He has illustrated it with stunning paintings that glow with the beauty, warmth, and internal vision of the land and people of his ancestors.

Mufaro's two beautiful daughters, one bad-tempered, one kind and sweet, go before the king, who is choosing a wife.

An African villager named Mufaro had two daughters whom everyone agreed were beautiful. However, their dispositions were not alike: Manyara had a bad temper and was selfish (although not in front of Mufaro); Nyasha was always kind and considerate both to people and to animals. When Mufaro receives word that the Great King is inviting all of the most worthy and beautiful women to appear before him so that he might choose a wife, Mufaro decides that both of his daughters should go. Manyara, believing herself more worthy and beautiful than her sister, sets out alone so that she can be presented to the king before her sister. What happens to each girl along the way depends on her response to the strange people whom she encounters. This folktale shows the traditional qualities, characterizations, and predictability. 

It is distinguished, however, by its colorful ink and watercolor illustrations of the costumes, artifacts, flora, and fauna of the Zimbabwe region. The expressive drawings of people and events enhance the story and serve to strengthen readers' familiarity with traditional African culture. A magnificently illustrated book, filled with rich textures and vibrant color, and a story that will satisfy young romantics as well as those with a strong sense of justice. Helen E. Williams, University of Maryland, College Park

This Caldecott Honor book, inspired by a story collected from the people of Zimbabwe, is somewhat similar to the classic Cinderella fairy tale in that it contains sisters, one jealous of the other, and one royal invitation to all the girls in the kingdom. Yet this story offers much more because it contains important life lessons: "Pride goes before a fall" and "Treat others the way you would want to be treated" (The Golden Rule). The illustrations are absolutely breathtaking. Highly recommended!

Oh Kojo ! How could you!
Retelling of a humorous Ashanti folktale relating how a young man named Kojo finally gets the better of the tricky Anansi.

Half a Ball of Kenki
Lighthearted retelling of an Ashanti tale. Leopard, thinking himself better than Fly, dresses up in fancy garments and forces his companion to carry his bundle on their search for young maidens to marry. To Leopard's surprise, Fly is more successful with the young women than he is, so he takes angry measures against Fly, only to discover once again, that Fly is more popular still. The earthy, and culture-conscious illustrations, bring to life this engaging tale of frienship, envy, and getting what's coming to you. However, even though the illustrations dull and lack vivid hues. On the other hand, Aardema has taken a traditional African tale, and told it in a humorous way. Leopard is the arquetype of the self-centered individual, and Fly is the easy-going fellow whose unassuming charm attracts all the young maidens. A good choice to complement an African-American animal tales collection. Half-a-ball-of-Kenki: an Ashanti Tale Retold. Verna Aardema ; and with pictures by Diane Stanley Zuromskis. New York : F. Warne, c1979, 31 pp. Ages 5 to 8.