South-African Folk-Tales

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

—

Title

South-African Folk-Tales

Language

en

Book source

Global Grey

Description max 80 words

A curated collection of traditional South African folk tales rooted in oral tradition, featuring animal fables, moral lessons, and stories from Bushmen, Hottentot, and Zulu cultures. This volume preserves primitive simplicity and everyday life events, offering a glimpse into the folklore of a diverse, ancient region.

Summary up to 500 words

Compiled by James A. Honey, *South-African Folk-Tales* presents a rich anthology of indigenous narratives primarily drawn from Bushmen traditions, though it also incorporates tales from the Hottentots, Zulus, and Dutch influences. The introduction contextualizes these stories within the complex racial and cultural history of the region, noting how folklore evolved through the interaction of distinct groups. Honey explicitly states his objective to preserve the ethnological value of the tales by avoiding mythological or religious themes, focusing instead on animal-centric narratives and events of daily life. The collection reflects the "plain, and primitive in its simplicity" nature of the source material, describing the struggle for survival against drought and predators in the veldt. The anthology features numerous etiological myths explaining natural phenomena and cultural origins. In "The Lost Message," ants fail to unite against their enemies due to internal discord, illustrating the critical importance of cooperation. "The Monkey's Fiddle" depicts a traveler who acquires magical items but faces jealousy from a wolf, highlighting themes of betrayal. A particularly significant narrative, "Crocodile's Treason," reveals how a peace treaty between land and water animals is betrayed by a crocodile who tricks the lion and other beasts into a trap, leading to a massacre by Boer hunters. This story underscores the consequences of greed and the fragility of alliances. Other tales explore the origins of specific animal traits and the distribution of animals after creation. "Origin Of The Difference In Modes Of Life" describes how the Bushmen race emerged from a conflict between a hunter and a blind man. "Why Has Jackal A Long, Black Stripe On His Back?" offers an etiological myth where the sun burns the jackal's back after he picks it up. The book also includes four distinct versions of "The Origin Of Death," which explain why humans die. These versions involve a hare who misdelivers a message from the moon, resulting in the hare's physical deformity, or a salamander outrunning a chameleon in a Zulu version. The narratives are told with a straightforward style, reflecting the indigenous experiences of the region while acknowledging the European influences that shaped some of the stories.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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https://www.globalgreyebooks.com/ebooks/james-a-honey_south-african-folk-tales.epub

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data/epubs/url-426aba91c0aef623.epub

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Categories

• Folklore
• Mythology