africa, west

Collection of West African folktales drawn from prose narratives, proverbs, riddles, and songs.

A retelling of a traditional West African tale about a king who refuses to believe that yams, fish, and cloth can talk until his throne agrees with him.

Once only Mouse knew, and kept to himself, the stories of how the world came to be until angry Lightning broke down Mouse's door and the stories escaped into the world.

Rhythmic text and illustrations introduce a variety of West African ceremonial masks and their meaning.

Provides an overview of West African myths, placing each myth within the contexts of the social, economic, religious, and cultural beliefs that shaped it and providing information on ancient West African culture.

Discusses the influences of African customs, history, and geography upon art in West Africa. Includes dress, textiles, jewelry, metal sculpture, carving, masks, and pottery.

A retelling of the West African tale about the creation of the world and all its different peoples.

Aje, the daughter of the river goddess Yemoya, leaves her shady home to marry the Earth chief Oduduwa, but seeing the bright sun hurts his wife's eyes, Oduduwa sends Hippopotamus and Crocodile to ask Yemoya for some Night, which she packs up and gives to them, but her warning to the couriers not to open the bag, proves to be too much of a temptation.

Anansi and his wife outsmart the Sky God and win back the beloved folktales of their people.

King Gorilla decrees that no one may marry his daughter until a suitor strong enough to consume a barrel of strange, smelly water can be found.