We read the following stories:
- The Hatseller and the Monkeys by Malian storyteller Baba Wagué Diakite
- The Scholar and the Monkey
- The Great Snake
- Nambiashita
Mischievous monkeys, clever traders, snakes, evil kings, magical children, flying trees and spinghares! Never a dull moment in African folklore. Reading the "The Great Snake" led to a discussion about snakes. Snakes often get a bad reputation but in mythology and folklore from around the world, they are often helpful and benevolent beings. Here are some examples from the African continent. We also found out about Musambwa Island in Uganda where snakes roam freely and no women are allowed!
Story Sources:
The Hatseller and the Monkeys by Baba Wagué Diakite
The Stolen Water and Other Stories : Traditional Tales from Namibia by Jennifer Davis
Folklore from Mali and Namibia