Geomythology

In this episode of the MA Podcast, we introduce the concept of Geomythology (another term for the folklore of landforms). In the process, we also start our exploration of the kinds of stories African people have come up with to explain the landforms and landscapes of wherever they have found themselves on the continent.

Nyiragongo volcano of North Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of Congo has a really amazing myth associated with it. I just want to know what started the beef! (Image Credit: Ninara31)

References

• Belcher, Stephen. African Myths of Origin (Penguin Classics) (pp. 320-321). Penguin Books Ltd. Kindle Edition.

• Natural Disasters, Sustainability and the Legacy of the African Geomyth by Aramide Moronfoye

• The Virunga Mountains

• Vitaliano, Dorothy B.. Legends of the Earth: Their Geologic Origins. United States, Indiana University Press, 1973.

• Vitaliano, Dorothy B. “Geomythology: geological origins of myths and legends.”Geological Society of London Special Publications 273.1 (2007): 1-7.

Meanwhile…

The Watkins Book of African Folklore (…or The Mythological Africans Book) is out!

The Watkins Book of African Folklore contains 50 stories, curated from North, South, East, West and Central Africa. The stories are grouped into three sections:

• Creation myths and foundation legends

• Stories about human relationships and the cultural institutions they created

• Animal tales (with a twist…the folktales are about some of the most unlikely animals!)

I thoroughly enjoyed digging into the historical and cultural context out of which the stories, their themes, and protagonists emerge. There is something for everybody! If you are new to mythology and folklore from the African continent, you can expect exposure to some major themes, creatures and figures. If you are familiar with mythology and folklore from the continent, you will (hopefully!) get a better understanding of various themes and discover new creatures and figures. If you're an expert in African orature, I hope you will appreciate the storytelling and pick up a kernel or two of new information from the commentary.

This book has been writing itself since I started Mythological Africans in December of 2020. Your questions and comments and challenges and contributions fill the pages, cover to cover. More than anything else, I hope to reach people, African or otherwise, seeking to understand African mythology and folklore better. As I've said here so many times, I believe that by connecting African stories to stories from around the world, we can remind ourselves of the fundamental truth of our interconnection.