African Myths of Origin [Paperback]

Gathering a wide range of traditional African myths, this compelling new collection offers tales of heroes battling mighty serpents and monstrous birds, brutal family conflict and vengeance, and desperate migrations across vast and alien lands. From impassioned descriptions of animal-creators to dramatic stories of communities forced to flee monstrous crocodiles, all the narratives found here concern origins—whether of the universe, peoples or families. Together, they create a kaleidoscopic picture of the rich and varied oral traditions that have shaped the culture and society of successive generations of Africans for thousands of years, throughout the long struggle to survive and explore this massive and environmentally diverse continent.

For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.African Myths of OriginIntroduction
A Note on the Text
List of Maps
Part I. Some General Themes
Stories About Hunters
1. The San Peoples of Southern Africa
2. Pygmies of The Central African Forests
3. The Songhay Hunters of the Niger River
4. The Origin of Hunters' Associations: Sanen and Kontron of the Manden
5. How Hunters Learned about Magic
6. The Animal Bride I: The Changed Skin
7. The Animal Bride II: Sirankomi
The Cattle-Herders
8. Khoi-Khoi Cattle Stories
9. Fulbe Stories of Cattle
10. The Maasai of East Africa
11. The Great Lakes I: The Origin of Cattle (Rwanda)
12. The Great Lakes II: The Story of Wamara (BaHaya)
13. The Chagga of East Africa: Murile