Folk tales and myths serve as a means of handing down traditions and customs from one generation to the next in Africa. For several generations, stories from Africa have traditionally been passed down by word of mouth. Often, after a hard day’s work, the adults would gather the children together by moonlight, around a village fire and tell stories. This is traditionally called Tales by Moonlight. Usually the stories are meant to prepare young people for life, and so taught a lesson or moral.

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the African folk tales, the stories reflect the culture where diverse types of animals abound. The animals and birds are often accorded human attributes, so it is
not uncommon to find animals talking, singing or demonstrating other human characteristics such as greed, jealousy, honesty etc.

The setting in many of the stories exposes the reader to landform and climate in Africa. References are often made to different seasons such as dry or rainy season
and their effect on vegetation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Midnight Goat Thief

Woe or Happiness

The Value of a Person

The Baby Mouse and The Baby Snake

Afiong the proud Princess

No King as GOD

The Calabash Kids A tale from Tanzania

The Cheetah and the Lazy Hunter, A Traditional Zulu Story

The King’s Daughters, A Nigerian Tale on Pride

The Tortoise and the Hare

The Tortoise, the Dog and the Farmer, A tale from Nigeria, West Africa