Naturally, each generation is guided to a large extent by inherent cultures and tenets transmitted from the one before, yet it is the natural responsibility of each generation to safeguard the positive tenets of its generation for the availability and benefit of the next generation. Without tenets and cultures, society is without character, and by extension without identity.
A person’s character is shaped by the character of the society and environment in which the person is born and raised. A popular African saying states that “a child is raised by the village.” The combined character of all individuals in a community determines the nature and character of such a society.
African cultures are mostly passed on from one generation to another through oral tradition. Under African folklore, one finds folktales that teach principles and tenets for good life and character.
For generations, Africans have practiced the transmittal of cultures through storytelling whether under the moonlight at village squares, in family compounds, or by the bedside. Some of the stories I share in this book such as “Princess and Her Suitors,” are adapted from stories I heard from elders or mates during moonlight playtimes or from family members just before bedtime. They helped shape certain principles that have guided me through life and continue to help guide me through my experiences in this journey of life. I hope to give back through sharing these stories. For the same reason, I have included stories that I created myself such as “Old Dog and Newborn,” and “Eagle and The Wind,” among others.
It is arguable that today, the existence of African cultures is threatened by western civilization. Cultural practices like storytelling under the moonlight are fast becoming things of the past. It is easier to get a child of today to read about a story in a book than it is to bring such a child to the village square under the moonlight. Making African tales available through books would be essential towards bridging the gap between the age of moonlight interactions and the age of social media and the internet. The purpose of this anthology is to encourage the sustenance of African tales by making them accessible to the present generation with all the cultural traditions and principles of life, wisdom, honor, and responsibility embedded in them.
Judge Oliver O. Mbamara,
New York, USA 2020
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1 comment:
Great!!!
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