Story telling is common in traditional African societies, but increasing urbanisation and today’s love for Western lifestyle by many families is gradually eroding the tradition among young people. It is in a bid to stem the tide that Mrs. Mbah Margaret has published a collection of young people’s folktales, myths and fables that are common among people across Africa in general, and the North West Region in particular.
‘Fireside Stories’ is a collection of 30 short stories. “It is the importance of this genre in the development of man that accounts for the decision to collect and document some of the original tales – remnants of a fast disappearing wealth of knowledge in oral tradition,” says the author, also a translator and the National Inspector of English in the Ministry of Secondary Education, Yaounde. “While not only teaching moral lesson, the stories give the reader a great thrill and touch on almost every facet of African traditional life. All these constitute a rich blend for enjoyable reading,” says Suh Joseph in a review.
The folktale section contains stories like The Prize of Dishonesty, Some Are Not Born Mothers, The Animal With Seven Heads, The Old Man And The Monster, Breach Of Confidence, etc. The Strange Husband is a tale of a beautiful princess and heir to her father’s throne who is so choosy in her preference for a husband. This finally lands her in the hands of a spirit, posing as a handsome young man. After a lavished wedding in the princess’ father’s palace, the couple begins the journey back to the husband’s place. But it turns out to be a nightmare with the husband gradually losing his jewelry, clothes and parts of his body – all borrowed for the wedding – until he is left only with the head! The flight back home leads the hapless princess into the caring arms of another prince, posing as a mere hunter. He eventually gets married to her in another grandiose wedding, based this time on true love, not infatuation.
The four myths are Why Frogs Live In Water, A Myth, The Village Debtor and Why Tortoise Has No Hair On The Head. The last tale is a lesson on the consequences of greed. After inviting his friend, Baboon, for a meal, Tortoise suddenly feels the food is too good to share. Enraged by the humiliation, Baboon eagerly looks forward to the day to avenge. He later invites Tortoise to a meal in his place, but does everything to stop his guest from enjoying it. In frustration, tortoise runs away with the food, carrying it on his head, covered with his hat. On reaching home, he finds out to his dismay that he has lost all hair on his head!
On the other hand, a fable like The Poor Man is about a man who is about to commit suicide because he feels too wretched to continue to live, but stops short when he meets someone worse off – but who is even happy to have banana peelings to eat! Other fables in the section include Betrayal, Secrets, Big Head, Tiny Legs, The Stolen Egg, etc.
Written in simple language and intended for primary pupils and junior secondary school students, ‘Fireside Stories’ makes a good read. The tales have something to offer to all in the domain of literature, research, education, and entertainment. The themes range from love, marriage and friendship, to wisdom, morality, courage and endurance. Others are mortality, human pettiness, good versus evil, leadership, filial relationship, retribution and reward.
