African
Folktales
Stories
from the Heart and Land
Developed by Gail Desler
The
art of storytelling goes back thousands of years - long before stories
were ever written down. In Africa, storytelling was central to many
tribal traditions. Through their folktales, storytellers passed
on the history of their tribes along with their core beliefs about
behavior and the way the world works. Storytelling was too deeply
embedded in African cultures to be erased by slavery. Through storytelling,
slaves were able to pass on their African roots in the Americas
- and to find the inspiration to survive despite incredibly inhumane
conditions.
Storytelling
is still an important art. Who doesn't love to hear a good story!
Unlike the stories we read, the stories we retell can truly become
our own. Storytellers have the freedom to change a story with each
telling, to adapt it to each new audience, and to change it to reflect
old and new challenges.
In
this unit, you will explore a wide variety of African and African-American
folktales and develop your skill as a storyteller. Welcome to African
Folktales - Stories from the Heart and Land.
Into
- Exploring African Folktales
Form
a literature circle with three or four other students and begin
reading African folktales online and in print. As a team, you will
select several tales (one tale for each group member) and discuss
the settings,
plots, characters, and themes from each tale. Remember to rotate
roles with each new story. Use the Literature
Circles Discussion Preparation Sheet as a guideline for
your discussions.
Online
Resources for African Folktales:
In
Print Resources for African Folktales:
Check
with your teacher or librarian for in print sources on African Folktales.
A great starting point would be any of the following books:
- The
Adventures of Spider: West African Folktales by Joyce Cooper
Arkhurst
- African
American Folktales: Stories from Black Traditions in the New World
by Roger D. Abrahams
- African
Folktales: Traditional Stories of the Black World by Roger D.
Abrahams
- The
People Could Fly: American Black Folktales Collected by Virginia
Hamilton
Through
- Practicing the Art of Storytelling
Once
your team has read and discussed a selection of tales, agree on
who will be the storyteller for each tale. You may have the option
of telling a tale by yourself, or of telling it while your teammates
act out certain parts. Start practicing now - you will be presenting
to your classmates (for a starter). As you practice, use the Storytelling
Scoring Guide to gauge your progress.
Beyond - Storytelling with a Twist
In
your literature circle, read several folktales from The People
Could Fly or A Ring of Tricksters, Virginia
Hamilton's awarding-winning collections of African American tales.
Many of the stories originated in African but were transported across
the Atlantic in slave ships. Some stories originated in the Americas.
All of the stories are important because they offered - and continue
to offer - inspiration for using our intellect to overcome adversity.
Work
as a team to prepare for a storytelling festival. Whether you are
practicing at home or at school, make every minute count. Remember:
you are striving for a standing ovation as a storyteller.
Way
Beyond - Finding Other Audiences
Both
the Williamsburg
Historical Society and the Kennedy
Center are interested in publishing folktales created and presented
by students. Visit their websites and go for it!
Note:
African graphics printed with permission from the Kennedy Center.
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