The World and the Word: Tales and Observations from the Xhosa Oral TraditionA master storyteller of the Xhosa people of South Africa, Nongenile Masithathu Zenani gives us an unprecedented view of an oral society from within. Twenty-four of her complex and beautiful tales about birth, puberty, marriage, and work, as told to the renowned collector of African oral tradition, Harold Scheub, are gathered here. Accompanying the stories are Zenani’s detailed commentaries and analyses and Scheub’s striking photographs of her in performance. The combination of these historical and cultural observations with a richly symbolic collection of tales from a single traditional storyteller make The World and the Word a remarkable document. |
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... Gcaleka , of the Xhosa . Through the 5. Sarhili ( ca. 1820-1902 ) , a son of Hintsa , was paramount chief of the Gcaleka . years , we have felt that our traditions are strong Commentaries 117 Xhosa Custom Requires Traditional Responses.
... Gcaleka . I thought that you had seen them . But really , we've seen them only recently ourselves . I'm here by order of the chief . We were told to come here . " " Refresh our memories about the customs [ literally , names that speak ] ...
... Gcaleka long ago . The young women strained the beer then . They put one billycan of beer on the upper side of the hearth ; they called that container full of beer " the homecoming , " " because we've just finished the straining ...
Contents
The Art of the Storyteller | 7 |
Masithathu Zenani on Storytelling | 19 |
Tales | 27 |
Copyright | |
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