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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... pain somewhere in my body . I was sick and in pain . Since I wanted to heal the afflicted part of my body , I said to myself , ' I'll do what he says . ' Today I am making this offering to that man - my ancestor , my father's father ...
... pains . " What's the matter with you , twisting in pain like this ? Do you have a headache , Boy ? " " No , my hand is throbbing with pain ! " " Oh ! " Time passed , and the father milked that day because the boy did not feel well ...
... pain . Now when he felt this pain , it was said , " Let's go to that young man whose chant was accompanied by the drumming of a cowhide . " " Let's see if he can divine which part of the body is paining me . " A part of that person's ...
Contents
The Art of the Storyteller | 7 |
Masithathu Zenani on Storytelling | 19 |
Tales | 27 |
Copyright | |
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