Sub-Saharan Africa is a land of colourful contrasts and diverse
cultures. Despite the destructive influences of colonialism and the
slave trade and the lack of early written records, Africa has persevered
with its powerful tradition of storytelling, with tales of its history
passed down in songs and stories through the generations. Because of the
huge diversity of lifestyles and traditions, no real unified mythology
exists in Africa, but broadly speaking, a number of beliefs, ideas and
themes are shared by African peoples. So this collection offers a
selection of descriptions and tales, often those recorded faithfully by
some of the first to put them to paper - tales of the gods, creation
stories, trickster adventures, animal fables and stories which amuse and
teach - from Olukun's Revenge, from the Yoruba people of west Africa, to
The Story of the Glutton, from the Bantu-speaking peoples of east
Africa, all brought together with the aim of providing an insight into
the boundless and vibrant world of African myth.
FLAME TREE 451: From mystery to crime, supernatural to horror and myth,
fantasy and science fiction, Flame Tree 451 offers a healthy diet of
werewolves and mechanical men, blood-lusty vampires, dastardly villains,
mad scientists, secret worlds, lost civilizations and escapist
fantasies. Discover a storehouse of tales gathered specifically for the
reader of the fantastic.
