Tumbuka Folktales

Jaston Soko, Brian Shawa

Description

Tumbuka folktales are on the verge of extinction. If not recorded now, the loss would not only be the amusement they provide but chiefly lessons inherent. On the surface, they are simple narratives, however, subtly they evoke serious moral lessons that are very applicable to our everyday life today. This folklore collection is based on field research conducted by the authors in Citumbuka speaking areas of Mzimba and Rumphi districts in Nothern Malawi.

Sujets

• Anthropology

Informations

• Publié par: Mzuni Press
• Date de parution: 08 mai 2014
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9789990802511
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 4 Mo

Extrait

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Tumbuka Folktales
Moral and Didactic Lessons
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Boston Jaston Soko&RS\ULJKW
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All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
stored in retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means
without the permission in writing from the authors.
Mzuni Publications
Mzuzu University
P/Bag 201
Luwinga
Mzuzu 2
Mala i
ISBN 99908-57-03-2
Illustrations by: Myke MtikaContents
Preface .................................................................................................4
Acknowledgements ..............................................................................6
Prologue ...............................................................................................8
Introduction ......................................................................................... 10
CHAPTER ONE
Observing and Explaining Creation ....................................................15
CHAPTER TWO
Fertility ...............................................................................................27
CHAPTER THREE
Marriage Counselling..........................................................................37
CHAPTER FOUR
Care for Orphans ................................................................................51
CHAPTER FIVE
Good Behaviour..................................................................................65
CHAPTER SIX
Warning Against Beasts .....................................................................79
CHAPTER SEVEN
Respect for Elders ..............................................................................87
CHAPTER EIGHT
Tricksters ............................................................................................95
Reference .........................................................................................101
Suggested/Further Reading .............................................................102
APPENDIX
Model Lesson Plan ...........................................................................103

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Preface
This folklore collection is based on field research conducted by
the authors in Citumbuka speaking areas of Mzimba and Rumphi
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folktale repertoire is dwindling, after some two to five stories, the
respondents would find themselves dry, asking one another for help.
It is apparent that the rural population is facing tremendous pressure
to turn to modern ways of living. In this connection, oral literature is
fast becoming an inefficient means of traditional education. This is
inevitably leading to loss of the cultural heritage.
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up with this collection of folktales is a result of their profound interest
in their culture and desires to preserve their cultural patrimony.
Two immediate uses of the collection could be highlighted. In the
first place, the collection will be of great use as a textbook to the
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in live folktale performances. In the second place, the collection will
preserve some of the stories. The authors have collected the tales for
all interested in cultural issues.
It is common knowledge today that people tend to look down upon
folktales dubbed as literature for children. This is a misleading
statement because unlike in the past, previous generations of the
youth used to drink right from the source, that is to say, leading
folktale tellers were elderly men and women whose interest was
specifically to transmit wisdom to the younger generations besides
providing amusement during sessions. In all this, the emphasis was
on the respect for tradition as well as nature in general. The respect
for tradition went along with the belief that everything, according to
their vision of the world, trees, animals, rivers, stones, mountains,
were endowed with life, hence the interaction between humans
and non-humans in the folktales. Mountains, trees or stones were
believed to be the abode of the spirits. Because today respect for
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