Abela Publishing
Yesterday’s Books for Tomorrow’s Educations
Abela Business Consulting Ltd trading as Abela Publishing
Sandhurst, Berkshire, UK
Registered in England and Wales Co. No. 3866324
When R. Sutherland Rattray joined the School of Anthropology at Exeter College,
Oxford, he was already a master in all matters relating to the Chinyanja of Central
Africa, especially their folklore. He was already also quite familiar with several West
African languages. However, understanding the Hausa culture requires an under-
standing of Islam itself—a task that can seem near insurmountable when the student
is from a Western background.
Hausa Folklore does not claim to stand alone—a considerable library of Hausa literature
already exists. Hausa Folklore is an enrichment of this proud tradition, which brings the
Western world directly into contact with Hausa culture.
This volume tells of the origin of the spider, of beautiful maidens, of how hartebeest
came by the teardrops under their eyes, of witches, of doctors riding hyenas on
pilgrimages, of the cause of thunder, and more. Some of these tales are more fairy
than legend and others more folk than fairy. Each story imparts a clear message
about right and wrong while showing what colour and variety lies hidden in the
monotone of the Sahara.
A percentage of the profit from the sale of this book will go towards educational
scholarships for underprivileged Africans.
So, curl up with these unique West African stories from yesteryear with the knowledge
that you have sponsored the education of an African youth.
As the Hausas say: “If you are not going to drink the pap, stop stirring it.”
The pap is excellent—so drink!
PART I
A short history, purporting to give the origin of the Hausa nation and the story of their
conversion to the Mohammedan religion
PART II - STORIES ABOUT PEOPLE
1. The story of the slave by name 'The World'
2. How brothers and sisters first came to quarrel and hate each other
3. The story of the boy and the old woman, and how the wasp got his small waist
4. The story about a beautiful maiden, and how the hartebeest got the marks under its eyes
like teardrops
5. How the whip and the 'maara' spoon (a broken bit of calabash) came to the haunts of men
6. A story about a chief, and how his sons observed his funeral, and the origin of the spider
7. A story about an orphan, showing that 'he who sows evil, it comes forth in his own garden'
8. A story about a witch, and how the baby of the family outwitted her, and invented the
first walled town
9. The doctor who went a pilgrimage to Mecca on a hyena
10. A story about a chief and his cook
11. A story about three youths all skilled in certain things, and how they used that skill to
circumvent a difficulty.
12. A story about a giant, and the cause of thunder
13. A story about an orphan which was the origin of the saying 'The orphan with a coat
of skin is hated, but when it is a metal one he is honoured'
14. A story of a jealous man and what befell him
15. A story of a great friendship and how it was put to the test
16. A story about a test of skill
17. A story about Miss Salt, Miss Pepper, &c.
18. The story of Muusa (Moses) and how it came about that brothers and sisters do not marry
each other
19. A story about a hunter and his son
20. A story about a maiden and the pumpkin
21. The Gaawoo-tree and the maiden, and the first person who ever went mad
Specimens of
Bushman
Folklore
“May I not shrink
from my purpose”
-from Virgil. These
words are found in
Aeneid, Book 1 and
are used by Juno,
Queen of Heaven.
This book has been
published to raise funds
for the Westville Boys
High Scholarship fund
to afford gifted but
Underprivileged South
Africans an education
This book was especially republished to raise funds for the Westville Boys High
Scholarship fund in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa enabling gifted but underprivileged
South Africans to gain an education. 33% of the publisher’s profit will be donated
to this cause.
BOOK DATA
TITLE: Hausa Folklore
ISBN: 978-1-907256-16-5
BY: R. Sutherland Rattray
Originally published in 1913
SIZE: 127mm x 203mm
PAGES: 114
FORMAT: Paperback
Ananzi Stories
(West Africa)
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