Emmanuel Matateyou

An Anthology of myths, Legends and Folktales from Cameroon. Storytelling in Africa
Lewiston: The Edwin Mellen Press; 1997

This book is an invaluable contribution to the study of the issues raised by the existing oral traditions such as myths, legends and folktales in a changing historical context in Africa. Unlike other publications on folklore, this book illuminates for the reader the complex and rich performance contexts of the oral narratives in Subsaharan Africa. The study of the narrator, the narrative pattern, the audience interaction and details about the language, the setting, date and time of the performance of each tale is very important and helps to recreate the atmosphere of live performance. Though translated into English, the author has made an effort to give to the oral narratives an indigenous flavor. The tales are divided into categories, such as origin stories, stories about men and women, trickster cycles. Strongly recommended for Africanists, educationists, those interested in women’s studies and the question of cultural identity, sociologists, literary critics, and students and teachers of African literature.