This week I chose to read the Nigerian Folk Stories unit. For the first half, I got to read about stories that explain why certain things are the way they are in the world. For example, why the bat flies at night and why the cat kills rats. I really enjoy reading stories such as this because I find it really interesting that so many old cultures were so creative in their thinking that they came up with a reasoning behind why everything is the way it is. I think this week for my storytelling I will come up with a story, like the bat, that provides a creative explanation for why something in the world is the way it is.
I was really excited to read the story of the elephant and the tortoise because the elephant is one of my favorite animals. However, this story was very violent and made the elephant out to be greedy and selfish. I wonder what the elephant does in the Nigerian culture to be made out to be this character. Also the tortoise character is cunning and quick-thinkning, which is opposite for how most tortoises are made out to be. This is an overall interesting story that gives some insight into the Nigerian culture. Nonetheless, this story gives an explanation for why worms are blind and elephants eyes are very small in proportion to their body. In my opinion, this was a gruesome story but well told.
I really like that each story is a lesson for something in their culture and that the animals are those relevant to their culture. The animals display human-like characteristics, which makes the stories relatable to everyday life. I also really enjoy the simplicity of this reading. It was way easier to read that the Brer Rabbit tales from Week 7. It's interesting that both of these stories are from African cultures, yet each are so different. I feel like this is what makes every culture so unique in the sense that the stories have similar patterns and themes, but each is so different.
Bibliography: Folk Stories from Southern Nigeria by Elphinstone Dayrell, Nigeria Unit
I was really excited to read the story of the elephant and the tortoise because the elephant is one of my favorite animals. However, this story was very violent and made the elephant out to be greedy and selfish. I wonder what the elephant does in the Nigerian culture to be made out to be this character. Also the tortoise character is cunning and quick-thinkning, which is opposite for how most tortoises are made out to be. This is an overall interesting story that gives some insight into the Nigerian culture. Nonetheless, this story gives an explanation for why worms are blind and elephants eyes are very small in proportion to their body. In my opinion, this was a gruesome story but well told.
I really like that each story is a lesson for something in their culture and that the animals are those relevant to their culture. The animals display human-like characteristics, which makes the stories relatable to everyday life. I also really enjoy the simplicity of this reading. It was way easier to read that the Brer Rabbit tales from Week 7. It's interesting that both of these stories are from African cultures, yet each are so different. I feel like this is what makes every culture so unique in the sense that the stories have similar patterns and themes, but each is so different.
Bibliography: Folk Stories from Southern Nigeria by Elphinstone Dayrell, Nigeria Unit
Image Info: Nigerian Art
Comments
Post a Comment