African & Caribbean Folktales, Myths & Legends

About this book

This is a volume that invites the reader to dive into the rich folklore of African and Caribbean peoples. In this collection, you will find creation myths, trickster tales, stories about shapeshifters and gods, and many more. Storytelling has been part of African and Caribbean culture for hundreds of years, but stories were passed down orally, told and retold. Many weren’t written down until the nineteenth century. Most of the Caribbean stories originated in Africa, were brought over by enslaved people, and then influenced by European and East Indian folklore. Wendy Shearer has followed the tradition of retelling these stories as her own.

Meet the crocodile who thinks he can trick a monkey, the buffalo who passes for a man, and the werewolf who terrorises farmers. Discover the tales of the girl who became a water lily, the spoiled prince who wanted the moon, and the fisherman who stole a golden comb from Mama L’eau. The stories include familiar characters, such as Anansi the trickster and the devil, as well as individuals particular to the tribe or location from which the story originates. There are stories from Cuba, Trinidad and Tobago, Ghana, Haiti, the Congo, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Guyana, Nigeria, Togo, Benin, Uganda, Cameroon and Mali. A thrilling and funny collection.