|
|
|
|
No Problem Can Fail to Crash on His Head: A Trickster in Contemporary African Folklore |
| Section: CULTURE / FOLK WISDOM--TRICKSTER MYTHOLOGY FROM AROUND THE WORLD |
| Author: Oyekan Owomoyela |
| Publication: The world & I online |
| Issue Date: 4/1/1990 |
| Size: 2,901 Words, 16,993 Characters |
|
Usually embodied in animal form, the trickster, a character type popular in the folklore of cultures worldwide, is strikingly human in his habits and predispositions. The explanation for the anthropomorphism is clearly that the animal is intended as a human surrogate, but the choice of animal differs from culture to culture. In African folklore, Trickster appears as Spider (like the Ashanti Anansi, the Zande Ture, and the Hausa Gizo), Tortoise (like the Yoruba Ajapa, also known as Ijapa, Alajapa, Ahun, Abaun and Alabaun, and the Mpongwe Ekaga), Hare (like the East and Central African Sungura or Zomo), or Jackal (in southern Africa). Invariably they are creatures who have so impressed their human observers by some exceptional qualities as to have become invested with uncommon mental agil...
. . .
...ubt that tricksters serve important social functions. The retelling of their exploits offers opportunities for the storyteller to celebrate (and the listener to be thrilled by) mental acuity and resilience. But at the same time the tales present an occasion for moralizing about inappropriate actions and character traits. In other words, tricksters both delight and instruct by their antics.
(800 of 16,993 characters)
Do you want to read
the whole article? You can
purchase it here.
Subscriber Login |
|
|
Publication Details
(The World & I Online) |
|
The World & I Online is a
comprehensive academic resource that encompasses a broad range of
articles by scholars and experts in the areas of Global Studies,
Liberal Arts, Fine & Applied Arts, General Science, and Spanish.
Originally published monthly in print as The World & I, our site
includes the complete contents since 1986 and continues to publish
a new issue online each month. |
|
Individual Subscription
|
 |
|
|
|
College Orders (based
on full-time enrollment) |
|
-
2 to 5 Computers |
|
-
Up to 1,000 Students |
|
-
1,001 to 2,500 Students |
|
-
2,501 to 5,000 Students |
|
-
5,001 to 10,000 Students |
|
-
10,001 or More Students |
|
|
|
Public Library Orders |
|
-
2 to 5 Computers |
|
-
6 to 50 Computers |
|
-
51 to 100 Computers |
|
For over 100
computers, call 866-211-6040. |
|
|
