The Mythological World of Africa

I will be creating a storybook that weaves multiple stories and fairy tales from Africa together, creating a web of stories that contains smaller strands of individual stories that are part of the overarching story web. My mother grew up in Zimbabwe, which is a country bordering South Africa to the northeast. This is the reason I decided to set the storybook in Zimbabwe.

Underneath the African sky, there live a variety of peoples and wildlife. In the northwest corner of what is now Zimbabwe, it is said that the people and animals used to live in harmony with the actions of one affecting the many. In the traditional fairy tales, the Rabbit is known as a cunning animal, always seeking to increase its knowledge. The Leopard is vengeful and a truth-seeker. The Elephant is proud of his strength, but often forgets that strength is best paired with intellect. The Tortoise is a classic trickster, and often illustrates the weaknesses of his fellow animals. There is a magic and wonder in the air of Zimbabwe, but this magic is thought to be lost with time along with the common tongue between people and animals. No one remembers how this ability came into existence, but the people of Africa are grateful for the wisdom and joy the stories of the past provide.

I was drawn to learning more of the mythological history of Africa because of my family history. I wanted to further my understanding of the place and the people of my mother's youth. Over the course of my lifetime, I have visited South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique. I'm excited to use my past experience to recreate the settings and feelings that the land and people create. One of my favorite experiences in South Africa was visiting Kruger National Park in South Africa; we saw lions, leopards, elephants, and giraffes.... Oh MY! But, I never got close enough to find out if the animals could speak...

The people of the past were a peaceful one, focusing on tending to the land. They grew what they needed to survive; however, they were often forced to hunt during times of hardship. The lives of humans and animals were woven together, sometimes with hostility but more commonly with a history of helping each other. This interrelatedness was the fabric of life, and the web of stories I will create with bring this historical truth back to the present. Today, the people of Zimbabwe survive despite the political and social turmoil that grips the nation. Many citizens cannot obtain enough water for the year or generate enough electricity to perform daily tasks. Sometimes, the electricity will only turn on from midnight to 3 am. The story will follow Rudo, who was recently widowed. She understands this bleak reality more than others now that she must adapt to her changing conditions along with her deep grief.

Please, follow me as I weave stories around Rudo, connecting her life to others.

Image Information: Elephant under the African Sun; Map of Southern Africa; South Africa Landscape

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