Reviews: (by author)

Wewe, Boniface Ndemping. Atungsiri's Ghost and Other Tales. Kaw-Zulu Natal, South Africa: Reach Publications, 2002. ISBN 0-620-29636-4. $5.95

This 48-page book lives up to its blurb, which describes it as "A Collection of six campfire tales passed from deep within the heart of rural Africa." The voice of the storyteller is authentic, so that readers/listeners feel the power of the prose. These are contemporary tales, so they convey much about rural life in modern Africa, its customs and traditions, its values, and the rhythms of living on the land. Villagers gain wealth and status through ownership of roosters, pigs, and land, show each other courtesies such as sharing palm wine and koalanuts, and pay attention to the words of the shamans. Some of the events in the stories, such as the title tale, remain mysterious; in other stories, an explanation is ultimately provided. Often a moral is appended, such as "Be kind and gentle for you never know." Those treated badly come back as revenging ghosts and cleverness, as in the story of Umfana, is rewarded. Those who don't listen to their wives, such as the thief Atangana, also get what they deserve. In all, these lively stories bring to readers pictures of a life which, for them, is far away and very intriguing.

I plan to use this book the next time I teach a class in folklore.

A.A. Nov. '02

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