Oral Epics from Africa

The editors . . . must be congratulated . . . Long live the African storytellers! --Africa Today

It is difficult to imagine a more practical introduction to contemporary African epic than this anthology . . . no other single volume comprehends the full scope of African epic (as opposed to praise poetry) the way this one does. . . . The stories are engaging, and the free-verse translations are surprisingly readable. . . . Recommended for all academic collections. --Choice

Western culture traces its literary heritage to such well-known epics as the Iliad and the Odyssey and Gilgamesh. But it is only recently that scholars have turned their attention toward capturing the rich oral tradition that is still alive in Africa today. These 25 selections introduce English-speaking readers to the extensive epic traditions in Africa.

Author: John William Johnson
Publisher: Indiana University Press
Published: 04/22/1997
Pages: 332
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 1.15lbs
Size: 9.10h x 6.10w x 0.80d
ISBN: 9780253211101