Nelson Mandela's Favorite African Folktales

illustrated by various artists

W.W. Norton, November 2002

$24.95, ISBN 0-393-05212-5

Nelson Mandela devoted his life to dismantling apartheid in South Africa, his birthplace. In 1998, he won the Nobel Peace Prize for his courageous efforts, and later served a five-year term as South Africa's first black president. Mandela's pride in his country stems from his elders, who -- in their oral tradition -- passed on to him the history of Africa and white colonialism as well as the country's rich folklore. Mandela so enjoyed his ancestors' folktales as a child, he decided to select 32 of his favorites to pass on to young readers everywhere.

These clever and humorous stories, 16 in all, examine and convey lessons in humanity. They consider envy, greed, selfishness, selflessness and much more. In one tale, a young girl disobeys her mother and meets an unfortunate end. In a second story, a clever wanderer uses his wit to win respect and riches from a miserable royal. In yet another tale, a young woman's show of kindness helps her escape an impoverished life.

The folktales, which are hundreds of years old, are retold by African storytellers and have been collected from Kenya, Morocco, Uganda, Zimbabwe and many other countries. Sixteen artists, most who hail from South Africa, created the animated, color illustrations that accompany each tale.

Nelson Mandela's Favorite African Folktales is a volume of heartfelt works that will be enjoyed by generations to come. It is a welcome addition to any family library.

Illustration (Illustration of a young boy with a flamingo and jaguar)