rebel-lion says: Yeah, Credos books are well worth getting. Again. Its a shame no Africans seem to talk about their folklore and traditions. Us disporans clammer on here to keep our roots alive and avoid the media sponcered brainwashing and yet our African brothers and sisters hardly share in their understanding of the things around them.

You are right! Its a strange thing amoung African in this country that they are tight lipped about their folklore and traditions. I cannot understand their motivation for this. I can only guess that they are abit embarassed to discuss these things that have been labelled "primitive". Africans are being taught the western concept of abandoning traditions in exchange for what they are told is a more civilized way of life. Of course you and I know that this is a treachery of disgusting proportions. But the truth is, more and more Africans buy into this Western ideal and forget/ refuse to impart the chain of wisdom that have long been tricking down via the generations.

I have read an article on this on the BBC Africa website and it seems that alot of Africans admit that the folktales, the proverbs, the ancient wisdom is being lost as we speak.

For me this is a great tragedy. I was brought up with the folktales and proverbs and wisdom of my South African forebears and my Kenyan relatives and as a child I got alot of joy listening to the tales of wonder and warnings. I intend to impart the same wisdom one day to my own children and encourage them to do the same. But I have deceided to take in one step further, I am researching all these tales and folklores and proverbs so I can encapsulate it as best as I can in a book for posterity. If we forget all this wisdom and humour then it will be a great loss to our cultural heritage. I would like the whole world to know what marvelous philosophies have sprouted from Africa. I intend to do this in the humble and unpretentious way my forebears did.....via stories. Philosophy, Wisdom, Warnings should never be pretentious and patronising.......and it was never ever that in Africa.

I am returning to Tanzania this December to further research my work. I had hoped to get more feedback to help me on my way from the good people on this site...but it looks like you were the only one interested. THANK YOU!