Folklore, Proverbs, Oral Traditions cannot be extracted from African Philosophy. They are the deep rooted foundations of African thought.

Folklore

There are countless tales that were told from one generation to the next passing oncrucial wisdom from person to person. They give staunch warnings agaisnt human vices such as greed, jealousy, carelessness etc. They inform us about the past. They educate us and equip us for life. And they make us laugh with their bountiful imagination.

Proverbs

When it comes to proverbs we Africans rule the roost. The sheer range is endless. We have proverbs for every imaginable and unimaginable situation. Back in Kenya & Tanzania they are so popular that they feature on the daily dress, Kangas (more like a wrap that a dress) of most women. Proverbs are messages, things for us to bear in mind as we meander through life. Sometimes they can be cryptic, which makes us excersize our imagination and knowledge for the wisdom to be had.

I am certain that we all learned practical and more human things from this type of ACTIVE philosophy that the Greeks did from the likes of Plato, Socrates & Aristotle who where much more engaged in more obscure percepts, concepts, and ideologies. I believe in its potency so much so that I would like to produce a compilation of such Wisdom for posterity. I feel that this knowledge is being lost...its time to revive our roots.

PLease come forward with any African Proverbs, Any Folktales..and tit bits you may have lurking in ther back of yoru brain....

Much obliged.

Have to say, most Africans don't seem to talk about their traditions on board. Its a shame.

Bre Rabbit & Anansi are two I grew up with.

Credo Mutwa has a book;

Indaba my children

Sorry if I mispelt it, its 4;30am.

Its an excellent book, I have a S.African friend who swears by it. The stories in there should be brought to life in books and cartoons but its as though he broke an oath in telling them.

Quoting you btw.

Back in Kenya & Tanzania they are so popular that they feature on the daily dress, Kangas (more like a wrap than a dress) of most women.

That's amazing, do you have any pictures?

Rebel Lion!

Thank you for showing interest!!! You are right Africans need to show more pride in their traditions..... I have read countless Anansi Tales and I actually managed to find myself an old old copy of Indaba My Children. I found some pictures of some Kenyan/Tanzanian Kangas for you to have a look at:

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.

One of Credos stories is the, 'Lord of flies' story. Won't ask about it againbut if it origionated in Africa its a big story.

What do the Kanga parables say?

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!