"Matengo Folktales is an excellent, inexpensive, and reliable collection
of tales told in an oral context. I have ordered it myself for a course
in African oral literature. Casual and serious readers will benefit from
what the book has to offer. Mbele's approachable and concise style of commentary
is informative and convincing. This deceptively modest work is an admirable
contribution to the literature on African oral narrative traditions."
Professor Robert Cancel, The Literary Griot.
"The tales themselves are entertaining.... Mbele's commentaries, many of
which are longer than the tales they discuss, analyze literary devices
such as conflict, characterization, and theme to produce close readings
that would please any literature teacher."
Professor Cynthia Ward, Marvels and Tales.
"We were pleased to read Matengo Folktales.….In
summary, we feel that Matengo Folktales is a useful reading in teacher
education courses, as well as in K-12 classrooms. It can also be used as an
introduction to oral storytelling in African, as well as other, cultural
contexts."
Professors N. Kagendo Mutua and Beth Blue Swadener, Multicultural Perspectives.
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