- Publisher : Your Online Publicist
- Publication Date : May 2021
- Pages : 467
- Product Dimensions : 6x9
- Genre : Folktales, Fiction, Literature
- Paperback ISBN : 978-1-63892-039-7
- Hardcover ISBN : 978-1-63892-040-3
Kwame Afadzi Insaidoo grew up in the rural areas of his native country, Ghana in West Africa. During his formative years Kwame spent most of his time among the elders of his little village of Koodum near Akwasiho in the Eastern Region of Ghana. Here traditional elders narrated oral stories, folktales, chieftaincy rites, proverbs, village lore’s, and other mythologies of local clans and tribes to the youngsters during the numerous moonlight nights.
Most of the village traditional elders including many grand mothers and fathers, together with the chiefs and elders narrated or retold most of the ancient African stories and emphasized the virtues and morals implicit in them.
Kwame’s maternal grandfather, Nana Akwasi Agyekum, who was a traditional chief of the area spent many years educating young Kwame on various traditional and cultural rites, mythology and chieftaincy customs of their clan and tribe.
Kwame travelled to Missouri when he was awarded Missouri State University’s International academic scholarship in 1976. Here as President of Association of International students, and leader of African students on campus, Kwame further pursued his interest and curiosity in virtues and morals in African traditional stories by collecting folktales, proverbs and other mythologies from interested African students from Nigeria, Cameroons, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Liberia, Ethiopia, Ghana, Gambia and others attending the university.
In 1978 Kwame co-authored a collection of African folktales: “Anansi and Other African Trickster Tales,” with a renowned Folklorist and English Professor, Dr. Donald Holliday at Missouri State University.
In 1978 Kwame became a member of Omicron Delta Epsilon, Economic Honor Society in Missouri and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics in 1979.
In addition to his interest and passion for African traditions and culture, Kwame later pursued his graduate studies at New York University in International Relations. He worked as a schoolteacher in New York City and later as a community organizer in Harlem, New York.
Kwame has written many books about African affairs including: Moral Lessons in African Folktales, Volumes 1, 2 & 3.
These thrilling, whimsically and action packed anthology of adventurous stories bring to life some vital aspects of traditional African culture. These wonderful African traditional stories offer a rare glimpse into a portion of African traditional culture not often openly discussed outside many remote villages they originate from. As you peer through these pages be prepared to be thrilled and amazed as some aspects of ancient African culture are brought to life through amazing story telling.
Most of the stories are used to reinforce the traditional virtues in these tribal societies. Some of the stories illustrate and exemplify what happens to youngsters when they choose to follow the century old African tradition and culture; and when another youngster deviates from the traditional African values of respecting and honoring their elders. And yes, some of the stories are told to young girls in rural areas as cautionary tales to keep them from marrying total strangers outside their respective tribes.
Most of the stories and folktales here are fictionalized and many characters borrowed from various cultures to entertain the reading audience, while imparting numerous traditional virtues and morals into the youngsters. The ancient traditional African elders strongly believe in inculcating and ingraining these societal virtues into their youngsters, because like the ancient Greek philosophers, the African elders deeply concurred with Plato’s enunciation that: “Now since men are by nature acquisitive, jealous, combative and erotic, how shall we persuade them to behave themselves? By the Policeman’s omnipresent club? It is a brutal method, costly and irritating. There is a better way, and this is by lending to the moral requirements of the community.”
“Into Depths of African Culture, Literature, and Development
For many years, Africa had suffered and had been the focus of terrible news and unnecessary exposure. As a result, the mere mention of “Africa” paints a picture of starvation, hopelessness, and a primitive culture and attitude. The world’s opinion of Africa as a miserable place has not changed. Thriving Africa, on the other hand, has received little attention. Africa is far from the desolate landscape presented in the media, with bustling cityscapes, sophisticated colleges, and enormous retail malls. While the world thinks of Africans as uneducated, some of the most interesting and intriguing stories in the world may be found in African literature.
Kwame Afadzi Insaidoo developed an anthology that encourages learning via amusing stories in an effort to reintroduce Africa and the ideals found within its tales. He presents his book, “Virtues in African Stories.”
The book is a compilation of fictional stories that reaffirm the ideas and philosophical knowledge of African elders. The seven stories in the book are filled with action, adventure, and a skillful mix of whim and comedy that will captivate young readers’ interest. It also emphasizes the richness of African culture and offers a refreshing and informative contrast to the increasingly popular Western fiction.
Insaidoo’s enthusiasm for African culture is clear in his Introductory Preview, in which he openly critiques the pervasive whitewashing and unfavorable images of Africa that Western media has created. He effectively demonstrates a new aspect and identity for his country while exposing them as clear lies. Insaidoo also exhibits eloquence and the depth of his mind by offering accurate and logical arguments that indicate Africa’s growth.
Grab your copy now!”
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