Kathleen Arnott

A collection of thirteen tales, taken from the folkloric traditions of the Bantu-speaking peoples of Africa, Kathleen Arnott's Tales of Temba follows its titular hero from birth through marriage, presenting the reader with an exciting range of adventure stories. In The Hyena's Egg, Temba is able to walk and talk just days after being born, and must contend with the hyena who is determined to eat him. The Yam Child follows Temba's secret adventures with his younger brother, made from a yam by Ruwa the sun god, and his journey to Ruwa's kingdom, when his yam-brother disappears. A Leg for the Lion sees Temba's mother almost forced to pay a terrible price for her curiosity, when she sets out to learn why the game he brings home is always missing a leg, while Temba's Magic Boat is the story of how the young boy saves his oldest sister from a terrible ogre, with the help of a flying boat.

Other selections include: Jirimpimbira, which tells of how Temba obtained two magic sticks that helped save his village during a time of drought and famine; The Swallowing Monster, in which his quick thinking saves Temba's mothers and sisters, during their trip to his grandparents' village; and Grandfather Tells Some Tales, which offers an explanation for how leopard got his coat, and why the bird known as Honey Guide leads men to the beehives. Also included are The Beautiful Feathers, which tells of how Temba tricked the man-eating amazimus into destroying one another; The Snake King, in which Temba accidentally finds his way to the kingdom of the snakes; Temba's Bag of Salt, in which our hero poses as a cook, and tricks the wild beasts into fighting one another, rather than hunting humans; and Temba Becomes a Warrior, in which Temba eventually gains an assegai, and is recognized as a warrior by his tribe. Finally, in Temba Wins a Bride, Temba sets out to win the beautiful daughter of the Rain Lord for his wife.

Many of the tales presented here will be familiar to the folklore enthusiast. Temba Becomes a Warrior, for instance, is an example of the classic tale-type in which a series of exchanges is made, with an individual's possessions being continually broken, and then replaced with something superior. I know I have encountered its sing-song narrative before, although I can't quite place it. The second half of Temba Wins a Bride utilizes the popular motif of the three impossible tasks, accomplished by the hero with the aid of the animals to whom he has shown kindness. The black and white illustrations by Tom Feelings - whose work on The Middle Passage: White Ships/ Black Cargo was so visually stunning - add another layer of enjoyment.

All in all, this was an appealing collection, although I did find myself wishing that Arnott had provided more specifics, as it concerns the cultural background of each tale. There are over 500 distinct Bantu languages, after all, so calling these "Bantu" tales seems a little vague. Parents concerned about gender issues should also note that - as the title suggests - these are very traditional stories, and they come from extremely patriarchal cultures. The female characters are all passive, and there is specific mention made - in the first tale - of how much more desirable a son is, than a daughter.… (mer)