Stories from Africa were traditionally passed down by word of mouth. Often they were told by the light of the moon around a village fire after the completion of a long day of work. The stories rarely ended with the words we so often heard as children when our parents told us bedtime stories -- "and they all lived happily ever after". Most stories didn't end happily ever after. Usually the stories taught a lesson, and frequently, the selfish person learned that lesson the hard way.
This videoconference is from Estelle Condra’s collection of South African folklore. Estelle Condra’s homeland is South Africa, and she has studied the folklore of the Sosotho, Zulu and Xhosa including some of the San people (spelling of the San people differ from region to region.) The African folk tales were told again and again before the time of reading and writing. These stories are very old and have been passed down orally from generation to generation by the “Memory Keepers”. These stories include many great tales with classic African wisdom.
Estelle will tell the students about the “Memory Keepers” and how they “made a story” based on the happenings in tribal society. There was a special way that the people asked the “Memory Keepers” to “make a story” around the fire and only at night.
After much deliberation, Estelle has chosen to tell two stories. The grade level for this lesson and videoconference is 4th – 12 grades because of the need to examine and appreciate the stories.
Estelle will tell these stories in English and with a drum. She will use shades of nuance and cadence to reflect the language patterns of these nations. She will strive to keep the stories as authentic and pure Southern African as possible, keeping stories that are too Westernized and too cute out of her repertoire.
The first story that Estelle will tell is the story of ”N‘tombiembi and her sisters” which could be seen as an African Cinderella story. This is a Sosotho story.
The second story that Estelle will tell is called “The ”Sunman” about how the sun came in the sky. This is a N’tabeli story translated from a rock painting. This story describes how things happen in nature that the people did not understand. This story involves traditional tribal magic and a medicine woman. Listen carefully for the rhythmic language. Many other nations have similar stories but these are authentically Southern African and include traditions and lifestyles of the ancient peoples.
In both of these stories, students will look for the symbolism, the metaphors, and the specific and typical African traditions for men and women during this time period. They will listen carefully to the rhythmic language as Estelle uses shades of nuance and cadence to reflect the language patterns of these nations.
COST: $75 for each videoconference session.
FORMAT: 45 minutes in length. Format is 25-30 minutes presentation and then 15-20 minutes for question and answer session.
Thursday, February 2, 2012- "AFRICAN FOLK TALES" in the Black History Month series
Presenter: Estelle Condra, acclaimed storyteller, author, and actress
TARGET AUDIENCE: Students in grades 4 - 12
TIME: Two sessions: one at 9:00 AM CENTRAL TIME and one at 10:00 AM CENTRAL TIME
OTHER BLACK HISTOY MONTH videoconferences scheduled from VANDERBILT VIRTUAL SCHOOL:
Thu, Feb 2, 2012
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Estelle Con ra, storyteller and actress
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Wed, Feb 8, 2012
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"From Days of Slavery to Days of Freedom: Stories of Frederick Douglass, Booker T. Washington,
and George Washington Carver" – – 9:00 AM (CST) only
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Dr. Frank Dobson, Director Vanderbilt University Black Cultural Center
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Wed, Feb 15, 2012
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"From Days of Slavery to Days of Freedom: Stories of Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, and Rosa Parks" – 9:00 AM (CST) only
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Dr. Frank Dobson, Director Vanderbilt University Black Cultural Center
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Wed, Feb 22, 2012
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"Civil Rights Struggles"
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Wed, Feb 29, 2012
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Howard Gentry, Metro Nashville Criminal Court clerk, former Vice Mayor . . .the first African-American Vice Mayor.
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Register soon and celebrate Black History Month with us at Vanderbilt Virtual School.
Patsy
Patsy Partin, M.Ed
Director, Virtual School
Vanderbilt University o:p>
2007 Terrace Place
Nashville, TN 37203
