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Legends of the World
The Princess Who Lost Her Hair: An Akamba Legend
Magnificent illustrations and captivating texts tell the legends of Africa.
32 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1993
About the author
Tololwa M. Mollel
24 books13 followersEducation: University of Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, BA, literature and theater, 1972; University of Alberta, Canada, MA, drama, 1979, PhD, drama, 2001-.
Memberships: Canadian Society of Children's Authors, Illustrators, and Performers; Society of Children's Book Writers; Writers Guild of Alberta; Alberta Legion of Encouraging Storytelling.
Career
University lecturer, director of children's theater and actor in Tanzania, 1979-86; writer, storyteller and lecturer in Canada, 1986-; Edmonton Public Library, writer-in-residence, 2000-.
Life's Work
In many modern cultures, the practice of handing down history through the oral and pictorial traditions of storytelling is giving way to the flashy special effects of Hollywood movies, the lessons learned in television sitcoms, or the unsubstantiated truths that can be downloaded from the Internet. Numerous old folk and native stories have been lost as popular culture has failed to integrate them into modern entertainment. However, several artists and authors have taken it upon themselves to preserve these stories and rejuvenate them for contemporary young audiences, including children's storybook author Tololwa Mollel. Since 1992 Mollel has been reinventing African tribal tales and creating original stories that he hopes will teach children about varying cultural backgrounds as well as focusing thematically on traditional morals and values. As Mollel said in an on-line Kids Care Club interview, "I think folklore plays a role in providing children as they grow a basic literary vocabulary and means with which to perceive the world and human behavior. It also provides them entertainment and a means of socializing them into the mores and values of the community."
Even though Mollel now makes his home in Canada, he was born in the Arusha region of Tanzania on June 25, 1952, to Loilangisho and Saraa (Eleiser) Mollel. Early in his life, Mollel was sent to live with his grandparents who tended a coffee farm in northern Tanzania. It was here that he was introduced to two very important influences, storytelling and religion. His grandparents made sure that Mollel and the other children living with them had access and constant exposure to biblical stories in order to foster a love of literature and Christian values. They also very heavily valued education and reading. In an article on Mollel on the University of Alberta website, it stated that Mollel would run home from school, "to share the thing he had read at school. Mollel's grandfather would listen intently, probing for details." Mollel says that it was these first conversations with his grandfather that sparked within him a "love of storytelling that has never left."
First Book Retold Maasai Venus Story
Mollel attended the University of Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania to pursue a bachelor's degree in literature in theater. He accomplished this goal in 1972 and proceeded to further his education by attending the University of Alberta in Canada. Mollel decided to focus on his talents in the fields of theater and performance, and received his masters degree in drama in 1979. Afterward he returned to Tanzania and was employed as a university lecturer in the field of drama. He was also a director and actor at a children's theater. As Mollel continued to work and produce plays, he lived meagerly and saved his earnings in the hopes of returning to Canada. It would take him seven years, but finally in 1986, Mollel returned to Canada, this time not as a student but as an emigrant. He continued to lecture in Edmonton, Canada to make ends meet, but fostered his love of storytelling that he had been able to express while working in the Tanzanian children's theater. In the late 1980s, he turned to writing as an outlet, and wrote a few short stories for children that were published by various magazines.
Then, in 1991, Mollel published his first major children's book, The Orphan Boy. The Orphan Boy embodies an old folktale about the planet
Memberships: Canadian Society of Children's Authors, Illustrators, and Performers; Society of Children's Book Writers; Writers Guild of Alberta; Alberta Legion of Encouraging Storytelling.
Career
University lecturer, director of children's theater and actor in Tanzania, 1979-86; writer, storyteller and lecturer in Canada, 1986-; Edmonton Public Library, writer-in-residence, 2000-.
Life's Work
In many modern cultures, the practice of handing down history through the oral and pictorial traditions of storytelling is giving way to the flashy special effects of Hollywood movies, the lessons learned in television sitcoms, or the unsubstantiated truths that can be downloaded from the Internet. Numerous old folk and native stories have been lost as popular culture has failed to integrate them into modern entertainment. However, several artists and authors have taken it upon themselves to preserve these stories and rejuvenate them for contemporary young audiences, including children's storybook author Tololwa Mollel. Since 1992 Mollel has been reinventing African tribal tales and creating original stories that he hopes will teach children about varying cultural backgrounds as well as focusing thematically on traditional morals and values. As Mollel said in an on-line Kids Care Club interview, "I think folklore plays a role in providing children as they grow a basic literary vocabulary and means with which to perceive the world and human behavior. It also provides them entertainment and a means of socializing them into the mores and values of the community."
Even though Mollel now makes his home in Canada, he was born in the Arusha region of Tanzania on June 25, 1952, to Loilangisho and Saraa (Eleiser) Mollel. Early in his life, Mollel was sent to live with his grandparents who tended a coffee farm in northern Tanzania. It was here that he was introduced to two very important influences, storytelling and religion. His grandparents made sure that Mollel and the other children living with them had access and constant exposure to biblical stories in order to foster a love of literature and Christian values. They also very heavily valued education and reading. In an article on Mollel on the University of Alberta website, it stated that Mollel would run home from school, "to share the thing he had read at school. Mollel's grandfather would listen intently, probing for details." Mollel says that it was these first conversations with his grandfather that sparked within him a "love of storytelling that has never left."
First Book Retold Maasai Venus Story
Mollel attended the University of Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania to pursue a bachelor's degree in literature in theater. He accomplished this goal in 1972 and proceeded to further his education by attending the University of Alberta in Canada. Mollel decided to focus on his talents in the fields of theater and performance, and received his masters degree in drama in 1979. Afterward he returned to Tanzania and was employed as a university lecturer in the field of drama. He was also a director and actor at a children's theater. As Mollel continued to work and produce plays, he lived meagerly and saved his earnings in the hopes of returning to Canada. It would take him seven years, but finally in 1986, Mollel returned to Canada, this time not as a student but as an emigrant. He continued to lecture in Edmonton, Canada to make ends meet, but fostered his love of storytelling that he had been able to express while working in the Tanzanian children's theater. In the late 1980s, he turned to writing as an outlet, and wrote a few short stories for children that were published by various magazines.
Then, in 1991, Mollel published his first major children's book, The Orphan Boy. The Orphan Boy embodies an old folktale about the planet
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 19, 2019
The Akamba people live in East Africa near the equator. They live on a plateau and their lives are very dependent on the seasonal rains that take place in March to June as well as in October to December. If the rain does not fall, then crops, livestock and people suffer the consequences. Like so many legends of people that live this lifestyle, this one is about the lack of rain.
The setting is a kingdom where there was a princess with the loveliest hair in the world. It formed a long train that was held by her handmaidens as she walked the palace grounds. One day, a colorful bird asked her for a small amount of hair in order to make their nest. When the princess refused, the bird promised retribution and flew away.
When bad weather arrived, it took up the princess’ hair and none of the palace wizards or wise men could find a way to end the drought. A young beggar boy dreamed of a solution, so he took some beans and a calabash of water and set out on a journey to solve the problem. When faced with creatures that needed food and water, he provided them from his meager stores. At this point, the bird regained his form, announced that he had passed the tests and as a consequence of his actions, rain returned to the kingdom.
This story is similar to fairy tales of other lands, where a magical creature is first spurned, with dire consequences for the land. Only when a resident proves their worthiness is order restored and the land returns to normal. It is a good lesson of humility and sharing, even when there is little available. For you never know when a good deed will be returned many times over.
The setting is a kingdom where there was a princess with the loveliest hair in the world. It formed a long train that was held by her handmaidens as she walked the palace grounds. One day, a colorful bird asked her for a small amount of hair in order to make their nest. When the princess refused, the bird promised retribution and flew away.
When bad weather arrived, it took up the princess’ hair and none of the palace wizards or wise men could find a way to end the drought. A young beggar boy dreamed of a solution, so he took some beans and a calabash of water and set out on a journey to solve the problem. When faced with creatures that needed food and water, he provided them from his meager stores. At this point, the bird regained his form, announced that he had passed the tests and as a consequence of his actions, rain returned to the kingdom.
This story is similar to fairy tales of other lands, where a magical creature is first spurned, with dire consequences for the land. Only when a resident proves their worthiness is order restored and the land returns to normal. It is a good lesson of humility and sharing, even when there is little available. For you never know when a good deed will be returned many times over.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 22, 2017
I think that the princess who lost her hair is a very enjoyable book. It teaches you how not to be mean to creatures and be caring and loving. My favorite part of the book is when a young poor boy only had little bits of food and water but when the creatures and plants asked for food he still gave the food and water to them. He was then rewarded by a magical creature for his behavior. I think that a lot of people will also enjoy reading this book like I did. The illustrations were also very good.
August 29, 2018
The story of this book is a little all over the place. It is about a princess who has long, beautiful hair, but loses it because of her vanity. The a beggar comes along and finds a way to restore her hair through being god-hearted. The princess gets her hair back and decides to no longer be vain. Overall, this book had good pictures, but a weird story line.
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September 9, 2017I don't love the "vain princess" conceit, but it's not too bad (and despite the title, the story doesn't focus on her), and the illustrations are lovely.
September 24, 2018
This story follows a princess and a beggar boy. It is an African folktale and teaches a number of lessons in the story.
October 13, 2018
Why are princesses so often bitchy? Of course, love seems to turn her around and she gets her vanity back. But why princesses, why?
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February 8, 2021East African folktale
Lexile Level 420L-820L
Grade Level 2-3
Lexile Level 420L-820L
Grade Level 2-3
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 18, 2026
*Read Around the World: Tanzania*
Absolutely gorgeous illustrations.
A fantastic [and much needed reminder] story that little and adults alike will love.
A perfect way to introduce your child to Read Around the World and other cultures.
I really loved this book!!
Absolutely gorgeous illustrations.
A fantastic [and much needed reminder] story that little and adults alike will love.
A perfect way to introduce your child to Read Around the World and other cultures.
I really loved this book!!
June 20, 2026
What a great story! What amazing illustrations! I loved this one!
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October 14, 2015Title: The Princess Who Lost Her Hair
Author: Tololwa M. Mollel
Illustrator: Charles Reasoner
Genre: Legend
Themes: Love, Kindness, Courage
Opening line/sentence:
There once was a king who had one daughter.
Brief Book Summary: There was a princess who had really long beautiful hair and one day a bird came and asked if he could have some hair for his nest. The princess refuses and the bird tells her she’s going to regret it. Muoma, a beggar, watched the incident occur and when the princesses hair gets swiped away in the wind, he sets out on a journey to try to find her hair. He runs into a large bird that gives him a gift- a seed for a tree that grows hair. Muoma then plants the seed in the princess’s garden and they get married.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Betsy Hearne (The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books)
This is a multibook review. These four folktales each competently adapted, illustrated in smoothly commercial styles that are varied in tone, and concluded by a note on the country of origin- will make an especially useful series for African studies since they can be read either aloud to preschoolers or independently by advanced primary grades. Talk, Talk, about the objects that surprise people with their speech, is familiar, as is Ananse’s winning Sky God’s stories by capturing Python, Hrnets, Leopards, and Fairy. More unusual are the legends about a vain Akamba princess who learns to love a beggar boy after losing her beautiful hair and about an honest Egyptian girl who befriends a pharaoh.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
Lyn Miller (School Library Journal - School Library Journal)
This folktale from the Akamba people of East Africa concerns a vain princess whose refusal to give even a strand of her beautiful hair to a bird building a nest costs her her hair and her kingdom its livelihood. As famine descends upon the land, Muoma, a beggar boy, sets off to find the bird. For sharing his last food, water, and strength with an ant, a flower, and a mouse, respectively, he is rewarded, and subsequently helps and marries the humbled princess. Like much of sub-Saharan African folklore, this is a didactic tale. Mollel's text, though, is not heavy-handed. He builds sympathy for the boy, who is at first tempted to kill the bird for food but who shares with the other creatures because he knows hunger and loss. The interdependence of all living things figures strongly here and may be presented in light of current concerns. Reasoner's illustrations combine bright colors, straight lines, and broad flowing curves that build upon African motifs. In comparison with other stories, such as Mollel's The Orphan Boy (Ticknor & Fields, 1991), the illustrations lack depth. However, the explanatory material at the end is useful, and this is a lively and appealing retelling.
Response to Two Professional Reviews: Both reviews give a brief overview of the main events that happened in the story. Both reviewers also compared this story to other books the author has written. I agree with the second reviewer that the illustrations could have been done better; they are a bit boring and lack depth.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: The plot of this story takes place in the outdoors of East Africa. All though a bit boring and not much color to the illustrations, the author does a great job replicating the outfits worn in the African culture. The tone at the end of the story is very happy when the beggar boy saves the princesses hair and they get married. The book has a decent amount of smaller text on the pages, so the book is better for more advanced readers.
Consideration of Instructional Application: This book is ideal for kindergarten through third grade when teaching children about legends. The book could also be used when talking about other countries as this book does a good job illustrating what Africa looks like. It can also be used to show students how kindness can go a long way. Students can also create their own version of this legend or create their own legend. Students could also create their own props and re-enact the story.
Author: Tololwa M. Mollel
Illustrator: Charles Reasoner
Genre: Legend
Themes: Love, Kindness, Courage
Opening line/sentence:
There once was a king who had one daughter.
Brief Book Summary: There was a princess who had really long beautiful hair and one day a bird came and asked if he could have some hair for his nest. The princess refuses and the bird tells her she’s going to regret it. Muoma, a beggar, watched the incident occur and when the princesses hair gets swiped away in the wind, he sets out on a journey to try to find her hair. He runs into a large bird that gives him a gift- a seed for a tree that grows hair. Muoma then plants the seed in the princess’s garden and they get married.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Betsy Hearne (The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books)
This is a multibook review. These four folktales each competently adapted, illustrated in smoothly commercial styles that are varied in tone, and concluded by a note on the country of origin- will make an especially useful series for African studies since they can be read either aloud to preschoolers or independently by advanced primary grades. Talk, Talk, about the objects that surprise people with their speech, is familiar, as is Ananse’s winning Sky God’s stories by capturing Python, Hrnets, Leopards, and Fairy. More unusual are the legends about a vain Akamba princess who learns to love a beggar boy after losing her beautiful hair and about an honest Egyptian girl who befriends a pharaoh.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
Lyn Miller (School Library Journal - School Library Journal)
This folktale from the Akamba people of East Africa concerns a vain princess whose refusal to give even a strand of her beautiful hair to a bird building a nest costs her her hair and her kingdom its livelihood. As famine descends upon the land, Muoma, a beggar boy, sets off to find the bird. For sharing his last food, water, and strength with an ant, a flower, and a mouse, respectively, he is rewarded, and subsequently helps and marries the humbled princess. Like much of sub-Saharan African folklore, this is a didactic tale. Mollel's text, though, is not heavy-handed. He builds sympathy for the boy, who is at first tempted to kill the bird for food but who shares with the other creatures because he knows hunger and loss. The interdependence of all living things figures strongly here and may be presented in light of current concerns. Reasoner's illustrations combine bright colors, straight lines, and broad flowing curves that build upon African motifs. In comparison with other stories, such as Mollel's The Orphan Boy (Ticknor & Fields, 1991), the illustrations lack depth. However, the explanatory material at the end is useful, and this is a lively and appealing retelling.
Response to Two Professional Reviews: Both reviews give a brief overview of the main events that happened in the story. Both reviewers also compared this story to other books the author has written. I agree with the second reviewer that the illustrations could have been done better; they are a bit boring and lack depth.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: The plot of this story takes place in the outdoors of East Africa. All though a bit boring and not much color to the illustrations, the author does a great job replicating the outfits worn in the African culture. The tone at the end of the story is very happy when the beggar boy saves the princesses hair and they get married. The book has a decent amount of smaller text on the pages, so the book is better for more advanced readers.
Consideration of Instructional Application: This book is ideal for kindergarten through third grade when teaching children about legends. The book could also be used when talking about other countries as this book does a good job illustrating what Africa looks like. It can also be used to show students how kindness can go a long way. Students can also create their own version of this legend or create their own legend. Students could also create their own props and re-enact the story.
October 21, 2017
Not a bad tell but I am wondering if it was watered down to be suitable for children. In any case I would love to learn a bit more.
I can't help but notice that the hair of the princess was written in as beautiful as it was a burden and it made her a prisoner. .
Was it so beautiful and thick to cover the vanity of the princess? What did it reveal when it was taken away?
Did the Princess learn from her mistakes?
It is a lovely story exploring our link to nature, however I would have enjoyed a Princess able to save herself. However, as for many fairy tales, the Princess is always saved by one to be destined as a Prince.
I can't help but notice that the hair of the princess was written in as beautiful as it was a burden and it made her a prisoner. .
Was it so beautiful and thick to cover the vanity of the princess? What did it reveal when it was taken away?
Did the Princess learn from her mistakes?
It is a lovely story exploring our link to nature, however I would have enjoyed a Princess able to save herself. However, as for many fairy tales, the Princess is always saved by one to be destined as a Prince.
November 29, 2019
There once was a king who had one daughter. She was his pride and joy, for this princess had the loveliest hair in the world. Every night, singing maids wove her hair into magical plaits to make it grow longer and lovelier still.
Each morning, with the plaits undone and her hair adorned with gold, her handmaidens held her hair up off the ground as the princess strolled from the palace to be admired by her subjects.
(The Princess Who Lost Her Hair, Tololwa M. Mollel, p.-)
A vain princess’s hair is carried away by the wind after she insults a bird asking for a few strands for its nest. With her hair goes the health of her kingdom which withers and suffers with her. But a pauper child sees the bird in his dreams and believes he may be able to set things right before his people starve.
The story is a classic Three Test format: three animals test the hero on his journey to make sure he’s virtuous enough to be worthy of saving the kingdom and winning the princess. The princess has a more proactive role in her kingdom’s rescue than I usually see in classic fairy tales. I don’t mean she takes up a sword to do battle or anything, but she doesn’t stand around being ornamental until the hero saves the day. She helps in a small way that makes all the difference, because it wouldn’t have been much of a rescue if the kingdom went right back into the hands of a rude, self-centered girl.
THE VERDICT?
No complaints. The art is flowing and the story is more unique than I was expecting with such a well-trodden format. It's just not anything extraordinary.
Each morning, with the plaits undone and her hair adorned with gold, her handmaidens held her hair up off the ground as the princess strolled from the palace to be admired by her subjects.
(The Princess Who Lost Her Hair, Tololwa M. Mollel, p.-)
A vain princess’s hair is carried away by the wind after she insults a bird asking for a few strands for its nest. With her hair goes the health of her kingdom which withers and suffers with her. But a pauper child sees the bird in his dreams and believes he may be able to set things right before his people starve.
The story is a classic Three Test format: three animals test the hero on his journey to make sure he’s virtuous enough to be worthy of saving the kingdom and winning the princess. The princess has a more proactive role in her kingdom’s rescue than I usually see in classic fairy tales. I don’t mean she takes up a sword to do battle or anything, but she doesn’t stand around being ornamental until the hero saves the day. She helps in a small way that makes all the difference, because it wouldn’t have been much of a rescue if the kingdom went right back into the hands of a rude, self-centered girl.
THE VERDICT?
No complaints. The art is flowing and the story is more unique than I was expecting with such a well-trodden format. It's just not anything extraordinary.
Read
April 19, 2016This book is about a kings daughter who has the most beautiful hair in the land. One day a bird comes along and asks for a little bit of her hair for its nest. She refused and the bird tells her that she will be sorry for she will lose her hair. And so the drought begins like the bird said, then it happens the beautiful maiden loses her hair. Mouma thinks he can restore her hair but first he must go on an adventure. Mouma is found worthy and was given the seed to bring hair to the maiden. Her hair came back but this time she decided to share her hair to help those that needed it.
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January 25, 2012I really enjoyed this book. It was a great story that teaches its readers to always be generous and good things will come to you from having a kind heart. I also liked that at the end of the book there was a page that gave information about the Akamba people of East Africa. This was really cool because the story was based on those people and having information about them at the end of the story was a really great idea.
July 1, 2016
The illustrations are beautiful and the story is sweet. I really like the character development, and point of the story, there seemed to be a lot of hidden depth within the book. I only rated it 4 stars because, to me at least, the princess seemed to have a personality shift that was not explained within the book.
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July 30, 2009JE398.2-Mo
March 22, 2012
This use to be my one of favorite books as a child. I had forgotten the name of it for many years, but thanks to the internet I have found it again, lol!
April 3, 2014
This legend tells the story of an African princess whose most precious trait was her beautiful long luxurious hair which all falls out, to her shame.
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October 1, 2016This is a legend about sharing the wealth and not judging a book by its cover.
July 18, 2015
Really beautiful book.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews