Limba Stories and Story-Telling

by Ruth H. Finnegan (Compiler)

The Limba are rice farmers of northern Sierra Leone. This detailed study of their stories, collected and translated by Ruth Finnegan, emphasizes the importance of actual delivery in these orally transmitted tales, the part played by the story-teller, and the changing forms arising from the originality of individual narrators.

Hardcover

First published February 27, 1981

Reviews

[Hailey Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

The man killed for a spinach leaf was definitely the best out of the stories included. The heroine is really cool and stoic, and her resolve is very serious feeling. I enjoyed her revenge a lot. The imagery of her character is something I will remember.
Tungkangbei, Palongbei, and Yisahosaho was very shocking and edgy. I'm not sure how I feel about the story, but it's funny in a strange way. It reminded me of something I would see on adult swim.
Ninkinanka was another that stood out to me. The ending is very serious for a somewhat mundane series of events. The contrast made me feel more intensely for the father and son. Because the morals were not so black and white, the sadness was more human.
The spider stories are all very funny, I feel like him sometimes.