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Why Ostriches Don't Fly and Other Tales from the African Bush
Ancestors of the nomadic group called San (or Bushmen) once roamed the northern territories of Africa and the Mediterranean. Now inhabiting the Kalahari desert (the place that dried up long ago) in South Africa, these fascinating people are known for their astonishing memory, extraordinary talents for hunting and tracking, superior abilities for finding food and water, and great storytelling. Here then is a portrait of one of the world's oldest and most remarkable cultures and its environment. The group's history, nomadic way of life, beliefs, customs, and stories are offered to readers with exquisite illustrations and color photographs of people, animals, and the land. Fifteen traditional tales, such as The Rain Bull, The First Tug-of-War, In Search of the Golden Prize, and All the Stars of Heaven, are presented in poetic verse and juxtaposed with commentary on the challenges this group faces today. The author has also included a glossary and a bibliography of resources for further study.
105 pages, Hardcover
First published January 15, 1997
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Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review
May 16, 2015
Most definitely enjoyed this book to its whole degree of teaching and also sharing its cultural treasures for I.M. Lewis opened up with a cultural lesson. A good half of the book was given to the Bushmen - their lifestyle, their history, some of their beliefs, characteristics and so much more that you were able to get grasp of who were the people that contributed to this book.
From there the book broke up into the actual stories told by Bushmen. All were in poetical form while most only covered one or two pages if you didn't count the cover page of the story itself.
Even with its covering of the Bushmen the book is easy to read and understand for readers whether they may be young and old. For those times when words are used that aren't known there is an easy-to-use glossary in the back.
And the best part is there are simplistic pictures that I believe are suppose to be in the format of actual Bushmen art. Altogether just like the Bushmen the book is simple, full of their spirit and a treasure waiting to be shared.....
From there the book broke up into the actual stories told by Bushmen. All were in poetical form while most only covered one or two pages if you didn't count the cover page of the story itself.
Even with its covering of the Bushmen the book is easy to read and understand for readers whether they may be young and old. For those times when words are used that aren't known there is an easy-to-use glossary in the back.
And the best part is there are simplistic pictures that I believe are suppose to be in the format of actual Bushmen art. Altogether just like the Bushmen the book is simple, full of their spirit and a treasure waiting to be shared.....
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review