The King's Drum and Other African Stories by Harold Courlander
"The King's Drum and Other African Stories" by Harold Courlander is a collection of traditional African folktales that showcases a diverse array of narratives featuring both human and animal characters. Comprising twenty-nine tales, this compilation is characterized by its brevity, with each story being easily digestible and able to stand alone, allowing readers to engage with the material in any order. Courlander’s storytelling spans various themes, including explanations of natural phenomena, moral and social lessons, and humorous anecdotes, often reflecting on human nature and cultural practices.
Illustrated by Enrico Arno, the book adds a whimsical visual element that complements the tales. Among the featured stories, notable ones include "The Message from the Moon," which addresses the origins of death and animal behavior, and "A Song for the New Chief," which humorously critiques the practice of public praise. Ideal for readers of all ages, the collection invites those who appreciate similar works, such as Aesop's Fables, to explore its accessible and engaging narratives. As a reflection of Courlander's extensive research and dedication to showcasing African folklore, the volume serves as an inviting entry point for anyone interested in the rich storytelling traditions of the continent.
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The King's Drum and Other African Stories by Harold Courlander
First published: 1962; illustrated
Subjects: Death, family, gender roles, and social issues
Type of work: Short fiction
Recommended Ages: 10-15
Form and Content
The King’s Drum and Other African Stories is one of many collections of traditional folk material from around the world by Harold Courlander. The stories in this volume are widely varied, as the author himself notes; he presents tales about human and animal tricksters, heroes and pseudo-heroes, conflicts and dilemmas that deal either humorously or seriously with human foibles and proverbial wisdom. None of the twenty-nine tales is more than a few pages long, in a small-page format. They are simply written and they are not sequential, so they can be read singly or in any combination. Seven of the tales feature animal characters rather than human ones. Seventeen pen-and-ink illustrations by Enrico Arno provide whimsy and an exotic flavor.
Seen in terms of their effect, the stories may be divided into three broad categories: explanations of nature, social or moral lessons, and purely humorous narratives. In the first category are tales that explain natural phenomena and the physical makeup or natural actions of animals. “The Message from the Moon,” for example, explains the origin of death among human beings and also explains the hare’s split lip. In “Why the Chameleon Shakes His Head,” the chameleon hears the dog explain his partnership in hunting with the man and then witnesses how the man actually treats the dog after they have hunted together. The chameleon is shocked and since then has avoided all human beings. Now, whenever people see him in the forest, the chameleon is still shaking his head in amazement at the unkindness of the man.
One of the more serious, socially didactic tales tells of a father-in-law and his son-in-law who have a disagreement and of how the elders of the tribe bring them to reconciliation. In a more satirical vein, “A Song for the New Chief” shows that praise of public officials is a ritual activity and has nothing to do with the actual personality or popularity of the official.
Whether explaining nature, commenting on social customs, or simply entertaining, most of the tales contain at least some element of humor. The title story of the collection shows how Anansi, the spider trickster, outsmarts himself and loses the hand of the chief’s daughter. “Nawasi Goes to War” is a hilarious, extended description of a merchant whose harmless attempt to look like a warrior is complicated by the boasting songs of his servant, forcing the merchant into a situation for which he is wholly unprepared and from which he emerges, through no virtue of his own, as a hero. “Ruda, the Quick Thinker” offers a classic example of a man whose silly actions belie his reputation for decisiveness and intelligence.
These tales will appeal to any young person who appreciates Aesop’s Fables (fourth century b.c.), Rudyard Kipling’s Just So Stories (1902), and similar works, and some of them will also appeal to younger children when read aloud.
Critical Context
In 1936, Harold Courlander began a career of collecting African, African American, and African Caribbean songs, myths, legends and tales, as well as writing scholarly articles and fiction based on his knowledge of this material. The African, a novel that he published in 1967, tells the tale of a boy captured by slavers in Africa and brought to America, where he learns to adapt and survive. Although not Courlander’s best-known work, it became famous for a time when he successfully sued Alex Haley for infringement of copyright in portions of Roots (1976). The King’s Drum and Other African Stories was published approximately midway through Courlander’s most active period in his career, which stretched to 1982.
Like A Treasury of African Folklore (1974, 1995), his mammoth volume of tales, myths, and legends from sub-Saharan Africa, The King’s Drum and Other African Stories is a sampling of many localities and moods in this continent. The major difference is that the smaller collection concentrates on shorter and more accessible tales and is therefore both easy to read and suitable for beginning an exploration of the genre. What separates Courlander’s book from many others of the kind is its eclectic geographic selection, his wide knowledge, and his avoidance of cumbersome scholarly apparatus.