May was a strenuous but exciting trek north through the Saharan desert, charting the North African mythical landscape. Like travelers from times past and present, we sought out the Tuareg to guide us on this journey. After all, who could be more qualified at trans-Saharan crossings than those who call it home?
As we enter June, it is only fair that we rest our legs as we make our way back toward cooler climes. Having found our way to Egypt, all the way East, we will sail south on the Nile, learning the lore of this great river. In this week’s episode of the Mythological Africans Podcast, we set the tone for our voyage with a reading of Nile, a poem by playwright, translator, essayist, art director and Poet Laureate of Ethiopia, Tsegaye Gebre-Medhin.
This is the source, his source, this is his heritage, our heritage. He must come and walk in the footprints of the human ancestors….know thyself first. — Tsegaye Gebre Medhin
References
* Nile : A Poem by Tsegaye Gebre-Medhin
* Music: Ethiopian Lyre by Harold Courlander
Can’t Get Enough?
We will need ( and probably have) another episode to truly grasp the genius of Tsegaye Gebre Medhin. In the meantime, here are some links to read the story of this great man!
* Poet Laureate Tsegaye Gebre-Medhin of Ethiopia: A Short Walk Through His Literary Park
* One More Big Loss! Poet Laureate, Tsegaye dies at 60
Meanwhile…
The Watkins Book of African Folklore (…or The Mythological Africans Book) is out!
The Watkins Book of African Folklore contains 50 stories, curated from North, South, East, West and Central Africa. The stories are grouped into three sections:
* Creation myths and foundation legends
* Stories about human relationships and the cultural institutions they created
* Animal tales (with a twist…the folktales are about some of the most unlikely animals!)
I thoroughly enjoyed digging into the historical and cultural context out of which the stories, their themes, and protagonists emerge. There is something for everybody!
Mythological Africans is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
