num_pages: 440
description: IN the 19th C. BANTU was the generally accepted name for those natives of South Africa (the great majority) who are neither Hottentots nor Bushmen-that is to say mainly the Zulus Xosas Basuto and Bechuana -to whom may be added the Thongas (Shangaans) of the Delagoa Bay region and the people of (then Southern Rhodesia now) Zimbabwe. Southern Africa consists of 13 sovereign states and covers an area of approximately 9276 million kilometres. By comparison the USA is 9826 million kilometres. Abantu is the Zulu word for 'the people' (in Sesuto batho and in Herero ovandu) which was adopted by Bleek at the suggestion of Sir George Grey as the name for the great family of languages now known to cover practically the whole southern half of Africa. But to speak of a 'Bantu race' is misleading. The Bantu-speaking peoples vary greatly in physical some of them hardly differ from some of the 'Sudanic'-speaking Negroes of West Africa while others show a type which has been accounted for by a probable 'Hamitic' invasion from the north. It is needless to say that they come with a plethora of myths and legends. Some adapted and modified from others and some entirely home-grown. Within these 438 pages you will find 20 chapters filled with almost 200 stories selected from across Southern Africa - of prophets doctors witches chameleons the legend of Ngeketo baboons the Zulu Tokoloshe Sikulokobuzuka the road and the climb to heaven the daughter of the Sun and the Moon half-men avengers of blood the African Brer rabbit frogs war and death lightning birds cannibals jackals ogres how the leopard got his spots were-wolves tortoises and lions and the practical jokes they played on each other; and many many more to keep a young audience captivated for hours. While this volume contains the sometimes quaint unusual and certainly entertaining myths and legends of the native peoples of Southern Africa it also contains sufficient sources referential material and explanatory notes to satisfy serious students and academics alike. 33% of the net profit from the sale of this book will be donated to the Westville Boys High Scholarship fund for gifted but underprivileged South Africans.
language: English
title: Myths and Legends of the Bantu
publisher: Abela Publishing