Welcome to another fireside tale. This time we are travelling to East Africa for The Monkey, the Shark, and the Washerman’s Donkey, a playful story full of wit, mischief, and clever turns. It comes from the Hadithi Tales collection, a gathering of folktales from across Eastern Africa, and for this telling it has been lightly refreshed while keeping the original humour and folk wisdom intact. The story is adapted from Zanzibar Tales, Told by Natives of the East Coast of Africa by George W. Bateman, first published in 1901, translated from Swahili and illustrated by Walter Bobbett. A tale that has travelled more than a century to reach this moment.
Stories like this cross borders with ease. They move from shore to shore, from voice to voice, carrying laughter, warning, and insight along the way. East Africa has always known the strength of storytelling, how it binds generations and keeps memory alive.
If this tale spoke to you and you would like to explore more, you can find my collections from Africa and around the world here: https://amzn.to/4kVf92t. And if you want to know more about the project, or say hello, visit clivegilson.com. Like, follow, or subscribe if you wish, it helps these old stories keep travelling.
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