The Origin of Life on Earth: An African Creation MythPOWERFUL AFRICAN FOLKLORE. This beautiful book lavishly illustrated by Kathleen Atkins Wilson, features Dr. David Anderson's retelling of an ancient Yoruba myth. Dr. Anderson is a Storyteller who is as expressive as the tales he tells. The story tells of the time when there were only two domains: the sky above & the water below & of the adventures of Obatala, a deity who journeys down from the sky to create the world. Obatala lowers himself on a golden chain clutching a snail shell full of sand, a bird's egg & a bag of nuts & seeds. With these items & help from the other deities he creates the Earth & its inhabitants. The mythology comes from the ancient Yoruba, a West African culture that lived in city-states located in lands known today as Nigeria & Benin. The Yoruba religion underscores the creation myth upon which this folklore is based. |
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The Origin of Life on Earth: An African Creation Myth David A. Anderson,Kathleen Atkins Wilson No preview available - 1996 |
Common terms and phrases
AFRICAN CREATION MYTH AIRY Anderson/SANKOFA Animals band baobab powder baobab tree beat beautiful became began beneath bodies called carefully cast the palm chain Chameleon CHILD clay cloth create dark Designed by Pete drink ears earth Everything the orishas explore fingers fire firm flew gases gathered gave gentle gold goldsmith grew grip harden heart heat hook Illustrated by Kathleen imagined Kathleen Atkins Wilson legs Libraries listened looked maize male and female melted mirror mists mystery Obatala Olorun lived Olorun's breath ORIGIN Orunmila palm kernels palm nuts palm wine peer personalities Pete Traynor pleased pool powers Retold by David rich root sacred sand Sankofa scooped seeds sent shaped share shoulder SIGHTS PRODUCTIONS sky kingdom snail shell soil space storm story stretch studied supreme sweet swirled things thirsty told Olorun towns Villages walked wanted watery waste Wondering worried Yoruba religion Yoruba say