Cameroonian Writer Agnes Ngoh Nzuh Revives the traditional fireside storytelling practice through writing in her collection stories dubbed Tales of the Grassland and the Forest.
By MBUH BECKSON MBUH (Intern)
Agnes Ngoh Nzuh’s Tales from the Grassland and the Forest, published at Editions CLE Yaounde Cameroon is an awe-inspiring and mind-blowing collection of folktales from the forest and grassland regions of Cameroon. The traditional fireside storytelling practice is where the author draws his inspiration wherein the elderly educated the young by enriching them with traditional norms and values. The influence of modernism in the form of television, radio and more significantly the internet alongside social networks like Facebook and Instagram is where Ngoh Nzuh takes his point of focus which is to revive the agelong tradition of transmitting moral codes to the younger generation. Also she intends to revitalize the spirit of storytelling between the old and the young.
The collection of over 14 short stories made of 133 carries very interesting and intriguing titles such as; The Stubborn Chicks, The Case between Cows and The Grass, How a Slave Boy Became Chief and The Quarrel Between the Parts of the Body… Just to name a few.
The story of The Stubborn Chick talks of a mother hen and her five chick out of which Fifi and Fufu are the stubborn ones. Whenever they go out to feed, the stubborn chicks would not adhere to their mother’s call when danger comes knocking. It was untill Dudu got devoured by the villainous Hawk , hence paying a price for stubbornness that Fifi learns her lesson. This is just a summary the full story itself has many more surprises. It is thus just a tip of the iceberg of what the other tales in the collection carry.
The Stories in this collection are pregnant with moral values and lessons such as obedience, honesty, peace, love, hard work…. With such moral values, these tales are recommendable for children and or adolescents. The collection will be a vital asset for primary schools and why not the junior secondary. Parents could either use them as bedtime stories or even as gifts for their children. This will go a long way to inculcate values that will lead to a better society tomorrow.
