Nelda Lateef

Written and illustrated by a college classmate, The Hunter and the Ebony Tree is tale told by a West African (Zarman) storyteller or a griot, where less than 10% of the people are literate, placing an important responsibility on them. A young woman, trying to find the right lifemate, makes them try to place an arrow in the hard wood of an ebony tree. Eventually, a man worthy of her love, comes to the village of Tombakonda and passes the test by using his brains as opposed to his braun, teaching a valuable lesson. The highlight of the book are the patterned robes of the people.… (mehr)

This book is based on a tale told by the Zarma people in the Republic of Niger. A father has the unsettling task of finding his daughter a suitable husband. Through the daughters suttle influence she allows her father to fulfill his duty to their customs and at the same time get the husband she wants. To marry the daughter one must pierce the bark of an ebony tree. After the failure of many the task is accomplished by the daughters favorite suitor. He uses his friendships with the forest animals to accomplish the otherwise impossible task and marry his bride.… (mehr)