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bukola's review
4.0
Funny and fantastic.
In many cultures, stories and folktales are told not only to entertain, but also to pass on important lessons about life and living. Some of these stories are infused with magical realism; this makes them more memorable, and the lessons more so.
This is what D.O. Fagunwa did; the stories do not merely tell of Akara-Ogun the brave hunter and his many adventures in the Forest of Demons, they also record important aspects of the Yoruba culture and tradition, such as religious beliefs, language (proverbs), food, dressing, music, artifacts, food, vocation, values, and social hierarchy. Some of the richness of our culture is preserved on the pages of this book.
Of course, it is a classic work of literature and has been translated into other languages, but I'm glad I read the Yoruba version; it preserved the originality for me.
In many cultures, stories and folktales are told not only to entertain, but also to pass on important lessons about life and living. Some of these stories are infused with magical realism; this makes them more memorable, and the lessons more so.
This is what D.O. Fagunwa did; the stories do not merely tell of Akara-Ogun the brave hunter and his many adventures in the Forest of Demons, they also record important aspects of the Yoruba culture and tradition, such as religious beliefs, language (proverbs), food, dressing, music, artifacts, food, vocation, values, and social hierarchy. Some of the richness of our culture is preserved on the pages of this book.
Of course, it is a classic work of literature and has been translated into other languages, but I'm glad I read the Yoruba version; it preserved the originality for me.
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