Saturday, July 4, 2015

Native American and African Storytelling

Happy Fourth of July to you. In America we traditionally get together for a BBQ with family or friends. Perhaps we see some fireworks. The Fourth of July holiday celebrates the signing of the Declaration of Independence and separation from England.

To some the meaning of the holiday seems faraway and forgotten. I thought about how to bring meaning to the Fourth of July today. Perhaps implementing a tradition of storytelling. Storytelling are repositories of the past and stories preserve the principles and values of a people. We learn from the past to move forward in the future. A gathering of family and friends is the perfect opportunity to do some storytelling.

Below are two stories the first is a Native American story, Buffaloes in the Sky. The second story is African, the Story of the Partridge.


Have a listen to  Harold Scheub, African Languages and Literature Professor telling the African story of the partridge.



Did you know that three of our presidents died on the fourth of July? John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Monroe. Calvin Coolidge was born on the fourth of July. Now that I think about it blogging is a form of storytelling. Happy Fourth of July to you and happy storytelling. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.

5 comments:

  1. Storytelling is an art. Which we are finally, slowly, starting to recognise.
    Happy Fourth to you and yours.

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    1. Hi Sue, thanks, yes we once went to an event with storytellers and it was quite entertaining.

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  2. The oral storytelling is alive and well in some places. From Illinois where my family date from early 1800s, my ancestors passed down stories about family history. I am still passing them on to my family. I hope they are listening and adding to them.

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    1. Hi Susan, thanks, in our world of texting and so much impersonal stuff, I think storytelling is all the more important especially for families to spend time together.

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  3. I hope you enjoyed your 4th of July weekend, Linda.

    Yes...I read in the paper here about the number and names of US presidents who passed away on Independence Day. It was an "On This Day" segment in the newspaper.

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