Rita Pierson, a teacher for 40 years, once heard a colleague say, “They don’t pay me to like the kids.” Her response: “Kids don’t learn from people they don’t like.’” A rousing call to educators to believe in their students and actually connect with them on a real, human, personal level.
According to traditions, the Ninki Nanka lives in the swamps of West Africa. It is said to be extremely large and dangerous. It is said that when children get too confident and feel they can disobey their parents and go into the swamp they will be taken by the Ninki Nanka. The story of Ninki Nanka has spread from tribe to tribe across Africa. There is a song called “Ninki Nanka” on the album Casamance au clair de lune (1984) by the Senegalese music group Touré Kunda. A group of “dragon hunters” from the Centre for Fortean Zoology (CFZ) went to Gambia in the summer of 2006 to investigate the Ninki Nanka and take testimony from those who have claimed to have seen the mythical creature. One interviewee who claimed to have had an encounter with a Ninki Nanka said it looked similar to an image of a Chinese dragon. The expedition was known as the “J. T. Downes Memorial Gambia Expedition 2006″
The Adze is a vampiric being from Ewe folklore in Togo and Ghana. It normally looks like a firefly, but it will transform into human shape when captured.
In its human form, the Adze has the power to possess ordinary humans and turn them into witches.
A person is suspected of being possessed in a variety of situations, including: women with brothers (especially if their brother’s children fared better than their own), old people (if the young suddenly started dying and the old stayed alive) and the poor (if they envied the rich).
The Adze’s effects are generally felt by the possessed victim’s family or those the victim is jealous of. In firefly form, the Adze can pass through closed doors at night and suck blood from people as they sleep. Victims would fall ill and die.
Tales of the creature and its effects were probably used to describe the potentially deadly effects of mosquitos and malaria. There is no defense against an Adze.
Source: Bunson, Matthew (1993). The Vampire Encyclopedia.
I subscribe to Good magazine and I read a short article called ‘We Should Probably Turn Text Books in to Comic Books‘ by writer Liz Dwyer. In ti the writer points out that the debate about books being physical or digital might actually be a side issue: more important, according a to university study is ensuring that “the academic content within the book is in a format that’s going to help students retain more information.”
It reminded me of a time, decades ago, when I was very enthusiastic about designing educational books and material for young people. I was particularly keen to introduce a comic book look or feel to heavy subjects. PErhaps my skills were n;t honed enough, or the time wasn’t right, but I never managed to convince anyone else that this was not only a good idea but also a beneficial one top the young learners. I didn’t want to create super heroes to describe a mathematical formula or anything like that, but It was clear that children and young people respond very well to comic strips. This is probably because the comics are very well thought out tools of communication with very little wastage of bot words and pictures. Whatever is in these books works very hard to tell the story. Perhaps 20 years ago they were not thought of in this way.
As the graphic novel makes its way into the mainstream, surely this is the future of both printed and digital publishing? It works well on both platforms without adaptation. Could it also be the future of educational publishing for younger children too? It will need authors, experts and illustrators to work from the same script, something which is not always possible. Egos get in the way, as do time and money.
Wouldn’t be great, though? The result would be well though out mini plays, window by window, explaining the mysteries of science and literature to hungry and appreciative young minds.
So my request this week is this; Are you an illustrator, writer, teacher, editor or designer keen to work on such a project? If so, get in touch and let’s start conversation…
K
It could be my age, or perhaps the fat that I have found some extra time these days, but I have ben looking at work done so far. It has thrown up some pleasant surprises! First, it seems that I have worked on more books than I thought. And secondly, when I look at them I can almost remember each brush stroke. Children’s publishing has changed and I always wonder what it must be like for first time author/illustrators now. Sure, it must be exciting, but go back twenty or so years ago and it was a fantastic time to have ideas and be an ‘author’. I could go on, but I won’t…
I recently worked on this title for Holiday House, whose style and dealings reminded me very much of the old days in the best way. The whole experience made it one of the most enjoyable projects for a very long time. The Little Plant Doctor matched my mood at the time and I have looked for other similar projects since. MAny ideas popped into my head; what about the Banana Boat Song (six foot, seven foot, eight foot, bunch!)? Or, the story of Pele, to ame a couple?
Anyway, it set me on a new and different path. It isn’t necessarily an easy one to take, as it may not be as lucrative as the mainstream, but it has been very rewarding so far. Watch this space
K
In the Kanuri language of the Bornu Empire in the Lake Chad region, Werehyenas were called ‘Bultungin’ (“I change myself into a hyena”). It was traditionally believed that one or two of the villages in the region was populated entirely by Bultungin. Ethiopians traditionally believed that blacksmiths were really wizards or witches who could change into hyenas. These ‘Bouda’ were believed to rob graves at midnight. The fact that blacksmithing is a traditional profession for Jewish men may be a reason for the characterization of Ethiopian Jews as being ‘Bouda’. Belief in the‘Bouda’ is also present in Sudan, Tanzania and Morocco. In twestern Sudan folklore there is human creature who is nightly transformed into a cannibalistic monster that terrorizes people, especially lovers. The creature is often portrayed as a magically powerful healer, blacksmith, or woodcutter in its human form, but recognizable through signs like a hairy body, red and gleaming eyes and a nasal voice. The Korè cult of the Bambara people in Mali “become” hyenas by imitating the animals’ behaviour through masks and role plays.
Abada (The Unicorn) © Ken Wilson-Max 2013
I am getting really good feedback about this series. I thought I should shout that out. It makes me feel good too. Thanks to all of you.
In the Kongo language of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Abada is a mythical animal not unlike a unicorn. The Abada, however, has two crooked horns as opposed to a unicorn’s single one. The Abada’s horns can act as an antidote to poison. The Abada is been described as being the size of a small donkey with the tail of a boar. It also goes by the name of “Nillekma” or “Arase”. and is said to be native to Kurdufan, a former province of central Sudan.
Yumboes, are a type of fairies in Wolof mythology (Senegal, West Africa).Legend has it that they live on Goree Island, just off the coast of the capital, Dakar. They are said to about two feet (60 cm) in height, and of a pearly-white colour with silver hair. The Yumboes come out to dance in the moonlight and feast on large tables, served by partially invisible servants whose feet and hands are the only parts visible. Yumboes eat corn and fish and are know to invite human guests to their feasts. Some call them the ‘Bakhna Rakhna’ (good people), just like the Scottish fairies called Good Neighbours.
The mythical Southern African creature, the Tokoloshe is a dwarf-like, mischievous and evil spirit can make itself invisible by swallowing a pebble. Tokoloshes are called upon to cause trouble for others. Its power extends from scaring children to causing illness and even death to its target. Only the N’anga (witch doctor) has the power to banish the Tokoloshe. Another way to keep the Tokoloshe away at night is to put a brick beneath each leg of one’s bed. Some people believe the Tokoloshe is a poltergeist, or gremlin, created by N’angas who have been offended. The Tokoloshe is characterised by its hairy body, its gremlin-like appearance and gouged out eyes. But, the Tokoloshe has been known to take on many forms. According to legend, the Tokoloshe gets its power from a hot poker, which thrusted into its crown during creation.
K
The Jengu, from Cameroon, differs in appearance from person to person, but it is said to be a beautiful, mermaid-like figures with long, hair and gap-toothed smiles. A Jengu (plural Miengu) is a water spirit in the traditional beliefs of the Sawa ethnic groups of Cameroon. They live in rivers and the sea and bring good fortune to worshipers. They are also healers and intermediaries between people and the spirits. A Jengu cult has long enjoyed popularity in Cameroon. For the inland Bakweri, Jengu worship is a rite of passage for eight to ten-year old girls. During this time, the girl must wear a dress made of fern fronds and follow a series of taboos. After this period, she is a full member of the cult. There are many mermaid creatures in mythology across the African continent.
