African Night Fire stories (review)

Book: AFRICAN NIGHT FIRE STORIES
Author: Kgang Abel Motheane

* This review was done by Pule Lechesa and published in FOUR FREE STATE AUTHORS

 When you look at the outer cover of the book the enduring image is that of ‘Granny’ next to the hearth beating the drums to dramatize her fairy tales; doing so surrounded by the young people agog with anticipation at hearing stories of existential significance to them!

Yes, the “fairy tales” used to be told in the night; that is why the title is “African night fire stories” They could not be told in the day as there was this superstition that faded away with the tide of time. We were told that if we could be told such stories in the day we would develop horns. I remember whenever we used to hear them being told in class some of us would plug our ears so that we could not hear them! But after sometime when we realized that those who were bold enough to listen could not have horns we decided to listen as well.

Before the story could be told the storyteller in a charming prelude, would say, “Bare e nere” then the audience would respond by saying “Qoi”. After this the storyteller would proceed. My mom Emily used to narrate to us a fairy tale about a certain heroic boy called ‘Sankatana’ and the Monster’. The story says one day a certain Monster came out of the blue and devoured all the peace loving people from Sankatane’s nation. This boy had to physically and mentally prepare himself to fight against this Monster in order to set free his nation and he finally succeeded in that.

When interpreting it from a political point of view the message was that Sankatane represented those who were in the liberation struggle; the likes of Steve Biko, Robert Sobukwe and Mandela and many others; whilst the Monster represented Apartheid. What I am trying to say is reciting fairy tales was also a tool that was used to give people hope. To those who were teaching this story from a religious point of view Sankatane is ‘Jesus’, Monster is the Devil. I think that Motheane’s book will also be treated like that; the animal used here will represent something in our daily lives. The most important thing in fairy tales is the moral behind the story.

Let me take one story from the book and adumbrate its relevance in these days that we live in. The story of ‘Horse and the Zebra’ in chapter nine, page 24. The story tells us that these two animals loved one other as they belonged to one class. The same with us in South Africa; we are beginning to love one another as we have discovered that we belong to one race, which is ‘Human race’. The Wife of Zebra did not like the idea of her husband working together with horses. But her husband told her that the horse belonged to them, they only lost stripes. The story shows us how these animals worked together to defeat their enemies, which were the hyenas and lions. If black and white can work together in South Africa the other African countries will follow them. And it teaches us that communication is a powerful weapon. In South Africa if ever they did not allow CODESA there could have been blood shed.

African Night fire stories, is indeed a remarkable book. It is the first of many fairy tale books that are still hopefully to come out of Free State competing in this genre locally, nationally and internationally. It contains 10 stories that are educational, and will help and motivate people. Like when you look at the first story “Rain maker” – it gives one a hope that one can survive by means of a talent that God had given to one. The book has 10 stories such as: The rainmaker, The snake and man, The moon visits the stars, The crocodile visits the big fish, The birds and the animal held a meeting in the black forest, The old man and three boys, The duck that laid the golden eggs, The flowers in the garden and peach tree, The horse and the Zebra, The king who requested a long story.

The formal review of Mr. Motheane’s book done on the 12-June-05 in Bloemfontein (South Africa) was interesting. I was delighted to be personally present and add some fizz to the occasion. Literary critic Mr. Peter Moroe’s comments were quoted: “Motheane has written stories that African children used to be told around the firelight at night. They are full of proverbs and animals from ancestral history. They are stories which were told but never written down to date.” Patrick Mohatlane said during the book’s launch that it is good to have this kind of book which will help the new generation not to forget the tapestry of our African heritage; be it Sotho, Xhosa and Zulu sayings.

Although the spirit of reciting as well as writing fairy tales is alas, seemingly diminishing amongst the various African nations, indigenous initiatives of this pivotal and creative author Kgang Motheane will undoubtedly bring about a major innovation in the Free State black literature. With his artistic style of writing, he rekindles the likes of Cqina Mhlophe and Amos Tutuola who are some of the best writers of African literature and poetry.

NOTES

1. It should be noted that Ntate Motheane did well to conscientize and popularize Free State literature in 2004 by writing his column “The bookshelf” published in Free State news, where many local books were introduced to the public.
2. Daily Sun. June 10 2005 edition. Page V1 of supplement in the middle of the paper. Article titled: “Kgang’s dream comes true!”. By Omoseye Bolaji
3. “Never too old to write” Published in Daily Sun, June 14 2005. Page 11. Note the photo of the author, together with author of this book, Pule Lechesa during the formal launch of Motheane’s book