How Giraffe Stretched His Neck
()
About this ebook
Moral African Folktales for all ages.
African Folktales are common to most of the tribes and peoples of Africa. Different cultures, whilst sharing a common point of reference, will colour each story with their own rich, unique heritage. These tales by tradition were handed down by word of mouth through the ages, to be enjoyed by young and old alike.
Honouring tradition, I tried to keep the "voice" of the original storytellers of old, in the same manner in which they spoke, centuries ago. Contractions have been left out, since they were not the mode of speech in those bygone days.
In Africa, myths and tall tales abound, around the next mountain, through yonder valley, you will find a story that almost sounds the same as one you heard before. Thus, there are many versions of each tale. I believe my stories capture the essence of originality, having been adapted from traditional oral folktales.
Many folktales about Africa inspired countless expeditions in search of mysteries and treasures, from golden mountains, to lost tribes, to amazing animals. How did they get there? How were they made? Were they kind or fierce? Were they friendly or terrifying? Yes, some were gentle, some were vicious, but all had a story to tell. Who are they? What do they stand for, what nature do they have?
All beings possess traits of one kind or another, it is these that are discovered in folktales.
These stories have been built upon ancient traditions. As an African-born author, I owe a debt of gratitude to all our ancestors who passed down wonderful fables and tales, from which these stories are derived. It is to them, I dedicate my books.
Mauritz Mostert
Author and artist, Mauritz Mostert, was born and bred on a South African farm. The untamed bushveld was his second home where his family was influential in the creation of the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve. Growing up between what was then the African wilds and a commercial farm meant driving vast distances over dirt tracks, through rivers, riding in supplies needed for weeks at a time in an old Kombi. Isolation in the bushveld was profound but blissful. In the rainy season the camp would be cut off as the rivers rose and flooded the dry bush. The nearest bush clinic was the mission station at Acornhoek, run by nuns, over forty miles away and the nearest small town, one hundred. In the bush, young Mauritz learned to be resourceful and capable. His constant companions, the birds, the animals and Santros, the son of his grandfather's right-hand man. But like most colonial children from African farms, Mauritz had to eventually go to boarding school, seeing his beloved bushveld only on holidays. Mauritz has worked in South Africa and Botswana as an expedition guide and coordinator for documentary makers associated with National Geographic. Apart from painting and writing books, he is the webmaster and developer accountable for Wildmoz. There he is the wildlife photographer, providing visual content on the websites and illustrations for the African Folktales Book Series.
Read more from Mauritz Mostert
25 Famous African Folktales Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsJabu And The Lion Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHow The Leopard Got His Spots Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Great Animal Battle Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHow The Zebra Got His Stripes Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Related to How Giraffe Stretched His Neck
Related ebooks
How The Zebra Got His Stripes Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5How Elephant Lost His Huge Bottom and Other Ananse Stories: African Fireside Classics, #5 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsOn the Shoulder of a Giant Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Rock in My Throat Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Little Green Planet (Chinese Edition): 20 Simple Things We Can Do to Save the Earth Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Mapmakers' Race Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Waynetta and the Cornstalk: A Texas Fairy Tale Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Wall: A Timeless Tale Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Tailor of Gloucester: Illustrated Edition Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Lure of the Honey Bird: The Storytellers of Ethiopia Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGrandmother Ptarmigan Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHelen Keller's Best Friend Belle Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5On the Internet: Our First Talk About Online Safety Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5On the News: Our First Talk About Tragedy Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRepairing the World Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsZara's Rules for Living Your Best Life Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMeet a Baby Wombat Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5I Am Farmer: Growing an Environmental Movement in Cameroon Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Habit of Spring: Collected Poems 2019 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWhat a Scare! (Book Two of Rubiah from Semarang): Rubiah from Semarang, #2 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHow to Write a Story Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Let Me Tell You Something About that Night Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMichiko or Mrs.Belmont's Brownstone on Brooklyn Heights Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHow the Elephant Got His Trunk: The Graphic Novel Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTwenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5We Belong Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsKarung Guni Boy Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWhy the Spider Has Long Legs: An African Folk Tale Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Princess Swashbuckle Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A Hen for Izzy Pippik Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
YA Fairy Tales & Folklore For You
Cinder: Book One of the Lunar Chronicles Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Once Upon a Broken Heart Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Children of Blood and Bone Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Between the Lines Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Sabriel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Soul as Cold as Frost: The Winter Souls Series, #1 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Legendborn Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This Woven Kingdom Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Hobbit Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Gallant Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Cress Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Cinderella Is Dead Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Serpent & Dove Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Sleeper and the Spindle Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Scarlet Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Furyborn Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Little Thieves Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Heart as Red as Paint: The Winter Souls Series, #2 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Cursed Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Persuasion Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Compulsion Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Book of a Thousand Days Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5In Other Lands Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Siren Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Vow So Bold and Deadly Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Enna Burning Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Lady Rogue Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Reviews for How Giraffe Stretched His Neck
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
How Giraffe Stretched His Neck - Mauritz Mostert
HOW GIRAFFE STRETCHED HIS NECK
by
Mauritz Mostert
Editor
Cari Mostert
COPYRIGHT
How Giraffe Stretched His Neck
Text copyright © 2012 Cari & Mauritz Mostert
Illustrations copyright © 2012 Mauritz Mostert
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means – electronic, mechanical, photographic (photocopying), recording, or otherwise – without prior permission in writing from the authors.
Published by
WILDMOZ
ISBN-9781393802785
Discover other titles by Mauritz Mostert at Wildmoz.com
PREFACE
African Folktales are common to most of the tribes and peoples of Africa. Different cultures, whilst sharing a common point of reference, will colour each story with their own rich, unique heritage. These tales by tradition were handed down by word of mouth through the ages, to be enjoyed by young and old alike.
Honouring tradition, I tried to keep the voice
of the original storytellers of old, in the same manner in which they spoke, centuries ago. Contractions have been left out, since they were not the mode of speech in those bygone days.
In Africa, myths and tall tales abound, around the