African Mythology A to Z

Summary

Designed specifically for young readers, the Mythology A to Z series explores the world's most important myths and legends in an accessible and entertaining manner. Each volume includes vividly written entries on the major figures, places, stories, objects, and themes of a given mythology. A vast continent, Africa is the home of the first humans and the birthplace of many cultures, ranging from nomadic bands to farmers to sophisticated civilizations. With four major language families and myriad peoples, Africa is also the source of a diverse and engaging body of myth. African Mythology A to Z is a clearly written reference guide to this lore. Containing 42 illustrations, two maps, a time line, a bibliography, an index, and extensive cross-references, African Mythology A to Z is a comprehensive and accessible reference guide for anyone interested in learning more about various African myths, traditions, and beliefs. Book jacket.

Author Biography

Patricia Ann Lynch is a freelance writer with more than 30 years' experience in educational publishing. She has authored numerous student readers in the areas of science and social studies.

Acknowledgments	p. iv
Introduction	p. v
Map of Modern Africa	p. xiv
Countries and Tribal Regions	p. xv
Time Line of African History	p. xix
A-to-Z Entries	p. 1
Selected Bibliography	p. 127
Index	p. 131
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

Supplemental Materials

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Excerpts

The first humans may have come from Africa, and many great civilizations have flourished there. From the long history of human habitation in Africa; the diverse geography, flora, and fauna of the continent; and the variety of African cultural beliefs comes a fascinating and strong tradition of myth. African Mythology A to Z is a readable reference to the deities, places, events, animals, beliefs, and other subjects that appear in the myths of various African peoples.
With nearly 300 entries written to inform and appeal to young people—and illustrations accompanying the text throughout—this valuable resource sheds light on a subject that many Americans, young and old, find themselves drawn to study. With an introduction that provides historical context for better understanding the myths, African Mythology A to Z fully describes, defines, and explains key stories, characters, themes, and other aspects of the myths of African peoples.
Coverage includes:
Creation accounts from various African cultures
Influences on and development of African mythology
The effects of geographic region, environment, and climate on African myth
Core beliefs of numerous cultural groups.