Jan. 23 African Short Stories

"The False Prophet," was written by Sembene Ougmane and translated by Len Ortzen. The main character is Mahmoud Fall. In the beginning of the story he is lazy, so he cons people into believing a religion that he has made up to get money from them. He then leaves with everyones coins. After many hours of walking he finds himself in a baron place with just one tree alive. He falls asleep under the tree and is robbed of his coins and hair. Moral of the story do not con people.

"Certain Winds From the South," was written by Ama Ata Aidoo. M'ma Asana is the main character. She finds out that her son in law must leave to find a way to support his wife and newborn. M'ma's daughter is very distraught over the entire situation. M'ma consoles her daughter by telling her the story behind her father's death.

"The Apprentice," was written by Odun Balogun. The main character is Ogunmola. This strory shows that it is bad to run from your past. Ogunmola could have had a life of royalty, but instead choose to become an apprentice blacksmith. He trained under his master for a long time, but never got his certificate. He then went to the other master blacksmith who did the same thing. These masters were quarreling brothers, which left Ogunmola with nothing to show for his hard work.

"The Will of Allah," was written by David Owoyele. There are two main characters in this story and they are Dogo and Sule. These two are both hardened criminals that have been in and out of jails throughout Africa. In the end this life catches up to the men. They steal a goard that has a cobra in it. The men die in the rain next to a stream.

"Cival Peace," was written by Chinua Achebe. Jonathan is the main character of this story. He is a simple man who is just happy to have the health of his wife and three children after a cival war split the countryside. While piecing his life back together he is badgered by looting thieves who want everything that he has worked so hard to achieve. This sort of cival peace makes me proud to be American.

"The Gentlemen of the Jungle," was written by Jomo Kenyatta. Apparently in Africa they can talk animals, because this story is about a trial between man and animals. I am just happy to see that in the end the human outsmarts the animals by burning them alive.