THE BEGINNING OF TIME: THE ORAL TRADITIONS

African peoples have wonderful tales to tell about the begin- ning of time. Traditionally the elders of the village gather the children and tell them about times when the world was young, when animals could talk, when heroes walked among humankind, when their God made the Earth and everything in it. In the hands of the skilled storyteller the characters come alive, and the children will never forget them. The stories are entertain- ing, but entertainment is not their primary goal. As they listen, the children are absorbing the myths and the culture of their community.