Fairy Tales: African Tales, Nelson Mandela's Favorite African Folktales

For A-Z List 7, I picked up Nelson Mandela's Favorite African Folktales CD Collection.

I admit to some trepidation--I've never entirely understood why I should be drawn to collections by celebrities. For instance, I've never understood why I am supposed to find a collection of poems by a Kennedy more valuable than a collection of poems by Bob Smith from Buffalo. Does a celebrity automatically confer literary status? In addition, such collections are often tied to a political purpose. Does the political purpose automatically confer literary status? (In the case of Nelson Mandela's Favorite African Folktales, the purpose was charitable.)

There is a very funny Coach episode where Kelly and her husband want Luther to give them $5 for every mile they walk for a local charity. They expect to earn about $25. Luther offers to give them $25 to paint his garage, but they don't want to paint his garage. 

"How about I just give you the money?" he says. 

Dauber breaks in: "I'll paint your garage for $25, Luther."

So--I have my doubts about celebrity endorsements and celebrity concerts and what-not. 

However, I admire Nelson Mandela, and I love folktales, and the collection looked interesting, so I determined to give it a try. 

To avoid technical problems (skipping), I went to Audible and downloaded "The Cat That Came Indoors," edited by Hugh Tracey and told by Helen Mirren; "The Snake Charmer," edited by Nelson Mandela and told by Samuel L. Jackson, and then "The Snake Chief," edited by Nelson Mandela and told by Scarlett Johansson. 

The first two are so hilarious, the tales and the tellings, I began laughing on the sidewalk as I walked to the Portland Public Library. The third is a lovely classic groom-beast tale and reminded me of Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters.

I recommend the collection! In the world of charged language, the collection represents true diversity. A variety of tales. A variety of writers/editors. A variety of tellers from Don Cheadle to Gillian Anderson. The actors do a fantastic job and truly seem to enjoy themselves!