Water stories : original !Garib narrations about the Water Snake = Waterstories - Oorspronklike : !Garib-vertellinge Van Die Waterslang / Mary Lange (editor).

First edition.

Pretoria : Unisa Press, [2014]

©2014

ix, 54 pages : color illustrations ; 21 x 30 cm

In English and Afrikaans.

What do you know about the Water Snake? -- When this question was presented to a group of South Africa's Upington women, it triggered a set of short stories in an attempt to capture the myth of the Water Snake. Water stories is collection of personal histories, reminiscences, and narratives about the Gariep River and the Water Snakes that dwell there. The wellspring of testimonies lies in age-old indigenous beliefs and practices. Traditionally, Khoe-San women associated themselves with the Water Snake in order to be 'lucky' and ensure fecundity and good fortune for themselves and their communities. In the book, Nana, Maria, Martha, Girlie, and Bessa have become narrators - sharing their beliefs surrounding the Water Snake. Whether through religion, myth, or folklore, Water Stories provides a glimpse into the beliefs, customs, traditions, and everyday realities of these people (descendants of, amongst others, the !Xam and Nguni).

English; Afrikaans

January 14, 2016

Includes bibliographic references (pages 40-41) and index.

Folklore.