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Tales of Universal Relevance from Africa

The Hyena and the Squirrel by Bukar Usman is a colourfully illustrated children’s book that tells the story of the strange friendship between the hyena and the squirrel. In the story, the squirrel tricks the hyena into taking a big risk to prove how strong it is. Thereafter, both friends attend a feast at the lion’s den. When a pack of hungry dogs waylay the hyena and the squirrel on their way home from the feast, this exciting story of life in the jungle, from which useful morals are drawn, becomes more dramatic and more fun to read…. The story is intended to make the reader, particularly children in primary schools, laugh and learn. Morals are drawn at the end of the story for the good of the child. 

The Stick of Fortune is a collection of eight short stories which teach useful lessons about fortune, fate, money and manners. Each story is unique, especially in its array of characters and conflicts, and all the stories have distinct themes. In terms of setting, however, these stories are similar, but a more unifying factor is the theme of fortune which, in varying degrees, runs through all the stories.

     This book, written by Bukar Usman, takes its title from the first story, although the idea of “stick” and “fortune” is by no means limited to that story. In virtually all the stories, the stick of opportunity or chance presents itself to all the relevant characters in conflict. While some make fortunes out of it, some others, due mainly to their own faults, end up harvesting misfortune.

     These seemingly simple tales, in their magical countryside setting and plain narrative, are in some ways useful stories children need to read and understand to enable them gain the wisdom they require to win the game of life now and in the future. Get your copy here.

The Bride without Scars: Ten stories. At least 33 major characters. Four kings, one of whom walks on all fours. Two former orphans who became queens. One princess who envies her poor friend for having something she doubly possesses. A monster, literally speaking, who makes a young man fall in love with her. An old woman who descends like an angel. A cat and three riddles. The squirrel who kidnaps monkeys and gets entertained by them… This book offers such a variety of scenarios and highly amusing characters.

     Truth is the central theme in these stories. Each person or animal in all the stories is either for the truth or against it. And as children learn some morals at the end of the stories, so would adults re-learn some lessons. This is one book by Bukar Usman every family and every pupil or student should have, not only for the sheer pleasure of reading it, or for its moral fibre, but also for its broader educational value.

     The book has a “Story-Writing Workshop for Students” section that teaches students how to write short stories and has over 50 exercises relevant to GCE students. Get your copy here.

“Girls in Search of Husbands”, the title story of Girls in Search of Husbands and Other Stories, is the story of five beautiful girls and their ugly girlfriend, Hirku, whom fate favours above the rest as they travel in search of who will be their husbands.

     Each of them hopes to marry the “King of Farmers”, the richest man in the town who has sworn to wed any girl who can guess his real name. By a twist of fortune, the wealthy bachelor chooses Hirku, the least-favoured girl, as his wife.

     There are seven other stories in this book. Each of them is very interesting. Altogether, they teach children that disobedience is not good, that hard work and honesty bring success, and that at the end of the day principle would triumph over brute force, order over disorder and good over evil. Get your copy here.