Over the lip of the world : among the storytellers of Madagascar / Colleen J. McElroy.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

McElroy, Colleen J.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Oral tradition--Madagascar.

Oral tradition.

Storytelling--Madagascar.

Storytelling.

Mythology, Malagasy.

Madagascar.

Physical Description:

xxxiv, 216 pages, 12 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations (some color), maps ; 22 cm

Place of Publication:

Seattle : University of Washington Press, [1999]

Summary:

Gifted travel writer, poet, professor of English, and insightful observer of human nature, Colleen McElroy journeyed to Madagascar to undertake a Fulbright research project exploring Malagasy oral traditions and myths. In Over the Lip of the World she depicts with equal verve the various storytelling traditions of the island and her own adventures in trying to find and record them.

McElroy's tale of an African American woman's travels among the people of Madagascar is told with wit, insight, and humor. Throughout it she interweaves English translations of Malagasy stories of heroism and morality, royalty and commoners, love and revenge, and the magic of tricksters and shapechangers.

Contents:

The Tapestry of Languages in Translation xxi

I And All the Towns Between 3

How Stories Came to Be: Three Views 16

"Origins of Myths," Alphonse Raharison 16

"Tapasiry

Tales from the South," Aurelien de Moussa Behavira 18

"The Oral Tradition," Ernest Rakotosalama 21

II Under Southern Skies: Memoirs of Toliara 23

"Papango Fito Loha: Seven-headed Hawk" 36

"Just Head" 39

"Babaky

Squash Boy" 42

III Traffic in Salt Country 45

"The Three Brothers" 56

"Two Girls and the Old Woman" 67

"Rafaravavy and Randrianoro" 69

IV Spirits of Water, Spirits of Lakes 73

"The Legend of Tritriva" 78

"Rafara

Girl of the Waters" 79

V Rock, Paper, Scissors 85

"Raharinora and Randriantsara" 105

"Faralahy Mahery: Strong Youngest Son" 108

"Ravolamamba and Tsaramiamby" 111

VI People of the Highlands; People of the Long Valleys; People of the Thorns 119

"It Was There But Goes By Quickly" (hiragasy) 124

"Moonlight," / Mme. Madeline 130

"Water: The Source of Life," / Mme. Madeline 132

"The Way to Say Farewell," / M. Ernest 136

"Each Day Now Breaks," / M. Rado 145

"Afrika!" / M. Rado 148

"Maliciousness," / M. Rado 150

"Nostalgia," / M. Rado 151

VII Turning the Bones 153

"Andriananahary (Zanahary) sy Andriantompo: The Lord Who Creates and the Lord Who Owns" 167

VIII The Light Still Shines Tomorrow 171

"The Rite of Bathing the King" 181

"Jadan'Ikoto" 186

"Jaotombo, the Fisherman" 189

IX Only the Sea Beyond 195

"Betombokoantsoro: The Monster" 203.

Notes:

"A Samuel and Althea Stroum book."

Includes bibliographical references (pages xxxii-xxxiv) and index.

ISBN:

0295978244

OCLC:

40943354