| Published: | February 17, 2015 |
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| ISBN: | 978-1-86888-787-3 |
| Number of pages: | 64 |
| This book is not available in electronic format |
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When Mary Lange asked a group of Upington women: ‘What do you know about the Water Snake?’, this triggered a set of lyrical short stories, in an attempt to capture the myth of the Water snake. The women’s response to her question formed the basis for the Water Stories , here published with a set of original drawings by regional artist Betta Steyn. Johanna (Nana) de Wee, Martha van Rooi, Maria (Mokkie) Malo, Noxolo(Girlie) Prescilla Saaiman and Elizabeth (Bessa) Sixaxa became narrators – sharing with us their beliefs surrounding the Water Snake. Religion, myth or folklore, these Water Stories provide a glimpse into beliefs, customs, traditions and everyday realities of these peoples of mixed cultural descent.
The original regional Afrikaans narrations have been supplemented by an English translation as explanation. Subject fields include cultural studies, linguistics, religion, archaeology and anthropology.
Contents
Voorwoord/Foreword
Inleiding/Introduction
The Storytellers
The Water Stories:
Willem en die Waterslang
WILLEM AND THE WATER SNAKE
Die Dogtertjie in die Rivier
THE LITTLE GIRL IN THE RIVER
DIE HALF-VROU, HALF-VIS OP PRIESKA
THE HALF-WOMAN, HALF-FISH OF PRIESKA
DIE KETTING IN DIE WATER
THE CHAIN IN THE WATER
DIE MEISIES EN DIE WATERSLANG
THE GIRLS AND THE WATER SNAKE
’n BOK VIR DIE WATERSLANG
A GOAT FOR THE WATER SNAKE
’n BEES VIR DIE WATERSLANG
A BULL FOR THE WATER SNAKE
DIE BOER EN DIE WATERSLANG SE KROON
THE RAYS
Bibliography
About the Artist
About the Editor