Sarah F. Bourhill
Fairy tales from South Africa
"Fairy Tales from South Africa" by Sarah F. Bourhill and Beatrice L. Drake is a collection of traditional folk tales written in the early 20th century. This book gathers and arranges indigenous South African stories, especially those from Swazi, Zulu, Shangani, and Suto origins, retold for children and general readers interested in folklore. The topic centers on classic fairy tales featuring magical creatures, brave and clever heroes, transformations, and the customs and daily life of South African tribes before colonial times. The opening of the book begins with a warm introduction addressed to children and all lovers of fairy tales, explaining the origins and oral tradition of these stories among Kafir (now known as Nguni) peoples—stories told by elders around evening fires. The introduction describes how such tales are shared in secret and guarded with ritual, reflecting their cultural significance. Following the preface, the contents list reveals a diverse set of tales, each with its own magical or moral focus. The first stories introduce a variety of characters: Setuli, the deaf and mute son of a chief who gains magical powers from a fairy, proving his wisdom and bravery; a king’s son who loses and regains his father’s cattle through a magical song and the help of a fairy; clever animals, enchanted objects, ogres, and helpful woodland creatures—all weaving a rich tapestry of South African lore in their beginnings.