François-Victor Equilbecq
Essai sur la littérature merveilleuse des noirs, suivi de Contes indigènes de l'Ouest africain français - Tome premier
"Essai sur la littérature merveilleuse des noirs, suivi de Contes indigènes" by F.V. Equilbecq is an ethnographic study combined with a collection of indigenous tales, written in the early 20th century. The work focuses primarily on the oral folklore of West Africa, exploring the themes, narratives, and cultural significance of the stories told by local populations. It serves as both an academic examination of this folklore and a repository of various tales that reflect the moral, social, and spiritual life of the African communities. At the start of this work, the author discusses the importance of studying indigenous folklore to understand the psychology of the people. He emphasizes the necessity of preserving these tales before they are lost, particularly as many of them exhibit pre-Islamic characteristics. The opening introduces the context in which these tales were collected, highlighting the diverse sources and the author's firsthand experiences with various storytellers across West Africa. The significance of these narratives is reinforced, as they provide insights into the values, beliefs, and imaginations of the indigenous populations, setting the stage for a deeper exploration of the folklore in the subsequent chapters.