Week 7: Famous Last Words

Okay. It has been a little while since I have done a Famous Last Words post. It looks like the last one I did was way back in week 4, but that is okay. I will pick up from here. So... This week has been hectic! From juggling exams and courses to interviewing and getting a new Job! I was also able to publish my first Storybook story last week! If you are interested you can check out this storybook story here.

Famous Last Words:

This week in Mythology and Folklore has been very enjoyable! I have gotten to examine other students Storybook Projects and they look great! I am excited to see how everyone's projects turn out.

This week, Week 7, I read the Congo Unit and I have to say that I absolutely enjoyed myself while reading these fun and adventurous type stories. This unit is exactly why I love this course. I did not come into this course expecting to read something like this, but I am so happy it came my way. If any of you are interested in reading from this unit I would very much recommend it. I think my favorite reading from this unit called How the three Wives Restored their Husband to Life and the Twin Brothers! In reality I really enjoyed pretty much all of the readings in this Unit! I really enjoyed reading the story about twin brothers because, well I am a twin! I would say the Congo Unit has easily became one of my favorite Units I have read so far!


This semester has been going great! It is now week 7 of 16 which means... we are almost half way done with the semester!!!! Wooo hooo! I hope everyone is having a great semester! Keep your heads above water and remember... Just keep swimming!

Essay Week 7: Congo Unit

This week I read from the Congo Unit in the Myth and Folklore Un-Textbook out of the African Unit! I found these readings to be very enjoyable and I am glad that I choose to read them for this week. A major factor into me choosing to read this unit was that it paired nicely with my Storybook Project of Tales of the Undead. The Congo Unit focused nicely on some magic and resurrection of the dead. I was a little sadden because I did not find any stories that I particularly want to retell. I think one of the things that I enjoyed most about this unit was the storytelling methods! All the stories were told in a new way and I found it very interesting! My favorite story in this unit was the story titled How the Lives Restored their Husband to Life! It was a great story that became a great compliment to my Storybook Project! I was really excited about that ability to include a story from the Congo Unit into my storybook project, but I have decided to not use it for this project. Overall, I am very glad I was able to pick up this Unit! I very much enjoyed the Unit and I am glad to see it in the Myth and Folklore Un-Textbook.

Malawi waYao Tribe Members

Week 7 Storytelling: The Lucky Cricket and the Starving Children

     One dark night, cold and pouring rain, a cricket clamored out of his home in a pile of crumpled old newspapers and set out in search of food for his four-hundered and sixty three children. Edward became an only father when his beloved wife, Matilda, passed away giving birth to their last son. Disgruntled from the death of his wife and forced to provide for all his children alone, Edward was, as you can imagine, in rough looking shape. His face was covered in black stains acquired from his full-time position at the factory. His hands were rough and worn, and his eyes were glazed over like he had been sleep deprived for three weeks, in fact he had been sleep deprived for three weeks!
     Edward was not the kind of guy to ask for help. He was capable of finding food for his yougins’ on his own. He finally came to a place that seemed to glimmer with hope! It was a Taco Bell!!! If he was lucky he would be able to find a freezer with food or collect enough crumbs to feed his children. He set out to start the search, but it was not long until suddenly became enshrouded with a dark shadow and as soon as it had started it had ended. Edward has been squished by an employees shoe. 

Jiminy Cricket in the original trailer for Pinocchio

    All of Edward’s children were at home starving and they hadn’t a clue what to do or how to get some food. One of the cricket siblings piped up and said, "I had a dream, that our father has died!” Next a sister spoke and said, "I had a vision about where he is I can lead us to his body.” The cricket siblings set out to find their father and search for food. When the arrived at Taco Bell and found their father deceased on the cold tile floor all the children wept, with the exception of the youngest child who said, “When I was born and I killed my mother I inherited the power to bring people back to life. So, I shall now bring Papa back to us.” Conjuring up a spell the youngest cricket worked his magic and soon the father sprang back to life. 

     With his children at his side the father led the children to a Cheesy Gordita Crunch with No Baja Sauce and Substituted Beans for Beef and everyone was happy!

Authors Note: For this weeks reading I choose to retell the story How the Wives Restored their Husband to Life. I choose to retell this story because I believe it went nicely paired with my storybook project theme of the undead. This story was very interesting and started off with A man who had three wives. The man set out to feed his wives and while he was away he decided he want to get an ox so he tracked the ox far away. When he took his arrow to kill the ox another ox came from behind and killed him too! The wives starving at home did not know what to do. One of the wives dreamt their husband was killed by an ox, another led them to his body and the third resurrected him from the dead. The woman fought over whose food he would eat first. When the man was able he said I will eat the food of the wife that brought me back to life because she is the one that allowed me to eat again.

Week 7 Reading Diary: Congo Unit

This week I choose to do the reading unit for the Africa Unit: Congo. I am very excited to do this unit because my storybook project is going to be based on stories of the undead. This section is going to be very helpful in learning about the African traditions of the Undead and other rituals! Below is a list of some of the stories that I particularly like while reading this Unit and a description of the stories.

Reading A:

How the Wives Restored Their Husband to Life:
A man set out to feed his three wives. He want to get an ox so he tracked the ox far away. When he took his arrow to kill the ox another ox came from behind and killed him too! The wives starving at home did not know what to do. One of the wives dreamt their husband was killed by an ox, another led them to his body and the third resurrected him from the dead. The woman fought over whose food he would eat first. When the man was able he said I will eat the food of the wife that brought me back to life because she is the one that allowed me to eat again.

The Twin Brothers:
Once upon a time a woman gave birth to twins who were full grown at their birth... ouch. The daughter of Nzambi was ready for marriage and all the creature that had breath as for her hand in marriage, but she refused them all saying she did not love them. One of the Twins set out to marry the women which he did. He then set out to a town where no man returns for some reason. When he arrived their he was eaten by a women. Then his twin brother came to the city and the people thought he was the brother and was married to Nazambi's daughter. He also soon set out on a journey to the town where no man returns. He killed the woman and brought his brother back to life along with all the people who had died there. Then the first twin killed the second for a disagreement.

Reading B:

How the Spider Won and Lost Nzambi's Daughter:
Nazambi was in a predicament. She need fire from the heavens, but did not have a way to get it. Her daughter was very beautiful so the Spider, the sand-fly, the rat and the woodpecker all promised to help for a reward. Each of the creatures played their part in helping Nzambi receive fire from the heavens but she gave her daughter to the Spider. The others creatures were jealous and complained so Nzambi said I can't give her to you all so I will give her to none. Instead I will pay you all her value. And so Nzambi's daughter was still unmarried.

The Fetish of Chilunga:
Interesting "Urban Legend". This story is about a place where a fetish rules in the form of a princess. He demands that people treat him nicely and if they do not they will be imprisoned until the do so by offering gifts to him. A white man did not believe in the spirit and laughed as he brought gifts to the holy place. Then the gifts disappeared in front of him and he believed.

Below is a YouTube video I found Title A Story A Story. Take a listen to these beautiful traditional Congo Stories!