Africa at the Internet Archive: The Shilluk People

For today's post, I'll be looking at another public domain book, and I'll also share a more recent book that re-uses material from the public domain book, both just a click away at the Internet Archive. :-)

The public domain book is Diedrich Westermann's study of the Shilluk people of the southern Sudan: The Shilluk People, Their Language and Folklore, published in 1912.

You can find out more about the Shilluk people at Wikipedia.

The folklore section contains an extensive collection of myths and tales along with songs and also riddles! Here is a list of the story titles and links that take you straight to that page at the Internet Archive: Nyikang's Parents (2 versions) / The Origin of the Shullas / Early Wanderings of Nyikang / Different Doings and Adventures of Nyikang / The Man who sacrificed himself / Nyikang and the River-people / The Lost Cow / The Liar / Nyikang's Quarrel with Duwat / The Fish Ocholo / Nyikang and the Sorcerers / A War against Turtles / Praising Nyikang / The Cruel King / King Nyadwai trying the Sorcerers / The Vision of the Sorcerer / Agok / The Creation of Man / Hare and Hyena / Monkey and Lion / Dog and Fox / Hare and Hyena (again) / Lion and Fox / Starling and Centipede / Hare and Tapero / Who is King / The Hare / Camel and Donkey / The Country of the Dogs / Akwoch / Girl and Dog / Anyimo and the Lion / An Adventure in the Forest / Boy and Hyena / Nyajak / Ajang / The Snake / The Crocodile Hunter / The Travellers / A Goat-story / The Glutton / Bachet / The Country where Death is Not / The King and the People / Wealth cannot be imitated / Increase of Cattle / The Haughty Prince / The Hyena with the Bell / Elephant Hunting / A Journey.

You can find the cycle of stories about King Nyikang featured in this Jungian analysis from 1966: Lord of the Four Quarters: Myths of the Royal Father by John Weir Perry:

Perry's book is an item in the series "Patterns of Myth" edited by Alan Watts, and Watts wrote the introduction to this volume. Other books in the series include: Alpha: The Myths of Creation by Charles H. Long, The Wisdom of the Serpent: The Myths of Death, Rebirth and Resurrection by Joseph L. Henderson and Maud Oakes, and The Two Hands of God: The Myths of Polarity by Alan W.Watts, all three of which are available at Internet Archive also, just a click away.

So, if you have some extra time for reading over the holidays, an endless supply of wonderful folklore and mythology books await you at the Internet Archive. You can find all the African folklore books featured here in a single list at this page: Featured Books. Enjoy!

The Shilluk People, 

Their Language and Folklore

by Diedrich Westermann

Lord of the Four Quarters:

Myths of the Royal Father

by John Weir Perry: