In this volume Oyekan Owomoyela offers a representative gathering of twenty-three Yoruba trickster tales. Àjà pá is notable for his strikingly human habits, abilities, weaknesses, moods, and disposition. We discover different aspects of Àjà pá in these tales, including his vanity and resourcefulness, his appetites and playfulness, and his amusing relations with his friends. As we read through these entertaining stories, we gain a many-sided view of this fascinating character and the spirited world in which he lives.
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These tales of the trickster Àjà pá will appeal to readers of all ages, learned and not so—even as they introduce us to a vital folk culture.