Gifted travel writer, poet, professor of English, and insightful observer of human nature, Colleen McElroy journeyed to Madagascar to undertake a Fulbright research project exploring Malagasy oral traditions and myths. InOver the Lip of the World she depicts with equal verve the various storytelling traditions of the island and her own adventures in trying to find and record them.
McElroys tale of an African American womans travels among the people of Madagascar is told with wit, insight, and humor. Throughout it she interweaves English translations of Malagasy stories of heroism and morality, royalty and commoners, love and revenge, and the magic of tricksters and shapechangers.
Illustrations
Introduction
The Tapestry of Languages in Translation
Selected Bibliography
AND ALL THE TOWNS BETWEEN
How Stories Came to Be: three views
Origins of Myths, Alphonse Raharison
Tapasiry: Tales from the South, Aurelien de Moussa Behavira
The Oral Tradition, Ernest Rakotosalama
UNDER SOUTHERN SKIES: MEMOIRS OF TOLIARA
Papango Fito Loha: Seven-headed Hawk
Just Head
Babaky: Squash Boy
TRAFFIC IN SALT COUNTRY
The Three Brothers
Two Girls and the Old Woman
Rafaravavy and Randrianoro
SPIRITS OF WATER, SPIRITS OF LAKES
The Legend of Tritriva
Rafara: Girl of the Waters
ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS
Raharinora and Randriantsara
Faralahy Mahery: Strong Youngest Son
Ravolamamba and Tsaramiamby
PEOPLE OF THE HIGHLANDS; PEOPLE OF THE LONG VALLEYS; PEOPLE OF THE THORNS
It Was There But Goes By Quickly (hiragasy)
Moonlight poem by Mme. Madeline
Water: The Source of Life poem by Mme. Madeline
The Way to Say Farewell poem by M. Ernest
Each Day Now Breaks poem by M. Rado
Afrika! poem by M. Rado
Maliciousness poem by M. Rado
Nostalgia poem by M. Rado
TURNING THE BONES
Andriananahary (Zanahary) sy Andriantompo: The Lord Who Creates and the Lord Who Owns
THE LIGHT STILL SHINES TOMORROW
The Rite of Bathing the King
Jadan'Ikoto
Jaotombo, The Fisherman
ONLY THE SEA BEYOND
Betombokoantsoro: The Monster
Index
