In this paperback edition of the classic book you meet Vugiswe, the Calabash Child, and sit with him under the wait-a-minute trees listening to the wonderful stories which his mother, First Woman, has to tell about Hare and Crocodile, about Lion Cub and Hyena, about Fire and Water – and about Tokoloshi, who is a very powerful imp even though he is only as long as your pointing finger and as dark as a moonless night. You will find out why Ape has no tail, why Mosquito buzzes so angrily and why Elephant ... but it would be a pity to spoil the stories by telling you too much about them. They are simple but enthralling, for they contain many secrets of Nkulunkulu’s creation. African folklore is rich in wisdom. Diana Pitcher first heard the tales from her Zulu nurse — and the beauty of the stories made a deep impression on her. Her interest in African legend was further encouraged by her father, himself a linguist in Zulu. Diana Pitcher was born in South Africa. For many years she trained teachers of all races in Kwazulu Natal and Zimbabwe. Meg Rutherford’s breathtakingly beautiful illustrations further enrich this book.