ABOUT THIS BOOK

This is a book for both young and old lovers of folklore. Why Monkeys Live in Trees and Other Stories from Benin is a rich tapestry of oral tales that come from a wide range of Beninese ethnic groups. They include trickster tales and sacred tales involving the greatest and meanest of mankind, as well as nature and the world of spirits. These ageless tales remind us of the power of love, the perils of greed and pride, and the redemptive virtues of courage, humility, and kindness.

The Western African Republic of Benin (formerly Dahomey) is gifted with a great folktale tradition, one of the richest in the world. As pieces of oral literature and cultural history, these tales shed light on some of the values and beliefs as well as the customs and traditions of the people of Benin.

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY

Raouf Mama is a Distinguished Professor of English at Eastern Connecticut State University. His books include Why Monkeys Live in Trees and Other Stories from Benin (2006), winner of the 2008 National Multicultural Children’s Publication Award; The Barefoot Book of Tropical Tales (2000); Pearls of Wisdom (2001, with Mary Romney); and Why Goats Smell Bad (1998). Mama regularly travels to various parts of the world to work with teachers, education professionals, and children, using storytelling as a multicultural teaching and motivational tool. He has worked in partnership with UNICEF and the School of African Heritage in promoting education and cultural awareness through storytelling.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents
Come and Hear My Story 1
Blessed Are the Storytellers, 
For They Are the Keepers of the Word 2
Why Monkeys Live in Trees 3
Why the Sun Shines by Day and the Moon by Night 9
Why Bee Makes Honey and Snake Crawls on Its Belly 13
How Goat Got out of Trouble 17
Truth and Lie 23
The Jar and the Necklace 31
Louis Magbo 36
The Prodigal Prince 41
The Blind Man and the Lamp 48
The Most Delicious Food in the World 51
The Jar with a Thousand Holes 58
A Friend Is Gold 71
The Magic of Love 77
The Wise Old Man 84

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