West+African+Mythology

= = **//__Relavent Sources__//**
 * http://www.sff.net/people/Karawynn/justso/leopard.htp
 * http://library.dcsdk12.org/cataloging/servlet/handlebasicsearchform.do
 * http://www.mythencyclopedia.com/A-Am/African-Mythology.html

The myth that we researched was "How the Leopard got its Spots". It is a story passed down from West African culture. African myths usually include animals. Animals played a huge role in African storytelling since wild animals shared the land with the African people. They usually gave animals human characteristics and attributes. Africans also lived in a land where they had a very close relationship with nature and its surroundings. They developed a strong respect for living things and the land. They mainly included these things in their myths and stories to show their respect.
 * //Intro//**

//**Summary**// Our myth’s purpose was to explain how leopards got their spots. In the story, there is a leopard who is best friends with fire. Every morning he would go to see fire. The leopard was very happy with his life. One day, when the leopard got home his wife started taunting him and telling him that fire wasn’t a true friend. “If Fire was a good friend, he would come to see you every once in a while instead of always making you go there.” she jeers. Finally, the leopard goes to see fire and tells him to come over to his house. “Oh no” says the fire, I don’t really travel much. He used every excuse he could think of until the leopard convinced him to come. “Fine” he said reluctantly. “I will come." So the leopard leaves a path of dry leaves going from Fire's house to his. When he got home and told his wife, she started to prepare a feast. As they were preparing dinner, they heard a loud crackling noise. The leopard opened the door and saw fire going up the side of his house. Soon the whole house was ablaze, leopard and his wife ran out the door and rolled in the grass to put the flames out. They were lucky to be alive, but they were covered in black spots in all the places where fire’s fingers had touched them.


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 * How**+the+**Leopard**+**Got**+**Its**+**Spots**+Cover+ ... 226 x 320 pixels - 22948 K [|kmillustration.blogspot.com]

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**AFRICA**



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In the story about how the leopard got its spots it reflects the environment, beliefs, and culture of the African people. When the African people talk about how the leopard got its spots they believed that they were a sign of ritual power. This is also seen in the leopard's athletic ability, being a great tree climber, and swimmer. When the African people use fire its for warmth, and the cooking of food. They also believe that it was a gift from the creator, so they could use it for all of their necessities.
 * //Culture Analysis//**

Different cultures have different myths, but most myths will have some of the same attributes and qualities of other myths. African myths relate to Greek and Roman myths first off because they each have one thing, a purpose. Every myth will usually have a purpose telling why that myth was written/told. It is usually to explain why things are what they are today. Greek and Roman words are also used in different African myths and languages such as Swahili. This might be because some African languages were formed from words in Greek and Roman. The Greeks, Romans, and Africans could also have shared myths and stories with each other. Some African myths could really be Greek or Roman or vise versa. African and Greek and Roman myths also can be compared when looking at the four characteristics of a myth. A myth uses the "supernatural" or the above forces of nature. Greek and Roman myths usually show this with gods and goddesses. In "How the Leopard Got Its Spots", there isn't exactly a supernatural. Most African myths do not have supernaturals because they use animals which do not have supernatural forces. A myth also "interprets natural events" or a phenomena. In Greek and Roman myths, this is usually a wrong doing the main character does to make the god(s) or goddess(es) upset or vise versa. This usually is what makes the story interesting to keep the reader reading and is also what creates the plot. In our myth, the phenomena is how Fire burned down the leopard's house, causing him and his wife to get spots. A third characteristic of a myth is how it explains the "nature of humanity" or shows what the characters are really like. It will often show the weaknesses of humans and teach lessons. It is usually the thing done to create a moral in Greek and Roman mythology. In "How the Leopard Got Its Spots", there isn't exactly anything explaining the nature of humanity considering there are no humans in the myth, but since the leopards and Fire are given human qualities, the nature of humanity would be to listen when others tell you no, such as when the leopard did not listen when Fire told him he did not want to come over to his house and Fire ended up burning down the leopard's house when he did come over. Finally, myths often show a culture's "view of the universe", or how everything is controlled. Ancient Greeks believed there were gods who controlled their destinies. The Africans believed everything happened for a reason which was why they always made up myths explaining how things got the way they are, like how the leopard got its spots. Greek and Roman myths compare to African myths and without them, African myths may have not been what they are today. 448 x 288 - 3k - gif instruct1.cit.cornell.edu
 * //Culture Comparison//**
 * GREEK**_**FLAG**_BIG.gif

Image:**Flag** of the Holy **Roman** Empire **...** 800 x 533 - 3k commons.wikimedia.org

= = = = Our myth was created by the Africans to explain how the leopard got his spots. The Characteristics of a myth are to enlighten, educate, and entertain. To start off, It tells a story about the leopard being friends with fire to entertain, but it also enlightens and educates. I believe that the story also has another meaning, which is the lesson, don’t play with fire or you will get burned (literally). The leopard had fun with fire, but then his wife pressured him into inviting him over and that crossed the line, he abused his privileges and got burned. African mythology is clearly very different from Greek. While the Greeks have long, complicated stories with many characters, the Africans are very short, simple, and to the point.
 * //Story Analysis//**

The African culture places great importance on passing along their culture and traditions through the art of storytelling. They have great respect for the animals they share the land with and the environment in which they live. While it may seem that the African people are living in the past, in reality they are living their heritage. While we may not understand the significance of their traditions to their culture, we should respect and try to appreciate what they have passed along for generations.
 * //Conclusion//**

//**Sources**//
__African myths & Legends__  Lynch, Patricia Ann. "leopards in African culture and mythology." //African Mythology A to Z//, Mythology A to Z. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2004. //Ancient and Medieval History Online//. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp? ItemID=WE49&iPin=AMAZ147&SingleRecord=True (accessed September 23, 2008).
 * Text Citation:**

Atsma, Aaron. "PYGMAIOI." 2000 - 2008 28 Sep 2008 .

Khamis, Said A M. "Signs of New Features in the Swahili Novel1." Research in African Literatures. 01 Apr 2005. 91. eLibrary. Proquest CSA. CHAPARRAL HIGH SCHOOL. 24 Sep 2008. < [|http://elibrary.bigchalk.com>] ;.

Page, Willie F., and R. Hunt Davis, eds. "leopards in African culture and mythology." //Encyclopedia of African History and Culture: Ancient Africa (Prehistory to 500 CE)//, vol. 1. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2005. //Ancient and Medieval History Online//. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp? ItemID=WE49&iPin=AHCI0335&SingleRecord=True

Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute, 2008 29 Sep 2008 . Huang, Chi-Ya. "African Storytelling." 29 Sep 2008 .