Sebgugugu the Glutton: A Bantu Tale from Rwanda

The author of Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears offers a lively retelling of the traditional African story of Sebgugugu, a poor man who learns a lesson about the consequences of greed. Includes a glossary of African words and pronunciations. Map. Full-color throughout.

Kindergarten-Grade 3-- This folktale from Rwanda features Sebgugugu, a poor man with a young family and only one cow. One day he thinks he hears a crow telling him to kill the cow; in return, he will get a hundred more. Although Sebgugugu's wife warns him not to "do anything so foolish," he slaughters his cow. As his starving family searches for food, Sebgugugu implores Imana, the mythical Lord of Rwanda, to save them. Imana appears and leads them to a magical vine, but Sebgugugu is ordered not to cut it. Twice more, Sebgugugu behaves foolishly. This time Imana does not give him another chance; his family disappears. Aardema's adaptation is lively and readable, with vivid, onomatopoetic language. Repetition and swift action will appeal to beginning readers. The wife's repeated warnings are accompanied by illustrations that show her increasing alarm. These pictures are rendered in a primitive style; they are more suggestive than realistic. In general, they work quite well with the text. True to the original tradition, this is a didactic folktale that shows children proper values and warns them of the consequences of violating those principles. Its message, however, is also a contemporary one. --Lyn Miller-Lachmann, Siena College Library, Loudonville, NY
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

In this lackluster retelling of an African tribal legend, a poor man who "never listened to his wife" follows his greed and leads his family to near starvation not once, but four times. Despite Sebgugugu's complacent impenitence, the patient Imana, Lord of Rwanda, repeatedly answers his prayers until one final indulgence of unchecked gluttony condemns him to ruin. While the Bantu family of languages permeates many South, Central and East African tribes (two in Rwanda), the text provides no specific information that might orient readers to a particular culture. (The few details supplied could mislead--no Rwandan woman, for example, would carry an infant in a basket on her head.) Except for the illustrations and names, the broadly told fable might have emanated from almost any culture. Unfortunately, the jarring palette of Clouse's silkscreen pictures evokes none of the distinctive topography of Rwandan agricultural landscape. Still, disappointing language and illustrations notwithstanding, the story itself may satisfy as a fable with a basic universal message. Ages 5-9.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.