Animal Fables from the Dark Continent

Animal Fables from the Dark Continent is a collection of African and African Diaspora folktales written by A. O. Stafford, an African American educator and folklorist. Published for elementary school students, this work highlights the storytelling continuity between African cultures and African American culture. The fables feature animal characters, particularly trickster figures like the rabbit and jackal, and include 'just-so' stories that explain natural phenomena, such as how the hyena got its spots. Stafford's collection serves as an important educational resource that preserves and shares these cultural narratives.