Nelson Mandela's Favorite African Folktales

By: Nelson Mandela - editor

Narrated by: Samuel L. Jackson, Whoopi Goldberg, Matt Damon, Alan Rickman

Length: 3 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

Nelson Mandela's Favorite African Folktales is an audiobook benefiting children orphaned and impacted by HIV/AIDS in South Africa. Featured narrators include Gillian Anderson, Benjamin Bratt, LeVar Burton, Ricardo Chavira, Don Cheadle, Matt Damon, Whoopi Goldberg, Sean Hayes, Hugh Jackman, Samuel L. Jackson, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, Debra Messing, Helen Mirren, Parminder Nagra, Sophie Okonedo, CCH Pounder, Alan Rickman, Jurnee Smollett, Charlize Theron, Blair Underwood, Forest Whitaker, and Alfre Woodard, with a special message from Archbishop Desmond Tutu and original music by South African legends by Johnny Clegg and Vusi Mahlasela, directed by Alfre Woodard.

The audiobook was a truly international affair, recorded in Los Angeles, New York, Miami, London, and Johannesburg. The stories were chosen by the Nobel Laureate himself, from every region of Africa.

Net proceeds will benefit the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund and Artists for New South Africa, which works in the U.S. and South Africa to combat HIV/AIDS, provide comprehensive assistance to children orphaned by HIV/AIDS, advance human rights, educate and empower at-risk youth, and build bonds between both nations. Both organizations are working to address the impact of the AIDS pandemic on children in South Africa.

All the individuals and companies involved in the effort have donated their services to allow a maximum amount of proceeds to benefit the charities. In addition to waiving sales and distribution fees, Hachette Audio will donate 100% of proceeds to ANSA and NMCF, and NB Publishers has waived fees, so additional royalties can benefit NMCF. The audiobook was manufactured by Ivy Hill/Cinram, which is donating a significant portion of their services. The actors, creative director, engineers, graphic designers, attorneys, and recording studios fully donated their services, as did three-time Grammy winner Gavin Lurssen, who mastered the audiobook.

Download the accompanying reference guide.

Public Domain (P)2009 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"In tales such as these, the dream-like, unpredictable symbology and sometimes cruel morality of myths resonate, and, in Mandela's words, the 'gritty essence of Africa' shines through in stories with universal themes." ( Publishers Weekly)

A Pleasant Moment with African Folk Tales

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Yes. I found many of those stories interesting culturally.

Any additional comments?

I learned a few things from listening to this audiobook. One was that certain tales are universal. Another was that being a good screen actor did not necessarily translate into being a good voice actor or verbal story-teller. For this project, there is an impressive line-up of well-known celebrities who each took on a folk tale. For the most part, I found many of these narrations to be rather bland and uninteresting but there were a few exceptions such as Whoopi Goldberg, Hugh Jackman, CCH Pounder, and Don Cheadle. I found those to be the most interesting narrators whose different character voices, voice acting and sound effects were well done. There were also stories I liked better than others. Usually, the shorter, the better. I started losing interest and struggled to pay attention to the longer stories.

African Children’s Folktales

Excellent stories and narration for my son. He likes the voices so much he wants to eat the speakers.

Best compilation of short stories ever!!!!

I loved all of the stories! The actors and actresses and the songs with the stories all made for the most pleasant listening experience. King Lion’s Gifts is my favorite story.

Great collection with excellent performances

As with any collection, some stories are interesting and others are a bit dull. Overall, though, the performances were brilliant. Especially, the music added a new dimension to the narrative. Highly recommended, not as an absolute authority on African folktales, but as a brief introduction to it.

beautiful

If you could sum up Nelson Mandela's Favorite African Folktales in three words, what would they be?

i liked them

What did you like best about this story?

the readers

Which scene was your favorite?

the first story about the kings ring

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

no

Any additional comments?

something to save, to listen to one of the stoires, between reading other regular length books

BEST BOOK EVER FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS

Awesome short stories, exquisite narration, ages 5 to 99. Love it. The perfect gift for anyone liking fantasy, music, emotions, intelligent twists. And unforgetable characters.

Great Stories !

Would you listen to Nelson Mandela's Favorite African Folktales again? Why?

These stories are amazing. They are timeless.

What did you like best about this story?

there are lots of stories and they have soul.

What about the narrators’s performance did you like?

All the narrators are A+

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

every story is good

Any additional comments?

love it

So fun!

I agree with previous reviewers, the audiobook was a delight and really brought the folktales to life in a way that just seeing them on a page never could! Additionally, a pdf comes with the audiobook that shares the narrator and for many of the stories has lovely artwork. That was definitely worth my time and I know I’ll be revisiting favorite stories over time just for the auditory pleasure.

Exotic, fun and fascinating

When you buy this book, be sure to download the accompanying reference guide and then seek out the 5 extra stories not included in the album. I have no idea why all the stories weren't bundled in together.

The folk tales make you think, and provide some interesting explanations for why certain things are the way they are.

The music by Johnny Clegg and Vusi Mahlasela adds a great multimedia touch, and the songs can be played separately from their stories as well. The reference guide has a translation of the words of the Zulu songs.

The extra tracks are:
Spider and the Crows
The Lion, the Hare, and the Hyena
The Cloud Princess
The Cat Who Came Indoors
Mmadipetsane

Thanks to Audible for making this collection available worldwide.

Great for an English teacher to have on hand

Would you listen to Nelson Mandela's Favorite African Folktales again? Why?

Easy to listen to -- even if you just listen to one or two stories at a time