Muhonja and her brother: An animated African Folktale for children

Bettelheim Bruno, one of the most authoritative educational psychologists, argues that there is nothing as fulfilling and enriching to a child as folktales. One Germany scholar confessed that, of all the experiences he had gone through, nothing parallels the enchanting lessons he learnt through listening to folk tales. Bruno argues that folktales have a therapeutic effect to the young minds of children.

Children suffer from both internal and external conflicts and it is a fact that one of the biggest challenges to parents and teachers is to help them find meaning in life. Children need hope and assistance to develop a sense of belonging.

Folktales are the most effective means of influencing children’s behavior. They present, to the child everlasting images and models for emulation. Folktales have the capacity to bring elegance and insights to the young hearts of children.

Folktales enrich children’s lives while stimulating their imagination. They help the children develop their intellect and clarify disturbing emotions. They recognize children’s difficulties and suggest useful solutions to their problems.

They have two characteristics that make them stand out from all the other genres of children’s literature: magic and fantasy. These two qualities open up unlimited possibilities in the children’s imagination.

The tales begin with a formula. This formula transports the child from the present reality to a new world. It is a world of magic where extraordinary things happen. A world where animals talk and ogres swallow human beings, but these human beings are saved from the big stomachs of ogres. The folktales are built on a binary principle that guides the development of the plot. This quality keeps the child swinging on some form of pendulum between polarities of joy and sadness, happiness and bitterness. The ending formula of the folktale signals the child to come back to the real world.

Folktales are the most effective means of influencing children’s behavior. They present, to the child, everlasting images and models for emulation. In short, folktales have the capacity to bring elegance and insights to the young hearts of children

African folktales are rich in themes that help children find meaning in life. The animated stories from Africa provide a great experience to children all over the world. Muhonja and her brother is a story full of wisdom and African values.