Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters

Steptoe, John.  Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale. New York: Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books, 1987. Print.

A man named Mufaro lived in a village with his two beautiful daughters, Manyara and Nyasha.  Manyara was bad-tempered and dreamed of becoming the queen and having her sister as a servant.  Nyasha went about her chores, ignoring her sister's words and maintained a happy spirit.  She happens upon a snake that she places into the garden so that it is not harmed.  One morning the family receives an invitation to meet the King to possibly become Queen.  Manyara sneaks out during the night to try to get to the kingdom before her sister.  Along the way she meets a hungry boy and an old woman both of whom she ignores because she is mean and in her haste to get to the kingdom.  The next day Nyasha and her father sets out for the kingdom.  Nyasha meets the same hungry boy and provides him with food and heeds the warning from the old woman.  She arrives in the kingdom, greeted by her terrified sister who has claimed to see a five-headed snake.  Upon entering the King's chamber, Nyasha is greeted by the snake she saved in the garden.  The snake becomes the King and marries Nyasha.

Cultural Origins:

There are no specific cultural origins provided.  However the author does mention that illustrations are based upon ruins in Zimbabwe and gives thanks to staff of the Zimbabwe Mission.  The book is dedicated to the children of South Africa.

Audience:

This story is appropriate for all ages and could be told in school, library and museum settings.

Adaptation:

The adaptation I would make when telling this story is to include the meaning of the characters name either at the beginning or when a character is initially introduced.