Story Origins

My father, John Lewis-Barned, first came across these stories when he was learning Swahili in 1950, in preparation for working in East Africa. When he returned to England in the 1960s he was asked to teach Swahili to students in Oxford. He asked various friends for Swahili books and was lucky enough to be sent a copy of the original collection from which these have been selected and retold. As far as we are aware, none of the stories has ever been translated into English before.

As their eight grandchildren grew up, my parents wanted them to know and love the stories as much as children in East Africa do. (They have been reprinted at least forty-two times there). They passed the translations to me and asked me to retell them for our children. They were too good to keep just for ourselves and I hope other children will enjoy them as much as we have.