'Zanzibar Tales' Summary

The book compiles various tales from Zanzibar, each featuring a unique blend of fantasy and reality. Tales like 'Goso, the Teacher' feature inanimate objects endowed with speech, while 'Puss in Boots' is rivaled by the clever gazelle who rules for Haamdaanee. Animals speak, hares eat flesh, and the power of the unseen is woven into the fabric of these stories. The tales offer a glimpse into a world where magic is commonplace, and the line between the real and the fantastical is blurred. Bateman presents these tales as a window into the Swahili culture and its rich oral tradition, highlighting the storytelling prowess and imaginative power of the people of Zanzibar.