Research Catalog

Title

Oh, Kojo! How could you! [videorecording] / a Macmillan/McGraw-Hill Educational Enrichment Materials Production ; a Miller-Brody video dramatization.

Publication

New York : American School Publishers, 1989.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

• Aardema, Verna
• Kurtz, Sara
• Primus, Pearl

Description

1 videocassette (19 min.) : sd., col.; 1/2 in.

Summary

This iconographic adaptation of an Ashanti tale begins with an Ashanti proverb warning against the trickster, Ananse. Whenever mischief was done, people would exclaim, "It isn't one thing. It isn't two things. It's Ananse!" Childless Amadoma begged for a son from the Spirit of the River who granted her wish but prophesized that Kojo would be lazy, would spend her money, but would also repay her one day. Kojo reaches manhood in a day and begins to prove the prophesy true. Ananse convinces Kojo to buy a wood-gathering dog who is really playing fetch with his mother's gold dust. Then he sells Kojo a rat-catching cat that is merely playing a game. After each purchase, his dismayed mother cries, "Oh Kojo, how could you!" Kojo's luck changes, however, when he buys Ananse a snail-finding dove. The bird is really the Queen Mother of her kingdom who promises Kojo that her son the chief will reward him if he returns her to the flock. The dove chief confers on Kojo a magic ring which grants his wishes. Kojo becomes the chief of his own village which he names "Bra" or "come." Kojo incites Ananse's jealousy prompting the trickster to send his niece to steal the ring. Only the River can tell Kojo which of Ananse's boxes holds the ring. Following the River's instructions, Kojo sends the cat and dog to retrieve it, warning them not to eat anything in their path. The cat obeys but the dog partakes of meat and falls asleep forcing the cat to complete the task alone. The cat locates the ring and tells Kojo of the dog's disobedience. As punishment the dog must live outside while the cat sleeps inside. To this day, cats in Ashantiland are treated better than dogs.

Series Statement

(Children's literature collection)

Subject

• Tales > Africa
• Folklore > Africa
• Animals > Fiction
• Cats > Fiction
• Dogs > Fiction
• Tales, Ashanti
• Folklore, Ashanti

Genre/Form

Films for preschoolers, Fiction.

Note

• Based on the book by Verna Aardema.

Credits (note)

• Director, Sara Kurtz; music, Madeleine Yayodele Nelson.

Title

Oh, Kojo! How could you! [videorecording] / a Macmillan/McGraw-Hill Educational Enrichment Materials Production ; a Miller-Brody video dramatization.

Imprint

New York : American School Publishers, 1989.

Series

(Children's literature collection)

Credits

Director, Sara Kurtz; music, Madeleine Yayodele Nelson.

Performer

Storyteller: Pearl Primus.

Connect to:

Request Access to Reserve Film and Video Collection Special Collections material

Added Author

Aardema, Verna. Oh, Kojo! How could you!

Kurtz, Sara.

Primus, Pearl.

Branch Call Number

J VTH 2316 O