DAN AUTA

A sister has her hands full taking care of her mischievous brother.

This retelling of a traditional Hausa fable published in 1912 by German anthropologist Leo Frobenius, translated into Spanish by Ortega y Gasset in 1925, and now translated into English by Amado, begins with a mother and father who create a life in the forest. They have a little girl named Sarra. When Sarra gets bigger, her parents have her younger brother, Dan Auta. Soon afterward, both parents become ill and perish, but before they die, they make Sarra promise never to let Dan Auta cry and to stay with him always. Despite such a heavy burden, Sarra believes the pair will be OK because of the vast food stores her parents left them—but while she is out collecting firewood, Dan Auta wreaks havoc by destroying all of their food. Forced to venture into the forest beyond their land, Sarra and Dan Auta journey to a nearby city. Not long after, Dan Auta's curious nature lands them both in trouble, forcing the siblings to run. They hitch a ride on a giant hawk, but Dan Auta gets them thrown off; eventually, they ride a whirlwind to a new kingdom, where Dan Auta’s mischievous behavior may pay off. Simple, childlike illustrations bring this old tale to life as Dan Auta’s antics are depicted upon each spread. The omniscient narration guides readers through this multifaceted story of freedom and responsibility before reaching its dramatic conclusion. Set in Africa, likely in what is now Niger or Nigeria, the story features an entirely Black cast.

A thought-provoking tale.