HYENA AND THE MOON

In an African accent and cadence, McNeil enthusiastically retells six folk tales from Kenya. The voices she adopts for various animal characters evoke the qualities of each, from the squeaky ground squirrel, to the boastful hyena. Unobtrusively defined, Swahili words and phrases are carefully embedded in the stories. The addition of instruments, such as the gato drum, thumb piano and rain stick, further enhances the sense of place. Above all, the singing of Kikuyu and Samburu dancers will recall Kenya to all who have visited East Africa and introduce its magic to those hearing the stories for the first time. T.B. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT 96]