“Contes et légendes dagara, Ghana” on the shelves of the University of Ghana French Department

On the 18th of February 2021, the Department of French received a book titled “Contes et légendes dagara Ghana”, a donation from Professor Paschal Siekyoghrkure Kyoore. The presentation was made on his behalf by Mr. Lord Michael Baatuolkuu and Mr. Frederick Yuorkuu. The HOD of the French Department, Dr. Chachu Sewoenam, thanked the writer for his gesture and promised that the book will put to good use. According to her, it will be added as supplementary reading material for students as there is a limited number of books available to read for pleasure.

Professor Paschal Siekyoghrkure Kyoore is an alumnus of the University of Ghana, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts in French and Spanish. He is a holder of a diploma in the Spanish Language and Culture from the Universidad Complutense of Madrid. He obtained a Masters degree in Advanced Studies at the University of Bordeaux III. He attended the Ohio State University (Columbus) where he pursued his PHD. He obtained a Master’s degree in Public Management at the Minnesota State University – Mankato in the United States of America. He specialized in French literature from the 19th and 20th centuries as well as African and West Indian literature and culture. His publications are mainly on African and Caribbean literature and African folklore.
“Contes Et Legend Dagara Ghana” is the French edition of the book “Tales and Legends Dagara, Ghana” and was published on November 1st, 2017 by Editions L’Harmattan. In the 162 pages that constitutes this novel, the writer is inviting us to discover three essentials legends, one of which is “Zenuo”, the first Dagara to settle in Ghana. In this myth, readers will meet people and animals, that represent the belief of the Dagaras.  The Cobra for instance, who didn’t want to lend his drum, the frog who succeeded in tricking the cunning rabbit and married the most beautiful lady or the orphan who triumphed over the wicked King. Between satire and humor, this novel welcomes you to share in the imaginary world of the Dagaras traditions.
This book will be a welcome addition to the books in the department’s library. It will help many French students to enrich, not only their vocabulary, but also their knowledge of world literatures in French.