Ekikyere Nyamabondo : The Lazy Frog

     Indigenous storytelling in Uganda plays a big part in early childhood learning. Story telling is part of their education, moral beliefs, history, and culture. Story telling is so important that according to (Gamurorwa, 2004)it is used for early childhood development in their modern environment.

     Through research it was learned that fables, tricksters, tales, legends, myths and other stories are mainly told at night. Their sole purpose is for educating, entertaining and helping to shape character. Storytelling basically will have two themes good and evil.

     Although some may not view storytelling as important study shows that storytelling is very important and should be implemented in the early childhood development program. According to (Gamurorwa, 2004) storytelling in early childhood development promotes physical and social development which includes:

·         Stimulating the child

·         Comprehension

·         Verbal communication skills

·         Preparing children for their role as adults

·         Problem identification and resolution

·         Developing listening skills and improved memorization

·         Increased awareness about indigenous cultural and societal values and beliefs

·         Molding character through themes such as cleverness and intelligence, hard work and bravery, greed and corruption, care for others, discipline and good behavior, and marriage and family life.

     As a child I grew up listening to storytelling and even today children love to hear stories. I was surprised to learn that story telling was viewed so high in the educational part of learning and all the areas that are developed through story telling.

     One of the stories from the study that I would like to share with you is the story of” The Lazy Frog” (Ekikyere Nyamabondo)

Ekikyere Nyamabondo (The Lazy Frog)

A long time ago, there lived a frog that had jiggers in its feet. It was very lazy but liked to eat very much. So, one day its mother said to it:

“Lazy frog, lazy frog.”

“Hm,” the frog answered.

The mother said, “Please go and harvest some sweet potatoes.”

“I am too weak to go,” it answered.

 The mother asked the frog’s sister to go and harvest the sweet potatoes.

Then later the mother asked the frog, “Lazy frog, lazy frog.”

“Hm,” the frog answered.

“Please go and collect firewood,” the mother said.

“I am too weak,” the frog said.

Then someone else went for the firewood.

The mother again asked. “Lazy frog, lazy frog.”

“Hm,” the frog answered.

“Won’t you go at least and fetch some water?”

“I am too weak to go,” the frog answered.

The mother asked the frog to wash and peel the tomatoes, make the fire, cook food and wash the plates,

 but the answer was always, “I am too weak to go.”

 And the other family members had to do all the chores until food was ready to be served.

Then the mother said, “Lazy frog, lazy frog.”

“Hm,” the frog answered.

Please bring your plate so that I can serve you food.”

“Let me try and bring it,” the frog answered.

But the mother said, “I think you are too weak to bring the plate,” and sent him supper-less to bed.

     This study was performed by Ann Barabogoza Gamurorwa a student working towards working towards her master’s degree in the School of Child and Youth Care. I fell her information is noteworthy because she is supported by the staff, Dr. Alen R. Pence, supervisor (School of Child and Youth Care), Dr. Beth Swadner Faculty of Graduate Studies, and Dr. Innocent Najjumba-Mulindua In-country member.

Reference

Gamurorwa, A. (2004). Utilizing indigenous stories in the promotion of early childhood development programs in uganda. (Master's thesis).

http://www.ecdvu.org/ssa/major_reports.php