An African Folktale [Африканская Cказка] - 1963

Name: An African Folktale [Африканская Cказка] - 1963
Uploaded: 2025-06-22T01:25:12Z
Duration: 14 min 42 s

I like this video I don't like this video

0% (0 votes)

Admin

no photo

Duration: 14:42 Views: 39 Submitted: 12 months ago Submitted by:

Description: Африканская сказка (The African Folktale) is a 1963 Soviet animated short film by Leonid Aristov and Igor Nikolaev, produced at Soyuzmultfilm. It is a satirical folk tale with strong political undertones, adapted from a 1938 parable by Jomo Kenyatta, the first president of Kenya.

The story follows a Black African man who lives on and works his own land, which generously provides for him. One day, a white elephant visits, declaring the land “rich” and “lucky” to be the first animal there. The elephant gifts the man with a cigarette, glossy magazines, and advertisements, symbolizing the allure of “high civilization.” The man, drawn in by these trappings, begins to adopt Western consumer culture, while the elephant consumes all the man’s resources and takes over his home.

The tale is based on “The Gentlemen of the Jungle”, a parable critiquing colonialism and the dangers of adopting foreign systems without understanding their true nature. It was released in 1963, the year Kenya gained independence from British rule, making it a timely political statement.

Categories: General Audiences