ISBN: 1434304671 9781434304674

Category: Family & Relationships / General

Page count: 30

<p> </p> <p><b>Come share in the rich, Creole Culture of Louisiana, cher!</b></p> <p>Learn (French Creole) and laugh -- with the humorous, Creole characters "Bouki and Lapin" </p> <p> </p> <p><b>"The Creole Folktales of Compaire Bouki and Compaire Lapin"</b> have a rich and fascinating history, hundreds of years old. The tales originated from Senegal, Africa and according to the historical, Louisiana Creole Plantation <i>''Laura''</i>, they were first recorded in the United States -- in Laura Plantation''s 150-year-old cabins.</p> <p> </p> <p>Lapin''s adventures (''Lapin'' means <i>"rabbit"</i> in French) soon went on to become the popular American Tales known as ''<i>Br''er (Brother) Rabbit'' </i> -- only <i>''Compaire Bouki and Compaire Lapin'' </i>retain the original, unique French Creole ''flavor''. (In French folklore, ''compaire/compair'' means brother.)</p> <p> </p> <p>In various Louisiana stories Bouki is pictured as a donkey, raccoon or wolf. You''ll get to meet ''Bouki the donkey'', in <b>"Bouki''s Honey"</b>. Bouki was a ''hyena'' in the original African folktales. The name ''Bouki'' is a ''wolof '' word -- ''wolof '' being both the language and the people of Senegal , Africa - and is said to mean, "<i>stupid hyena</i>". Some even say ''Bouki'' is a play on words meaning, "<i>bookish"</i> (something the character never is). It is believed that the Senegal slaves brought to Louisiana, actually told the African-based stories of ''Bouki and Lapin'' as code, to illustrate victory over the conditions of slavery - with Lapin humorously outwitting plantation owner, ''Bouki''.</p> <p> </p> <p>Thus we have <i>''a bit of history and a lot of humor''</i>, with the colorful tales of ''Lapin'' -- the clever, trickster rabbit, and ''Bouki'', the slow-witted donkey. Today, ''Compaire Bouki and Compaire Lapin'' continue to be popular, French Creole folktales passed from generation to generation -- and enjoyed by <b><i>ages one to 101</i></b>...</p> <p> </p> <p>*Note: Coming in 2008-</p> <p>Bouki and Lapin merchandise - t-shirts, coffee mugs and more</p> <p>at <b>BoukiandLapin.com</b></p> <p> </p>