Lord of the Dance: An African Retelling

Ceremonial masks are part of the tradition of the Senufo people of the Ivory Coast, and this is a poem telling the story of a certain mask. The chanting rhythm of the legend is accentuated every few lines by the drum beat ``Tom-tom-tom-tom-tom.'' The chant grows stronger with the telling: the spirit of nature and of humankind must not be lost; man came to Earth with the animals and there must be harmony among them. It tells how cities sprung up from the forest and the mask was thrown away, a symbol of the past at odds with the concrete and steel industrialized world. Tadjo's illustrations mimic the designs from the traditional African clothing, but the rich colors are her own interpretation. If there is a melody to the song/poem, the reader is not made aware of it. Ages 5-9. (Sept.)