TODAY, there are not too many characters and books for children that revolve around the theme that distinguishes good from bad, or even ‘evil’. Not that they are not written, but, by choice, such stories today cannot be told in isolation, and many prefer them not to be told, because, for many isolated global systems, a thinking population is not an asset to their agendas.

This is also because the information technology that is now common eliminates and tests negative mythic interpretations with archaeological, anthropological logic, and scientific clarifications.
However, to quote the South African Nobel Prize for Literature Laureate, Nadine Gordimer, “It seems that materialism has conquered all.” This notion concludes that the conflict between mental liberation and control propaganda endures.

Nevertheless, the reality that the human mind was ‘created or evolved’ with a capacity to explore, challenge and interpret every iota conceptualised in literature, philosophy, religious, or political ideology with a challenge enables us to not just comply with previously imposed ‘comfort zones.’
Thus, the most effective inborn tool rests with the imagination. Therein lies the realm of ideas and counter-ideas. What is proven effective is the interpretive capacity of the mind.

Today, we have Sophia Stewart, the alleged creator of two incredible works that have impacted today’s world: The Matrix and the Terminator. I use ‘the alleged’ because her IPR Issues are not yet over, but the impact of those two works has nurtured deep conversations on our global interpretations of currently debated tech-social influences that include AI.

The problem is that many systems realised the value of folktales and cunning belief systems that could work in their favour if they remould the idea and inserted themselves in adjusted versions as an ordained hierarchy. Some of these evolve to become religion. This is because with the pressures of life, the original will be forgotten, and only the current will be accepted. But because the folk or fairytale is such a creature that, with simple character engagements, interprets natural human behavioural conduct, demonstrating ‘innocence and callousness’, it activates judgement to the most innocent mind, which quickly relates the fable to the reality engaged in the normal realms of life.

This is the social confident trickster’s nightmare. Thus, what is learned will revive itself even with efforts to erase its original existence. The Anancy story will remake itself, say… “Was Anancy a proverbial conman, or was he an unreasonable survivor in some cases, and on other occasions, was he smarter than those who tried to outsmart him?” Only the tale can tell.

The fairytale of the Three Pigs revolves around making cheap choices against costly but safer alternatives, and suffering the consequences. Remember, the wolf blew the cheap houses down, and in some telling of this fable, he ate the two pigs. In other interpretations, they took refuge with their brother, who had built a stronger house. It is told differently to suit the audience, with the same intention as the English proverb: Penny wise, pound foolish.

Telling Anancy stories is a term used for general folktales that include even Euro-fairy tales. Except in the Grimm tales, very violent acts at times occur. For that reason, many are edited but carry the same actions against witches, werewolves, etc. However, the instructive children’s stories highlighted in this column apply more to ideas that can relate to metaphors, using original landscapes, but with scenarios that relate to current challenges that also apply redeeming factors.

One thing about the original worlds that folk and fairytales emerged from is that these were realms that were unforgiving and cruel to violators because what we call folktales were instructive teachings, and as the Queen in one popular English children’s tale would command, “Off with their head!” That’s not what we can teach our children. Humiliation and regret would be indeed enough.

In closing, we must admit that we also live in unreasonable and violent times, but the intention is to develop better judgement in people through a folk medium, not to pass final judgment without invoking redemption. Okay, I’m not saying that anger and its rage, if justified, are easy to contain. But it’s wise not to venture into the rage of the unknown, for as a late ‘bad man’ once told this writer, “Day time yuh can find thing fuh do, but wid night, yuh nawh responsible fuh wuh vision manifest.”