Hajeetek Majeetek: My Grandmother's North African Folktales

by Sara Filali, Zohra Zaoui

"Hajeetek Majeetek"- these are the famous words that have echoed from the lips of North African storytellers for centuries to begin reciting folktales.
Moroccan-American author Sara Filali begins her debut collection with these words, as she translates folktales of the greatest storyteller she Zohra Zaoui, her mother's mother. Born and raised in the Rif mountains of Morocco, Zaoui absorbed the mesmerizing storytelling techniques of her elders and passed on her tales to her children and grandchildren. These epic folktales reflect the beating heart and culture of its people. Woven with ghouls and magic, love and adventure, deception and prayers, Filali has transcribed and translated these stories in honor of her grandmother, a village woman who never learned to read or write, so that this folktale legacy can reach people all over the world.

In doing so, we begin the epic adventure. Hajeetek Majeetek!

Genres: Fiction

161 pages, Paperback

Published September 29, 2023

Reviews

[Zainab Bint Younus · Rating 3 out of 5]

As someone who loves grim(m) fairy tales and folk tales, wherein gruesome deaths are par for the course, I enjoyed this collection of North African folk tales.

Translated, amended, and written from Darija/ Arabic (not sure which language tbh) to English, these tales were collected from the author's Moroccan grandmother. Featuring many wicked stepmothers, jealous co-wives, human-eating ghouls, and noble heroes and heroines who learn important lessons, these stories are rich with detail.

I also appreciated that the author included a short list of questions for reflection at the end of each story, for readers who may find themselves taken aback at perhaps just how gory some of the stories were lol.

I'm happy to add this book to my collection of ethnic folktales!

[Amal Kassir · Rating 5 out of 5]

So often when we hear from diaspora voices, we read work that explores the identity crisis and the scrambling attempt at finding out who we are. But Filali takes a whole different direction- she dives into the stories of the past and celebrates them in the most joyous way. As I read this book, I am immersed in the fairytales and stories of a land and vocabulary I am connected to, and I plan to read these stories to my children. This creative excursion into her own roots inspires and revives the richest history of the North African region, which is story telling, and I could listen to these stories for days.

If you want to enjoy, laugh, gasp, and sit at the edge of your seat awaiting the outcome of these spooky and fun tales, this is the book for you. If you are a diaspora child looking to hear the whimsy of your homeland, this is the book for you. If you just want to hear some incredible stories, this is the book for you.

[Layan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been a while since I read any folktales, and although these were more on the disturbing side, I thoroughly enjoyed them! My favorite one was Lunja Bint Al Ghoul. This book is definitely an easy read for those who don't have much time in their busy days. The short chapters made it very approachable. I also liked the inclusion of discussion questions at the end of each story.

I think this was my first exposure to folktales from the MENA region, which was quite nice because I'm originally from there as well. Although the culture differs between Morocco and Syria, it was nice reading familiar Arabic words and phrases.

All in all, would definitely recommend!

[Eman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hajeetek Majeetek is an extraordinary journey into the heart of Moroccan folklore. Filali reimagines and retells the classic folktales that her grandmother shared with her, weaving together lessons of morality, humor, and magic that have been passed down through generations.

She has crafted a loving tribute to the art of Moroccan folktales and the matriarchal tradition of passing down stories. The book is a celebration of oral history, an exploration of Moroccan identity, and a reminder of the enduring power of stories to connect us across time and place. Whether you’re familiar with these stories or not, Hajeetek Majeetek will leave you enchanted and enlightened. Definitely a must-read!!

[Abrar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shockingly Compelling

To say the least, Hajeetak Makeetek is one of the most compelling books I’ve read in a while. Each story is extremely vivd, written very creatively, and had me hooked for a wild ride right away. I wouldn’t be able to put the book down until a story ended. I will say though that the stories are quite dark. These aren’t your average happily ever after folktales. They remind me of the darker Aesop fables but more morbid. These stories would do excellent in literary circles & advanced high school and college level literature classes. Overall it’s worth your read and buy.

[Marouettte · Rating 5 out of 5]

J’ai adoré cette lecture !

Il s’agit d’un recueil de contes marocains remanié par la plume de Sara Filali. Une belle manière de célébrer ma culture et les histoires racontées par mes ancêtres depuis des siècles maintenant.

La lecture de cet ouvrage m’a replongé dans des souvenirs d’histoires racontées par ma maman et m’en a fait découvrir bien d’autres !

J’ai adoré passer une soirée à vivre des aventures extraordinaires (et terrifiantes) aux côtés des personnages de ce livre.

Je recommande vivement !!

[Colleen Villasenor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an interesting little book. It reflects a culture I am not very familiar with. The author has written this as an homage to the women in her history who were storytellers, especially her grandmother. She included a glossary and a pronunciation guide. I especially appreciated the discussion questions included at the end of each story to help understand and contextualize the unfamiliar culture. Even though these are stories the author was told as a child, some of them are very dark, as were the original Grimm fairy tales

[Jawaad Khan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of dark and mysterious folk tales was engaging and well-written in its translation. Appreciated the efforts from the author to retain a storytelling style that still felt like oral tradition. Ignited me to think more on my cultural upbringing and how we can preserve the stories and artifacts of our parents and ancestors, even as we move forward in different lands than the ones they called home.

[Joy Summers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun collection of Moroccan folk tales that reminded me of a lot of the fairy stories I read as a child. Weird and wonderful tales with morals. Each chapter has questions to help discussion in the classroom

[Jannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this- great for all ages. I shared these stories with my mom and younger brother, we all loved it. The stories wreaked captivating , a great amount of depth, and there are questions at the end of each story to help readers understand the full depth.