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Singing Man
Book by Medearis, Angela Shelf
32 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
3 people are currently reading
71 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
January 19, 2019
Three brothers come to age. When they do they are asked what they want to be. One wants to be a blacksmith. Another a farmer. The youngest a musician. He is outcasted. A musician does not provide for the community. He is not welcomed. So, off he goes.
He befriends a blind man who plays a drum and tells the history of the people. They team up. Eventually, the blind man dies. The youngest brother continues, adding the drum and the history of the people to his repertoire. The king hears him and offers him riches to become the king's singer.
Later, one of the brothers appears. The singer asks him about his family. The brother is destitute as is the rest of the family The singer tells him to prepare for the king's singer to appear. He does and bestows riches upon his family and tribe.
It's a fine tale, but I can't fathom his brother would not have recognized him. Sure, years have gone by, but I believe familial relations would be known.
He befriends a blind man who plays a drum and tells the history of the people. They team up. Eventually, the blind man dies. The youngest brother continues, adding the drum and the history of the people to his repertoire. The king hears him and offers him riches to become the king's singer.
Later, one of the brothers appears. The singer asks him about his family. The brother is destitute as is the rest of the family The singer tells him to prepare for the king's singer to appear. He does and bestows riches upon his family and tribe.
It's a fine tale, but I can't fathom his brother would not have recognized him. Sure, years have gone by, but I believe familial relations would be known.
June 16, 2020
Children's literature folktale African
K-2
Music was a main theme in this book, making a meaningful connection with me. It tells the folktale of a musician who follows his heart and finds his dreams come true. An older mentor helps Banzar become a praise musician, and finally musician to the king. There's a little of the Joseph story from the Bible in this folktale as well. The moral of the story, "Yams fill the belly and trade fills the pockets, but music fills the heart." I could see using this book in a Black History Month unit or when studying folklore from around the world.
K-2
Music was a main theme in this book, making a meaningful connection with me. It tells the folktale of a musician who follows his heart and finds his dreams come true. An older mentor helps Banzar become a praise musician, and finally musician to the king. There's a little of the Joseph story from the Bible in this folktale as well. The moral of the story, "Yams fill the belly and trade fills the pockets, but music fills the heart." I could see using this book in a Black History Month unit or when studying folklore from around the world.
October 16, 2017
A couple has 3 boys. One of those boys choses to pursue music, which is not seen as practical. He is forced to leave his home in Western Africa. The elders of the village want him to do something for the greater good of the tribe, or leave. He choses to leave. He meets other musicians along his journey who sang of the history and culture of the African people. It is through his interaction with this man that we find out how he finally fulfills his dreams.
June 6, 2020
This adapted folktale has a great quote "Yams fill the belly and trade fills the pockets, but music fills the heart." This would be a good mentor text for author's voice, or for a cultural text set for African folktales. It shows the importance of following your heart. Students K-6 could all get something out of reading this text. It has a guided reading level O.
October 10, 2018
I thought it was a cute story.
October 15, 2018
Banzar grew taller and stronger, while Sholo grew older and weaker. When Sholo died, Banzar stopped playing his flute until he realize, he needed to tell his people about the past through music.
December 6, 2012
The Singing Man is based on a Nigerian folktale. Most African villages had a griot or praise singer, who sang about the history of the village, king, and chiefs of the village. The songs were passed from one praise singer to another to keep the tradition going in order to preserve the history of the African people.
After the initiation ceremony into manhood, three brothers from the city of Lagos must choose their life’s work. The first brother, Swanga, chose to be a farmer. The second brother, Taki, chose to be a blacksmith. The third brother, Banzar, wanted to be a musician. Banzar’s father and the elders said that music was not an acceptable choice and banned him
from the village.
Banzar packs some food, a few coins, and his flute to start off on the road to Otolo. When he stops to eat, Banzar meets a blind man named Sholo. Sholo is a praise singer who plays a drum
called an omele. Sholo decides to show Banzar how to make his living as a musician.
They traveled together for many years, playing their music and singing their songs from village to village. Eventually, Sholo dies and Banzar must decide what to do.
This book can be used in the classroom to talk about the culture of Africa and the importance of tradition. I believe it is a great book to talk about how the history of these villages is passed down orally from one generation to the next. The Singing Man has 34 pages and beautiful oil painting illustrations.
After the initiation ceremony into manhood, three brothers from the city of Lagos must choose their life’s work. The first brother, Swanga, chose to be a farmer. The second brother, Taki, chose to be a blacksmith. The third brother, Banzar, wanted to be a musician. Banzar’s father and the elders said that music was not an acceptable choice and banned him
from the village.
Banzar packs some food, a few coins, and his flute to start off on the road to Otolo. When he stops to eat, Banzar meets a blind man named Sholo. Sholo is a praise singer who plays a drum
called an omele. Sholo decides to show Banzar how to make his living as a musician.
They traveled together for many years, playing their music and singing their songs from village to village. Eventually, Sholo dies and Banzar must decide what to do.
This book can be used in the classroom to talk about the culture of Africa and the importance of tradition. I believe it is a great book to talk about how the history of these villages is passed down orally from one generation to the next. The Singing Man has 34 pages and beautiful oil painting illustrations.
December 7, 2011
A young man, Banzar, from West Africa becomes of age of manhood. It is his turn to take the manhood ceremony. He tells the elders he wants to be a musician. They tell his father that his choice is unacceptable and tell him to choose another line of work for the good of the village or be forced to leave. Banzar says he must leave. He meets an old, blind man named Sholo who is a musician. Sholo hears Banzar play, sees the great talent in him, and teaches him how to make a living as a musician. Sholo eventually dies. Banzar is very sad, but decides he must carry on the story of the people of West Africa, their past, through his music just like Sholo would want him to do. He performs for the King of Lagos. The king loves his music and says he has the greatest gift of all the musicians he has heard. He asks him to be his personal musician. Banzar is honored and accepts. Banzar becomes quite famous playing for the king. One day in town, he meets his brothers who have come. They do not recognize him. He tells them to tell their parents that he will be coming. They rush back to tell their parents. He performs and brings them gifts. They are all very happy to see him because they had thought that he was probably dead. I could use this book to teach of the traditions and lifestyle of the West African people.
May 1, 2013
This book is about three sons who reach adulthood and each one figures out what they want to do with their life. Taki wants to be a blacksmith, and Swanga wants to go farming, but Banzar wants to be a musician and because of it he gets banished from his village. He becomes friends with Sholo, who is a musician, and travels with him. Banzar becomes great in music and eventually goes back to his family to share his money with them. I really enjoyed this book, and I also think that children would love it as well because of the idea that even though Banzar got kicked out of his home he still went back in the end and helped them. This is a good book to show that family is always important and of course to follow your dreams. The illustrations in this book are very good and detailed. The oil painting colors are blended very well and portrays the Nigerian Culture well with all of the vibrant colors. Also, the shading is drawn very well around Banzar to show the emphasis.
May 13, 2015
With simple language and expressive color illustrations, “The Singing Man” tells a story about a prodigal son who goes off and makes good with his wonderful talent. Although this African folktale starts like certain European tales, with three brothers choosing their paths in life, there are no fairies, sprites or spirits to help the dreamy Banzar develop his talent. There are only human beings moved by the spirit of music to understand and praise his gift.
With illustrations of broad swaths of color, each page is framed with patterns from West Africa, indicative of the Yoruba tribe that inspired this story. The human figures have a stylized distance from them with few facial expressions to show their emotions. But this means that the story must carry all and it does with gentle insistence on its message.
With illustrations of broad swaths of color, each page is framed with patterns from West Africa, indicative of the Yoruba tribe that inspired this story. The human figures have a stylized distance from them with few facial expressions to show their emotions. But this means that the story must carry all and it does with gentle insistence on its message.
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October 8, 2016This would be a good tale to read to students because it is about a different culture and different than many other tales they may be familiar with. There are three brothers and two decide to go into what the tradition is but the third decides to be a musician. everyone tells him that if he decides to do that then he must leave the village. so the boy sets off to another town and meets a man who helps him. this book is great to show that if someone doesn't like your decision and puts you down for it, to keep with your decision and prove everyone wrong. you shouldn't let people decide what you want to be
May 2, 2013
This story follows the West African Folktale where a young man decides to leave home and become a singing man, despite the disapproval of his family. I loved the images in this book and how it tied into the African setting. I feel this would be great to share with students because of the message that you can make your dreams come true and do the things you love as long as you show hard work and dedication. Overall, I loved this book because it was a great example of traditional literature and folk stories.
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June 24, 2015A man and a woman had three fine sons.
When the first son became a man, his desire was to till the land,
When the second son became a man, his desire was to make things of iron,
When the third son became a man, his desire was to become a musician.
And the first son was honored,
and the second son was praised,
but the third son was cast out from his family to
wander for the rest of his days.
Now here is a new saying: "Yams fill the belly and trade fills the pockets, but music fills the heart."
When the first son became a man, his desire was to till the land,
When the second son became a man, his desire was to make things of iron,
When the third son became a man, his desire was to become a musician.
And the first son was honored,
and the second son was praised,
but the third son was cast out from his family to
wander for the rest of his days.
Now here is a new saying: "Yams fill the belly and trade fills the pockets, but music fills the heart."
April 22, 2016
This book is about three brother who come of age and set off into the world. One son became a farmer, one a blacksmith, and one a musician. The last boy is scolded for his choice. He left the village and set off walking for a very long time. As he traveled he sang about the history of the African History. He met a man who would teach him the way of music. Banzar grew strong and became very famous. A King recognized his talent and rewarded him for this. Banzar visited his town again and found that they were suffering. He brought them wealth.
May 30, 2008
A couple's youngest son is forced to leave his West African village because he chooses music over the more practical occupations of his brothers, but years later he returns to show the wisdom of his choice.
Overly photographic illustrations. I was bothered by the young man traveling for years but still wearing the same shirt.
Overly photographic illustrations. I was bothered by the young man traveling for years but still wearing the same shirt.
April 8, 2015
This book is about a boy named Banzar who wants to be a musician. His village thinks that is an unacceptable career so they force him to chose another or leave. Banzar decides to leave and follow his dreams of becoming a musician. Ultimately, he makes it and is a private musician for the King of Lagos. This is a great book about following your dreams and the hard decisions of adulthood.
November 19, 2016
This is a rich story of life decisions, class(?) prejudice, and pursuing your dreams. Kind of a contrived ending, but it seemed like a nice message overall. A bit complicated for young children, probably for 6 and up.
February 12, 2010
This book is a prodical son narrative set in West Africa. Really great.
June 18, 2013
a good tale to do something that makes you happy and following your dreams.
August 7, 2013
Interesting folklore retelling. Parts if the illustrations seemed very realistic, but overall not my taste.
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June 10, 2011it is very good
August 5, 2013
1995 CSKing Illustrator Honor
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October 9, 2017A nice story, with good illustrations.
Banzar's skill at music is connected to his attentiveness to nature (learning about music through listening to natural music) and his skill combined with the value of the praise singer (as keeper and sharer of the people's history) lead to his success.
Banzar's skill at music is connected to his attentiveness to nature (learning about music through listening to natural music) and his skill combined with the value of the praise singer (as keeper and sharer of the people's history) lead to his success.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews