Madagascar Superstitions & Taboos: Fighting the Aye-Aye Fady

Ako is the name of an aye-aye in the children’s book written to combat harmful folklore in Madagascar. Illustration by Deborah Ross on book cover of “Ako the Aye-Aye”.

In some regions of Madagascar, it is considered fady to eat certain lemurs, meaning local taboos can actually act as a shield to protect specific species. However, aye-ayes appear to be the only lemur associated with fady leading to their persecution. How did the aye-aye end up drawing the short straw when it comes to local folklore?

The Fairy Trees: Blackthorn, Hawthorn and Rowan

Hawthorn Blossom © Lisa Schneidau

White blossom on the trees is one of the delights of springtime, but it masks a deeper magic in three of the most charismatic of British trees: blackthorn, hawthorn and rowan. Storyteller and ecologist Lisa Schneidau has some practical tips on navigating plant folklore, bringing you face to face with the fairy realms and the ways of the Other Folk…..

A Real Robin Hood: Tales of Wild Kynaston and his Satanic Steed, Beelzebub

The entrance to Kynaston’s Cave in the Nesscliffe Hills © Gwyn Norrell http://www.gwynnorrell.co.uk/about

Remy Dean explores the stories of Wild Kynaston; a medieval noble turned highwayman who may have inspired some of the tales of the legendary Robin Hood.

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