Black Horse

The Jackal and the Sun

In short: Read how a Nama tale connects the dark stripe on the jackal’s back with the Sun.

The Jackal and the Sun · The dark stripe on the jackal’s back FAIRY TALE ATLAS · № 145 The Jackal and the Sun Read how a Nama tale connects the dark stripe on the jackal’s back with the Sun. Origin Nama material associated with the Berseba collection in present-day southern Namibia. Atlas record 1864 First appearance Exact date unknown SIGNATURE MOTIF The dark stripe on the jackal’s back Reach¹ 1/10 Suggested age² 8+ Member rating No votes yet 1 records · 1 countries or regions blackhorsestories.com

¹ Based on the number of Atlas countries, capped at 10. ² Editorial suggestion for reading this page. Discover Black Horse’s question

Origin and tradition

Nama material associated with the Berseba collection in present-day southern Namibia.

Travellers pass the Sun sitting by the road. The Jackal mistakes him for a child left behind and carries him on his back. The Sun’s heat leaves a dark mark. A meeting on the road explains a feature a listener can see on the animal.

Dated records and sources

  1. 1864 · Berseba, Namibia
    G. Krönlein / W. H. I. Bleek · Why Has the Jackal a Long Black Stripe on His Back? · no. 29 · Published collection

Country pages

Origin
Black Horse. The Jackal and the Sun. https://blackhorsestories.com/en/atlas-tale-jackal-and-the-sun/