Book excerpt: The Limba are rice farmers living in the hills of northern Sierra Leone who have, until recently, been somewhat despised by their neighbours. Yet they possess a subtle and fascinating literature, as illustrated by this detailed study of their stories, collected and translated by Dr. Finnegan. Their literary and artistic value emerges clearly when the significance of their ‘oral’ character is realized. The introductory chapters full consider such points as the importance of the actual delivery, the part played by the story-teller, and the changing forms arising from the originality of individual narrators. The book throws light on the general study of oral composition and performance as well as on the literary spirit of a previously unstudied West African people.