KurztextTranslations and adaptations of East African folktales have been widely available and only recently recognized as constituting an essential component of the global cultural heritage. However, little is understood about their nature, taxonomy, creation, and dissemination. This monograph focuses on a selected sample of East African folktales of various ethnicities, examining the prevalent patterns in their adaptation from different forms of expression since the 1970s to the postmodern eras, and tracing them to their sources and creators. The book draws from a range of backgrounds including the work of specialists in children's literature, historians, folklorists, literary artists, anthropologists, to which I add my personal experience. These varied vistas advance the understanding of the ways in which the social, cultural, and political circumstances have influenced the creation, collection, and dissemination of folktales from this rich and diverse cultural region. I expect that this analysis will stimulate discussions and inspire further research in this area.