Before the beginning of written literature, the stories told by people known for their wisdom and intellect in their villages were passed from generation to generation by word of mouth.

However, as time went by and the tellers of Eritrean folklore passed away and the rest of society became nonchalant, the meaning and pleasurable messages started to fade away from the memory of society. If those stories had been written down, they would have enriched and contributed immensely to the development of Eritrean language, culture, and literature.

Considering that a lot has been said and narrated in different regions on different occasions, my presentation of the astute sayings of Shum Fre-Hans by no means should be regarded as complete and perfect. As wood can be curved and shaped by a carpenter, my intention of presenting this thesis is to bring shape and clarity to some of the stories that have deviated from the original sayings and to give the public a true written document about the stories.