The paper argues that african oral literature has not received the. These are far from the only important genres of literature. The perception of african oral literature nineteenthcentury approaches and collections. Abstract a lot has been said about the slow death of the oral tradition aspect of indigenous communication. In literature, there are four main genres to help the reader focus their expectations for the piece, though these genres can be broken down even further. It forms part of africas rich cultures that are expressed in diverse ways. Orature as a characteristic of the literatures of werewere. Songsoral narrativesoral poetryriddlestongue twisters 3. The studies of oral literature are countless, and the educational function of storytelling is certainly one of recurring topics. Communication requires a sender, a message, and an intended recipient, although the receiver need not be present or aware of the senders intent to communicate at the time of communication. Oral literature is an aspect of literature preserved not in written form but in oral form.
Communication through drums can be divided into two types. African literature is literature of or from africa and includes oral literature or orature, in the term coined by ugandan scholar pio zirimu as george joseph notes in his chapter on african literature in understanding contemporary africa, whereas european views of literature often stressed a separation of art and content, african awareness is inclusive. Therefore at this moment in african history it is not too difficult to make the distinction between. The social, linguistic, and literary background 51. Pdf this paper examines the origin, evolution and emergence of folklore oral. To some people, oral literature is only but a mirage. Interactions and intersections edited by daniela merolla leiden university, the netherlands introduction the studies of oral literature are countless, and the educational function of storytelling is certainly one of recurring topics.
Oral literature, the standard forms or genres of literature found in societies without writing. One of the features that probably characterize african cultural lore is the richness of oral genres variously known as oral literature or orature. The oral artists agenda joseph muleka 87 p a g e the oral text naturally text is a crucial component in communicating messages. The book is available as a free pdf and ebook download thanks to the generous support of interested readers and organisations, who made donations using the crowdfunding website unglue. Oral literature is a broad term which may include ritual texts, curative chants, epic poems, musical genres, folk tales, creation tales, songs, myths, spells, legends, proverbs, riddles, tonguetwisters, word games, recitations, life histories or historical narratives. The significance of performance in actualization, transmission, and composition. There is no standard definition as folklorists have varying descriptions for oral literature or folk literature but a broad conceptualization refers to it as literature characterized by oral transmission and the absence of any fixed form.
Africas long tradition of oral artistry still wields a remarkable in. The relationship between oral and written traditions and in particular between oral and modern written literatures is one of great complexity and not a matter of simple evolution. The literature of south africa in english and afrikaans is also covered in a separate article, south african literature. Nonfiction opposes fiction and is distinguished from those fiction genres of literature like poetry and drama which is the next section we will discuss. This work refutes this idea in its entirety by presenting 22 chapters, which firmly place the study of oral literature within contemporary african existence. Oral literature in africa pdf open book publishers. Oral literature in africa is part of the world oral literature series published in conjunction with the world oral literature project. The first is through a conventional code where prearranged. African literature, literary works of the african continent. African oral genres tales, proverbs, riddles, and lullabies. A valuable book in the genre of african oral literature is ruth finnegans oral literature in africa. African literature article about african literature by the. The prose is often mythological or historical and can include tales of the trickster character. This chapter is a discussion of the major stylistic features of oral literature.
As george joseph notes on the first page of his chapter on african literature in understanding contemporary africa, while the european perception of literature generally refers to written letters, the african concept includes oral literature. It reflects community life, the spirit of ancestors and the process of development in society. Ruth takes us on a journey where you will learn several ways in which they express themselves from drums, dance, songs, parables and childrens. Oral literature in africa continue to attract interest of researchers and scholars because of its enduring aesthetic appeal and relevance. The oral nature of african unwritten literature the significance of performance in actualization, transmission, and composition. The former are relatively well knownat any rate the recent writings in european languages much work remains to be publicized on earlier arabic and local written. What type of thing is literature literature can be described as all of the following. The study analyzes how oral literature relates to media, music, technology, text, gender, religion, power, politics. Recent trends in african studies and the revival of interest in oral literature. Section three examines the place of oral literature in modern african literature as well as the steps necessary to ensure proper recording and study of the subject. This paper grapples with the question of choice of theory in the study of african oral literature. Here are a few more that are sometimes used in classrooms.
The importance of song in africa oral literature aucccom. Examples of traditional literature are divination text, drum language, poem, appellation, tales, songs, riddles, proverbs, myths and legends. Storytellers in africa sometimes use callandresponse techniques to tell their stories. By bernice bessey oral literature is a spoken word that has been transmitted from generation to generation. The term oral literature is also used to describe the tradition in written civilizations in which certain genres are transmitted by word of mouth or are confined to the socalled folk i. The perception of african oral literature 29 nineteenthcentury approaches and collections.
In practice it is extremely difficult to separate oral from written traditions. Sep 17, 2012 world oral literature series volume 1. Phoenician afar meaning dust or afridi tribe of northern africa etymology 3. As has been shown, although there was a written tradition in africa, it was not always applied to literature.
The authors of this issue of the nordic journal of. The second section presents the major types of oral literature practiced in africa, the principal concerns of the literature, and its relation to other forms of traditional art. The use of african myth, folklore and oral tradition in african literature. Traditional written literature, which is limited to a smaller geographic area than is oral literature, is most characteristic of those subsaharan cultures that have participated in the cultures of the mediterranean. African literature is as diverse as the continent itself, but several characteristics and themes prevail throughout much of the written works emerging from africa. An overview of the role of oral arts in africa africa is a continent known for its rich oral traditions. Brings together key texts that are otherwise hard to locate covers all genres and critical schools provides the intellectual context for understanding african literature facilitates the. I have broadly defined literary genres within the context of social and cultural. Legends and myths are prime examples of oral literature, crossing the line between fact and fiction, yet strengthened by constant retelling. Oral literature or orature may be in prose or verse. If you are interested in anthropology and the literary traditions of a variety of african tribes, you.
Oral literature by ruth finnegan, is a book of history as to how culture, tradition and the various forms of communication has been passed down, to various parts of africa from nigeria and senegal to rwanda. It means spoken literature, or literature by word of mouth, which makes it a controversial term. The steady incursion of foreign media content and values which were once alien to africans but are now being assimilated and exhibited. What are the characteristics of african literature. It is highly valued in africa in general and in igbo in particular mainly because of its didactic nature. The oral nature of african unwritten literature y the significance of performance in actualization, transmission, and composition. African literature article about african literature by. Now, most oral texts have been written down, of course, and are usually taught in the form of epic poems or plays or folk tales. Ong argue that it is a contradiction in terms since the conservative view is that literature should. This includes biographies, history, essays, speech, and narrative non fiction. African literature is literature of or from africa and includes oral literature. African literature consists of a body of work in different languages and various genres, ranging from oral literature to literature written in colonial languages french, portuguese, and english. This genre of literature offers opinions or conjectures on facts and reality.
For instance, there is often a great emphasis on the history, culture and customs of a group of people when telling their stories. Africa terra land of the afri afriplural afersingular afer may be from. Africa possesses both written and unwritten traditions. The various categories of african folktales are analyzed. Doc the use of african myth, folklore and oral tradition in. Oral literature is a performed art which in most cases uses words as a medium of communication. Through the ages, oral literature has performed this function by presenting its various genres as forms of entertainment that are designed to inculcate in listeners. In doing this, it ought to be noted that oral literature, unlike its written opposite number, is not rigidly. Contents online resources illustrations forward by mark turin prefaces acknowledgements abbreviations note on sources. The scholar examines literary issues which relate to the performance of folktales in traditional africa. African literature refers to literature of and from africa.
Doc the use of african myth, folklore and oral tradition. Young zulu men from country areas who take up manual work in. The same goes for all other genres of oral literature which can be relied. Oral traditional poetics, a mythic episode, and arming scenes in the iliad 4. Oral literature in africa is a proper scholarly work with footnotes and references, but nonscholars can read and enjoy it just as much as the serious scholar. The african oral arts are part and parcel of the continents longstanding tradition of folk culture. Albert bates lord, the singer resumes the tale foreword preface 1. The paper argues that african oral literature has not received the attention it. Another important difference between traditional african oral art and modern african literature involves the identity and social standing of their respective practitioners. Ruth finnegan in her study of oral literature in africa names the region of west africa as the place where one can find literary forms. Oral literature or folk literature corresponds in the sphere of the spoken oral word to literature as literature operates in the domain of the written word. All students are also expected to read chinua achebes novel things fall apart new york. The paper argues that while it is easy and desirable to choose a facilitative theory in the analysis of a written work of literature, such a process poses challenges when it comes to the oral type of african literature.
Rating is available when the video has been rented. Only when it is clear how the text stands to the performance and the other to the tradition can an analysis of the contents of the message begin, vansina, 1985. Oral literature by ruth finnegan investigates how culture, tradition, and various forms of communication have been passed down from different parts of africa. Songs oral narratives oral poetryriddlestongue twisters 3. The oldest type of literature, and the foundation on which culture was built. This is the first anthology to bring together the key texts of african literary theory and criticism. Nonfiction opposes fiction and is distinguished from those fiction genres of literature like poetry and drama which is. Throughout africa, oral literature is flourishing, though it is perceived by some as anachronistic to the modern world. Therefore at this moment in african history it is not too difficult to make the distinction between oral and written literature, since the oral is.
African literature, the body of traditional oral and written literatures in afroasiatic and african languages together with works written by africans in european languages. The same goes for all other genres of oral literature which can be. This literature through narrative, poetry, song, dance, myths and fables, and texts for religious rituals provides a portrait of the meaning of life as experienced by the society at its. Roger blench nupe oral literature genres circulated for comment 1 1. Unlike written literary genres, oral literature is conveyed or passed down to future generations by word of mouth, typically through memorization and recitation. In an attempt to preserve this oral literature, several individual authors have collected tales, proverbs, riddles and published them in books. Apr 06, 2016 oral literature is a spoken word that has been transmitted from generation to generation.