Oral Literature in AfricaThis book is based only on the more obvious sources and is intended as an introduction, not as a comprehensive account. Only some examples are given from a huge field and experts in particular areas will be able to point to exceptions and omissions. Some of the conclusions too may turn out to be controversial; indeed the author hopes to stimulate further publications and study. On each chapter and each section more research could take the subject much further. But in spite of these limitations, the general purpose of the book will be fulfilled to show that African oral literature is a subject worthy of study and interest, and to provoke further research in this fascinating but too often neglected field. |
Contents
The oral nature of African unwritten literature | 1 |
The perception of African oral literature | 26 |
The social linguistic and literary background | 48 |
Copyright | |
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Common terms and phrases
A. M. Jones actual African oral literature Akan allusive animal appear Arabic areas artistic aspect associated audience Bantu languages Bascom chief chorus common context conventional culture dance detailed dirges discussion divination Dogon Doke dramatic drum E. E. Evans-Pritchard elaborate elephant Eshu example expression fact formal Fulani functions funeral further genres Hausa hunter hunting Ibid ideophones individual instance involved Junod Kikuyu kind king language Limba linguistic literary forms London mother myths narrator Nigeria Nketia non-literate Nyanja occasions Ogun oral literature particular performance play poetic poets political praise names praise poems praise poetry proverbs recited references religious rhythm riddles Rwanda seems significance singer singing Smith and Dale social society sometimes songs Sotho speech stories story-telling style sung Swahili texts Thonga tion tone Tracey traditional various verbal verse West Africa words written literature Yoruba Zulu