Why Has The Oral Tradition Been So Important In West Africa?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Oral tradition is important in west Africa because modern writers add to the oral legacy some have turned oral traditions to novels . ... What functions did music serve in west Africa? Music communicated ideas and values also expressed feelings and celebrated important evens such as weddings,funerals and ceramonies.

Why were oral traditions important in West Africa?

There is a rich tradition throughout Africa of oral storytelling. ... So the transmission of knowledge, history and experience in West Africa was mainly through the oral tradition and per- formance rather than on written texts. Oral traditions guide social and human morals, giving people a sense of place and purpose .

Why was the oral tradition important in Africa?

Oral Traditions make it possible for a society to pass knowledge across genera- tions without writing . They help people make sense of the world and are used to teach children and adults about important aspects of their culture.

Why were oral traditions so important?

Oral tradition is important in all societies, despite the reliance of some cultures on written records and accounts. These traditions account for the ways things are and often the way they should be , and assist people in educating the young and teaching important lessons about the past and about life.

What is oral tradition in West Africa?

Folktales West Africa’s oral tradition includes hundreds of old stories called folktales . West Africans used folktales to pass along their history and to teach young people morals and values. Many traditional folktales were brought to the Americas by West Africans who were sold into slavery beginning in the 1500s.

What was the role of a griot in West Africa?

The griot profession is hereditary and has long been a part of West African culture. The griots’ role has traditionally been to preserve the genealogies, historical narratives, and oral traditions of their people; praise songs are also part of the griot’s repertoire.

What are the characteristics of oral tradition?

  • repetition of phrases to emphasize points or themes.
  • interaction with the audience.
  • strong rhythm and meter.
  • music, costume, and props.
  • idiomatic expressions.
  • strong imagery.
  • techniques such as onomatopoeia (creating sounds that imitate sounds found in nature)

What’s the meaning of oral tradition?

Oral tradition, also called orality, the first and still most widespread mode of human communication. Far more than “just talking,” oral tradition refers to a dynamic and highly diverse oral-aural medium for evolving, storing, and transmitting knowledge, art, and ideas .

What is an example of oral tradition?

Oral tradition is information passed down through the generations by word of mouth that is not written down . Explore some oral tradition examples like legends, proverbs, folktales, and customs. ...

Why was the oral tradition important in Africa quizlet?

Why has the oral tradition been so important in west Africa? Oral tradition is important in west Africa because modern writers add to the oral legacy some have turned oral traditions to novels .

How can we maintain oral tradition?

  1. Save the original tape as well as the transcript of the interview.
  2. Make an audio copy for public use, do not allow an original to be used.
  3. Store tapes away from magnetic fields.

What are the three forms of oral tradition?

Usually, three types of oral folk art are distinguished: poetry (song creativity: ritual songs, historical songs and dumy (epic poems), lullabies) , prose (tales, legends, narrations, verbal tales, jokes), drama (plays, scenes for folk theater, vertep (portable puppet theatre)).

What is another name for oral tradition?

lore beliefs fables ballad folk story oral history folk tradition folk tales traditional stories folk stories

What instruments were used in West Africa?

African musical instruments include a wide range of drums, slit gongs, rattles and double bells , different types of harps, and harp-like instruments such as the Kora and the ngoni, as well as fiddles, many kinds of xylophone and lamellophone such as the mbira, and different types of wind instrument like flutes and ...

What is a female griot called?

A female griot is referred to as a Jelimuso or Jalimuso (muso meaning “woman). The craft of the griot, Jaliyaa, is traditionally, passed down from father to son and mother to daughter. In the 13th Century West African Empire of Mali, griots served the royal families as advisors, tutors and diplomats.

Who are the griots of West Africa?

A griot is a West African storyteller, singer, musician, and oral historian . They train to excel as orators, lyricists and musicians. The griot keeps records of all the births, deaths, marriages through the generations of the village or family.

Jasmine Sibley
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Jasmine Sibley
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