Oral tradition and storytelling have been the backbone of African literature for centuries, serving as a means of preserving history, culture, and moral values. Before the advent of written texts, African societies relied on oral narratives, including folktales, myths, proverbs, and praise poetry, to pass down knowledge from one generation to the next. These stories were not just entertainment but also played a crucial role in shaping identities, educating communities, and resisting colonial influences. Even in modern African literature, writers like Chinua Achebe and Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o integrate oral storytelling techniques into their works, blending traditional narrative structures with written forms.

1. Oral Tradition and
Storytelling in
African Literature
Smt. S.B. gardi
Department of English
Maharaja krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University

2. Personal Information
Name: Kusum J. Sarvaiya
Roll no. : 17
Sem :
Batch : 2023-25
Enrollment no. : 5108230041
Paper no. : 206 The African Literature
Submitted to : Smt. S. B. Gardi Department of English, M. K.
Bhavnagar University
Email : kusumsarvaiya2304@gamil.com

3. TABLE OF CONTENTS
❏ Hypothesis & Research Question
❏ Introduction
❏ What is Oral Tradition and Storytelling in African Literature
❏ Forms Of The Oral Tradition
❏ Importance
❏ Features
❏ Oral to Written
❏ Example
❏ Conclusion
❏ Learning Outcome

4. Research Question
What is oral tradition and storytelling in African literature? What role does oral storytelling play in
preserving African history, and culture ?
Hypothesis
Oral tradition is a fundamental pillar of African literature, shaping its narrative techniques,
themes, and cultural significance. Even in written forms, African literature continues to preserve
and adapt oral storytelling methods, demonstrating their enduring influence on identity, history,
and resistance.

5. Oral tradition and storytelling have been the backbone
of African literature for centuries, serving as a means of
preserving history, culture, and moral values. Before the
advent of written texts, African societies relied on oral
narratives, including folktales, myths, proverbs, and praise
poetry, to pass down knowledge from one generation to the
next. These stories were not just entertainment but also
played a crucial role in shaping identities, educating
communities, and resisting colonial influences. Even in
modern African literature, writers like Chinua Achebe and
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o integrate oral storytelling techniques into
their works, blending traditional narrative structures with
written forms.
Introduction

6. What is Oral Tradition and Storytelling in
African Literature
Oral tradition is the foundation of African literature, serving as a means of
preserving history, culture, and societal values through spoken narratives. It
includes myths, folktales, epics, legends, proverbs, and praise poetry, often
performed with music, dance, and gestures. Storytelling is a communal activity
where griots (traditional storytellers) or elders pass down knowledge across
generations.
With the advent of written literature, African writers like Chinua Achebe, Ngũgĩ
wa Thiong’o, and Wole Soyinka integrated oral storytelling elements into novels,
blending folklore with modern literary techniques. This fusion maintains cultural
authenticity while making African literature globally accessible.
In contemporary times, digital storytelling has further expanded oral traditions
through social media, blogs, podcasts, and films, ensuring their preservation
in the modern world. (Maphosa)

7. ❏ Oral tradition refers to the practice of transmitting
stories, folklore, and historical accounts through
spoken word rather than written texts.
❏ It includes myths, folktales, legends, proverbs,
riddles, and praise poetry, animistic approach often
performed with music, dance, and audience
participation. (Traoré)
❏ Theatre and Koteba. Koteba is a word that means
“big snail” in the Bamana language, and like the
snail, it carries the ideologies and cosmologies of
the Bamana people on its back. There are nearly
20 rhythm and movement stylings situated within
Koteba (Koteba)
Forms Of The Oral Tradition

8. Features of Oral Tradition in African Literature
● Role of Griots, Elders, and Community Storytelling: Griots act as oral historians,
elders pass down wisdom, and storytelling strengthens communal bonds.
● The animistic approach is a key feature of African oral tradition, where nature and
spiritual forces play an active role in storytelling. This belief system sees animals,
plants, and natural elements as having spirits and influencing human life.
● Use of Proverbs, Myths, and Folktales: Proverbs offer moral lessons, myths
explain origins, and folktales entertain while teaching values.
● Performance Elements: Storytelling includes song, dance, and call-and-response to
engage listeners and enhance memorization.(Edosomwan and Peterson)

9. From Oral to Written Storytelling
Oral and written storytelling in Africa have evolved together, influencing
each other. Early scribes and storytellers, such as Hausa and Swahili copyists,
played key roles in transitioning from oral to written traditions. This
connection is visible in popular literature, like Onitsha market literature and
comic strips, as well as in serious works by authors like Chinua Achebe and
Ousmane Sembene. Despite colonial influences, African writers adapted
foreign literary traditions, blending them with oral storytelling to create a
unique literary identity. (Edosomwan and Peterson) (Maphosa)

10. Importance of Storytelling in African
Culture
Storytelling in African culture is more than
entertainment—it is a means of educating younger
generations, reinforcing moral values, preserving
history, and strengthening social bonds. Stories often
contain lessons about courage, justice, respect, and
communal harmony. They also serve as a record of
historical events, ensuring that traditions and ancestral
wisdom are not lost over time. (Edosomwan and
Peterson)

11. Wizard of the Crow is a African novel that contains
the Theme of oral traditions and storytelling It
examines the transformation between oral and written
forms, emphasizing how traditional African storytelling
influences the novel’s plot structure.
Ngũgĩ employs multiple narrators—both as
participants and observers—who recount events
orally, often in the presence of a live audience. These
narrators not only relay but also embellish the story,
presenting varying versions of the same events, a
hallmark of oral traditions.(Bala)
Wizard of the Crow by Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o

12. ● Things Fall Apart (1958) – Chinua Achebe
● Wizard of the Crow (2006) – Ngũgĩ wa
Thiong’o
● Petals of Blood (1977) – Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o
● The God of Small Things (1997) – Arundhati
Roy
● If It’s Not Forever, It’s Not Love by Durjoy
Datta and Nikita Singh

13. Learning Outcome :
● Learning Outcomes: Oral Tradition and Storytelling in African Literature
● Understand the Role of Oral Tradition in African Societies
● Explore the Connection Between Oral Tradition and Postcolonial Literature
● Recognize the Adaptation of Oral Traditions in Contemporary Media

14. Conclusion
Oral tradition and storytelling are not just historical elements
of African literature but living traditions that continue to shape
its narrative style, themes, and cultural significance. From
ancient folktales and myths to modern novels, African writers
have preserved and adapted oral storytelling techniques to
reflect contemporary realities while maintaining a connection
to their heritage. This fusion of oral and written traditions
ensures that African literature remains a powerful tool for
education, cultural preservation, and resistance against
oppression. As African storytelling evolves, it continues to
serve as a bridge between the past and the future, keeping
alive the voices, wisdom, and identity of its people.

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