Description
"African Folklore" offers an in-depth look at the role of oral traditions in preserving and transmitting the cultural values, history, and worldview of African societies. The text emphasizes that folklore—through proverbs, folktales, songs, riddles, and rituals—is not merely entertainment but a sophisticated system of knowledge and social education. It reflects the collective wisdom of a people and serves as a means of shaping behavior, resolving conflict, and reinforcing communal norms.
The work also highlights the dynamic nature of folklore, showing how it adapts to changing times while maintaining its core functions. It discusses how storytellers and performers act as cultural custodians, creatively interpreting tradition for new generations. By placing folklore at the center of African intellectual and social life, the text challenges the marginalization of oral knowledge and calls for its recognition as a vital part of Africa’s cultural heritage and academic discourse.
Described as the first work of its kind to offer something close to a comprehensive coverage of folklore throughout the African continent in a single source, as well as covering the African diaspora. Recommended. African Book Publishing Record, April 2004.
An excellent introduction to African Folklore as well as a convenient resource for leading researchers to further study, this is highly recommended. Library Journal, February 2004
