ECHOES OF THE PAST IN THE PRESENT ORAL NARRATIVES

The idea of Literature in Africa was not brought by the white men (Europeans), therefore, Literature was
not strange to Africans as it has been in existence before the coming of the Western culture.

Africans have a rich reperture of oral narratives and these narratives were in spoken form. They were
not written before the western culture but transmitted orally. Oral narratives formed the existence of
modern African fiction.

Some of the oral narratives include:

1) Myths

2) Proverbs / Witty sayings / aphorism

3) Folktales

4) The use of songs

5) Incantations

6) Festivals

1) Myths: Myths are stories which explains certain natural phenomenon; they are usually unscientific
and unrealistic. Myth usually involves super-natural being. For instance, In the African society, there is
the myth about the creation of the world, myth about sin, myth about death etc.

Chinua Achebe in Things Fall Apart make use of myth "the myth of the flies and the eaes". In African
Child by Camara Laye, there is the myth about the snake as a guiding spirit of our race.

2) Proverbs: Proverbs don't just occur in Africa setting, there are narratives and proverbs. A proverb is a
simple and insightful traditional saying that expresses a perceived truth based on common sense or
experience. Thomas Mofolo, Chinua Achebe, Wole Soynika are some of the African writers that makes
use of proverbs in their writings.

For Instance, there is the use of proverbs in Wole Soyinka/D.O. Fagunwa Forest of A Thousand Daemons
e.g. "The hand which takes food to the mouth always return" - Page 17

"A man mends his fate with his own hands" - Pg 19

Everyday might seem to belong to the robber, but one single day is the day of the owner".

3) Folktales: Forklates are didactic stories that are created from the imagination of man. It usually begins
with an opening formula and have a closing formula. For instance, in the Yoruba traditional setting,
there is the story about tortoise. These stories reflect the activities in Africa.

4) Festivals: Festivals in Africa is usualy dramatic in nature and there is the use of costumes and the use
use of songs during festival.

5) Songs: In African traditional setting, music and dance have played a vital role in people's ability to
communicate and celebrate events. Songs can be used to entertain, educate, mock or correct the folies
in the society.