Oral and Written Traditions of West Africa
By: Persey
Oral and Written Traditions:
In the Medieval Era, the West Africans created many different ways of sharing and passing down oral and written traditions. One way that they passed down traditions from generation to generation was folktales. Folktales taught young boys and girls about their culture, and it taught them many morals and life lessons. Many of their folktales were called ‘trickster’ folktales. They were where one character outsmarts or tricks another character. In many of the West African stories, the trickster was a hare also known as a rabbit. Proverbs, which are also know as popular sayings, were another West African oral tradition. Proverbs would be used to tell ideas or simply to give advice to someone else.
After Islam spread into West Africa, the written traditions of the West Africans became far, more important. Muslims wrote many different works and writing and so many of them were preserved, most of them in schools. Many stories have now been turned into novels. The stories now also inspire many people around the world.
Griots:
Griots were people who were artists of the Mande People who were verbal. These people told stories, recited poems, and sung songs of praise while they played a two-stringed instrument or a drum. They also performed drama, dance, as well as music. Before the Mande People came along, every single town had a griot! The griot would have to memorize all of the important and unimportant information about the town including; births, deaths, battles, coronations of kings, queens, (and royalty), griots even memorized marriages! The knowledge and tradition had been passed down from griot, to griot for generations. Some griots would recite their information for hours, some even recited for days! One famous griot in the griot history was names Sundjata Keita. He was the king that founded the Mali’s Empire back in the 13th Century! Sundjata is still, to this very day, a big hero for many and many people who now live in West Africa. Sundjata influences and inspires many people,and still does.
In the Medieval Era, the West Africans created many different ways of sharing and passing down oral and written traditions. One way that they passed down traditions from generation to generation was folktales. Folktales taught young boys and girls about their culture, and it taught them many morals and life lessons. Many of their folktales were called ‘trickster’ folktales. They were where one character outsmarts or tricks another character. In many of the West African stories, the trickster was a hare also known as a rabbit. Proverbs, which are also know as popular sayings, were another West African oral tradition. Proverbs would be used to tell ideas or simply to give advice to someone else.
After Islam spread into West Africa, the written traditions of the West Africans became far, more important. Muslims wrote many different works and writing and so many of them were preserved, most of them in schools. Many stories have now been turned into novels. The stories now also inspire many people around the world.
Griots:
Griots were people who were artists of the Mande People who were verbal. These people told stories, recited poems, and sung songs of praise while they played a two-stringed instrument or a drum. They also performed drama, dance, as well as music. Before the Mande People came along, every single town had a griot! The griot would have to memorize all of the important and unimportant information about the town including; births, deaths, battles, coronations of kings, queens, (and royalty), griots even memorized marriages! The knowledge and tradition had been passed down from griot, to griot for generations. Some griots would recite their information for hours, some even recited for days! One famous griot in the griot history was names Sundjata Keita. He was the king that founded the Mali’s Empire back in the 13th Century! Sundjata is still, to this very day, a big hero for many and many people who now live in West Africa. Sundjata influences and inspires many people,and still does.