Children's oral poetry: A reflection on the role of Imilolozelo (lullabies) as Art Performance in Zulu

Abstract

Imilolozelo (lullabies) form part of Zulu children's poetry that is probably the most ancient form of African children's literature. It includes the poetry and folksongs of societies whose literature was transmitted orally. Like all folklore, children's oral poetry is an art performance and tradition transmitted from one's forefathers. Children's oral poetry is characterised by song, repetition, physical actions and gestures. The performance nature of imilolozelo can be likened to an informal school where, from infancy, a child slowly discovers her/his world and some aspects of all that is in it. On remarking about oral performance Okpewho points out that ‘There must be a certain appeal in not what the performer is saying but in the way it is said.. much of the appeal lies in the quality of the voice used and the skill with which the speaker manipulates the tones of the words involved.’ Zulu traditional oral poetry, like all African poetry, was not composed to be read silently or aloud; instead, it was always meant to be heard by the ear and its actions perceived and appreciated with the eyes. The oral element focuses on performance and sound whereas the written form is text-centred. The performance of imilolozelo or ‘cradle songs’, as Weinberg calls them, was intended not only to entertain children or while away time. They were composed also to teach and bring people together. The aim of this paper is to show that in ancient Zulu societies, the performance of imilolozelo as an oral art form was not only used to lull a child to sleep but it also also had other important roles to play in the upbringing, socialisation and development of a child.