Entrenching Legendary and Mythic Resources in Modern African Literature

Abstract

The study is premised upon the enormity and relevance of African myths and legends as congenial substance for the continuity of African culture and writing tradition. Existing literary engagements have focused on the usage of myths and legends in African literature, their consistent usage in fictional writings is aesthetically commendable, however, the modern days African writers appear to be delusive in this literary endeavor. This is the lacuna this paper seeks to fill by advocating for the reinventing and entrenching of mythical and legendary characters in contemporary and future African writings. The paper investigates the extent of import, inculcation and exploration of myths and legends in some extant African writings, it pontificates their literary aestheticism, cultural beautification and prognostic values in African society. Significantly, the paper elucidates the pedagogical didactics that are intrinsically inherent in the myths and legends in spite of the seemingly archaic existence attributed to them. African writers that have creatively used mythical and legendary sources are highly commended and appreciated and passionate appeals have been made through this paper to the contemporary and future African writers to effectuate the representation and entrenchment of the continental cultural myths and legends in subsequent creative writing for the purpose of cultural integration and propagation, rejuvenation of cultural material and dispersal of moral values.