The Interface of Oral Traditions and the Poetry of Nol Alembong

Abstract

This research sets out to examine the relevance of oral traditions in literary imagination and the ways in which oral tradition has influenced Nol Alembong in his espousal of themes like peace, war, denunciation, resignation, nostalgia, revolt, hope, praise, kleptomania, imperialism, etc. in selected poems in Forest Echoes (2012), The Passing Wind (2013), and Green Call (2017). Selected poems were read, exploring the linguistic and aesthetic features in oral traditions and written poetry, and discussing the views raised by sociologists through stylistic analysis of a work of art. To this effect, post-colonial and eco-criticism were employed. The study reveals that Nol Alembong avails himself of the forms of oral tradition like legends, folktales proverbs, riddles, incantations, etc. as his poetic license, thus establishing cross-fertilization between oral traditions and written poetry. This emphasizes that the blending of traditional lore and written poetry is primordial in the remodeling of people and societies. The study reveals that there is a synthesis of written poetry and oral tradition, in which the magical aura of the oral is present in the written tradition. It further reveals that oral tradition and written poetry have enjoyed and still enjoy a healthy symbiotic relationship in human understanding. Oral tradition facilitates the elimination of anti-social and moral behaviour, as well as helps with social identity construction. The study concludes that despite the preponderance of modern forms of entertainment and education, there exists oral tradition; which is not only enjoyed for its form, but also for its dialectic appeal, which Alembong beautifully weaves into his poetry, thus indicting us to go back to it where morality resides for humanity to thrive.