The role of orature in African socio-cultural space

Abstract

The spoken words are more natural and perhaps better understood than the written letters, which are invented to capture and to re-enact human mind, intention, emotion, opinion, view, experience and prediction among other things. Oral narratives, all over the world, set the pace for the written literature. It is an integral part of every human culture. However, the sophistication of the modern world, particularly the globalisation, has directly or indirectly affected the potency of oral narratives in Africa. Having discovered the neglect of orature in Africa as a whole and in the Yoruba land in particular, this article seeks to explain the essentials of this aspect of life which is at a dangerous point of extinction. The study sets its search light on certain elements of African oral literature such as folklores, myths, legends, proverbs and oral poetry which emanate from the Yoruba community. Using the theme study method/approach, the article aims at reversing the dying fortune of the oral narratives being a tool to achieving sustainable socio-cultural transformation among the African people. Key words: Orature, folklores, myths, legends, proverbs, socio-cultural space, sustainable development.