Oral Literature in Africa

Ruth Finnegan's Oral Literature in Africa is a monumental and highly influential study that challenges Western assumptions about 'oral' culture by meticulously detailing the continent's diverse verbal arts. Based on extensive fieldwork, the book explores the rich complexity of African traditions, moving beyond simple storytelling to analyze various forms like epic, panegyric, elegiac poetry, drama, and drum language. It fundamentally argues for treating these oral forms as true literature, stressing the crucial roles of performance, social context, and linguistic artistry. A groundbreaking work, it remains an essential resource for understanding African culture and the nature of orality itself.