The Role of Oral Literature in Reading Literacy, by Keziah Watatua, American Women”s Association of Kenya
What is oral literature?Oral literature is a performed art which in most cases uses spoken words as a medium ofcommunication. Performance plays a vital role in oral literature.Forms of oral literature include songs, oral narratives, oral poetry, riddles and tongue twisters. Myths are a key genre of oral literature. Theyare characterized by gods and supernatural beings and are sacred and true to a community. Myths are set at the beginning of time.They are comparatively shorter than any other narratives because they are not concerned withthe development of characters.
Watching: Definitions and understandings of oral literature
In my African culture, educational information was mainly passed on through this medium.The type of family structure was extended and the child belonged to the community. Thismeant that the responsibility for proper upbringing and education of a child did not lie solely onan individual parent. Life skills such as nutrition and hygiene, iron processing for tools andweapons, and the knowledge of plants to treat various ailments was passed on mainly through oral literature.Taboos were taught through songs and myths so as to instill cultural values.It is perhaps because of this that introducing written literature to children in the African settinghas often posed a challenge.
It may be helpful for educators in Africa and other similar cultures around the globe to considera different approach when introducing reading literacy, as children from these kinds of culturalbackgrounds love hearing and telling stories and have traditionally learned best through these methods. After all, language experts recommend speech as the first stage of language development beforereading and writing.1Going back to culture, it would be very typical to have a grandmother sit by the fireplace withthe smaller children of the surrounding homesteads each evening and engage themwith stories and lesson songs until late in the night.On the other hand, the older boys would join their grandfathers in a typical nomadic lifestyle inthe open field to graze cattle and herd sheep.The young men would go out for hunting and gathering while those with special skills such asmedicine and iron making would go through training as apprentices. During all these activitiesthe parties involved would engage in conversations using the elements of oral literatureexplained at the beginning of this article.In essence, oral literature was the main medium of passing information, and learning happened intuitively and continually through stages of life marked by age sets.
Readmore: Prentice Hall Literature 2012 Common Core Student Edition, Prentice Hall Literature
Although not an end itself, in many cultures oral literacy remains a key means to achieving the ultimate end, reading literacy for all.
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1Speaking Out for Language: Why Language Is Central to Reading Development:CLICK HEREfor full reference.
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