Oral traditions have played and continue to play important roles in the history of Africa as well as its present. ... Clark and Soyinka are evidence of the continued dependence and belief in oral traditions by a lot of Africans, even after extensive western education. ... It was important for Africans in historical times to repeatedly acknowledge the oral traditions so they would not forget any parts of it and this is also one of the reasons why African writers usually add some elements of oral tradition into their works. ... However, with the colonization of Africa, a lot of Africans are now ...

• Word Count: 1278
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

First of all is their identity as "true Africans" that springs from the belief of their "purity", unlike other cultures places in Africa like Kenya or Tanzania that experience an immense influence from Western culture, the Maasai are proud of their ability to maintain their purity, by sticking to their traditions. ... Another important aspect is the form by which information (for instance the story of their origins, myths, etc.) is transported, that is oral history. ...

• Word Count: 460
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

The experience of the trans-Atlantic slave trade took the enslaved away from their roots. There was an effort by the slave owners to remove the identity of the slaves. The Africans were captured in West Africa and forced to board ships, stripped naked with no belongings from their previous life. All...

• Word Count: 2280
• Approx Pages: 9
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

"Beautiful catecheses [oral teachings] that came down from the period are called mystagogic catecheses" (Lease, 1980, p. 1306) because they were presented entirely with the use of the mystery language. ... Among the Borana, who live in the same region and share similar initiatory traditions, there are five parallel streams or currents of generations instead of the two streams of alternate age-sets noted among the Maasai. ...

• Word Count: 2773
• Approx Pages: 11
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate