Yor
b
oral literature: a source of indigenous education for children
1
Author:
Ak
nt
nd
Ak
nyem
a
nt
nd
Ak
nyem
a
| Affiliation: | a University of Florida, |
DOI:
10.1080/13696850500076195
Publication Frequency:
2 issues per year
Published in:
Journal of African Cultural Studies,
Volume
16,
Issue
2
December
2003
, pages 161
- 179
Formats available:
HTML
(English)
:
PDF
(English)
Previously published as:
African Languages and Cultures
(0954-416X)
until 1997
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Abstract
Many literary scholars have published on various forms of Yor
b people's verbal art associated with children. However, with the exception of a few passing comments, little or no attention has been paid to the educational values of this aspect of Yor b literature usually referred to as 'minor genres'. The concern of this paper, therefore, is to discuss specific traditional forms of educating children in pre-colonial Yor b society, drawing examples from oral literary materials such as: tongue twisters, lullabies, riddles and puzzles, songs, game poetry and folktales. The growing recognition for oral art among the Yor b people is due to its functions and appeal to the various sectors of the society. In view of the artistic power of Yor b traditional children's literature in particular, and the increasing recognition of its potential to educate and influence the thinking of children, this paper argues for its inclusion in school curricula and academic syllabi.
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1
I am grateful for the Research Fellowship awarded to me by the German Alexander Von Humboldt Foundation, based in Bonn, which made the writing of the first draft of this paper possible.
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| view references (32) |

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b
people's verbal art associated with children. However, with the exception of a few passing comments, little or no attention has been paid to the educational values of this aspect of Yor
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