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ENG814Arts3 Unitsintermediate

Studies In African Oral Literature

This course introduces postgraduate students to the diverse aspects of African oral literature. It explores the nature, origin, and forms of oral traditions across various African cultures. The course examines poetic, dramatic, and prose forms, highlighting the building blocks, functions, and aesthetic elements of oral literature. It also addresses factors hindering its growth, modern influences, and the relationship between oral and written literature, aiming to enhance students' understanding and appreciation of African oral heritage.

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208h
Study Time
13
Weeks
16h
Per Week
none
Math Level
Course Keywords
Oral LiteratureAfrican OratureFolktalesMythVerbal Arts

Course Overview

Everything you need to know about this course

Course Difficulty

Intermediate Level
Builds on foundational knowledge
65%
intermediate
📚
Math Level
No Math
🔬
Learning Type
Hands-on Practice

Course Topics

Key areas covered in this course

1

Oral Tradition

2

African Culture

3

Mythology

4

Folktales

5

Aesthetics

6

Literary Theory

Total Topics6 topics

Ready to Start

No specific requirements needed

This course is designed to be accessible to all students. You can start immediately without any prior knowledge or specific preparation.

Assessment Methods

How your progress will be evaluated (3 methods)

Assignments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Tutor-Marked Assessments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Final Examination

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Career Opportunities

Explore the career paths this course opens up for you

Cultural Heritage Manager

Apply your skills in this growing field

Archivist

Apply your skills in this growing field

Museum Curator

Apply your skills in this growing field

Folklore Researcher

Apply your skills in this growing field

Ethnomusicologist

Apply your skills in this growing field

Industry Applications

Real-world sectors where you can apply your knowledge

Cultural Heritage PreservationTourismEducationArts and EntertainmentResearch

Study Schedule Beta

A structured 13-week journey through the course content

Week
1

Module 1: ORATURE ACROSS CULTURES

4h

Unit 1: Tradition of Oral Literature as Universal Continuum

4 study hours
  • •Define oral literature.
  • •Explain the universal nature of oral literature.
  • •Discuss creation myths from different cultures.
  • •State themes in world fables.
  • •Compare myths about world creation.
Week
2

Module 1: ORATURE ACROSS CULTURES

4h

Unit 2: Origin and Nature of Oral African Literature

4 study hours
  • •Describe the oral artist.
  • •Discuss the origin of oral literature of your people.
  • •Explain the nature of oral African literature.
  • •Describe training of the oral literary artist.
  • •Identify delivery system of oral literature.
Week
3

Module 1: ORATURE ACROSS CULTURES

4h

Unit 3: "Architecture and Building Blocks" of Oral African Literature

4 study hours
  • •Define 'architecture' and 'building blocks' in oral literature.
  • •Identify materials constituting the 'building block'.
  • •Present a genre of orature and identify its 'building block'.
  • •State what makes three of the patterned 'building blocks' more aesthetic.
Week
4

Module 1: ORATURE ACROSS CULTURES

4h

Unit 4: Factors that Hinder the Growth and Development of Oral African Literature (I)

4 study hours
  • •Explain the present state of oral literature.
  • •Use examples to explain weaknesses from an economic perspective.
  • •Discuss the negative influences of the modern African novel.
  • •Assess how translation is problematic to the growth of oral literature.
Week
5

Module 1: ORATURE ACROSS CULTURES

4h

Unit 5: Factors that Hinder the Growth and Development of Oral African Literature (II)

4 study hours
  • •Explain the concept of orature and culture-specific.
  • •Juxtapose oral cultural heritage with science and technology.
  • •Use instances to argue that orature distorts history.
  • •Differentiate between the cumbersome nature of orature and the treatment of women as underdog.
Week
6

Module 2: NATIVE VOICES AS AFRICAN ORATURE

4h

Unit 1: Oral African Literature as the Source of Written Literature

4 study hours
  • •Recreate the orature of your village.
  • •Get familiar with the oral literature of your people.
  • •Discuss traditional African poems written in English.
  • •Assess African poems written to redeem the battered African image.
  • •Create a poem from the oral African poem.
Week
7

Module 2: NATIVE VOICES AS AFRICAN ORATURE

4h

Unit 2: "Incursion, Code-modifications" and Transitions in Oral African Literature

4 study hours
  • •Apply what you have learned to the practical expression of oral literature.
  • •Admit the ever-presence of incursions in oral literature.
  • •Explain the concept of 'code-modification'.
  • •Identify 'code-modification' in the oral poetry of your people.
  • •Discuss 'code-modification' in the oral prose.
Week
8

Module 2: NATIVE VOICES AS AFRICAN ORATURE

4h

Unit 3: Poetry in Oral African Literature

4 study hours
  • •Discuss the oral poetry of your people.
  • •Identify the oral poetry of your community.
  • •Outline themes in ballads.
  • •Assess the style of praise poetry.
  • •Attempt a discussion of the oral lyric.
Week
9

Module 2: NATIVE VOICES AS AFRICAN ORATURE

4h

Unit 4: Drama in Oral African Literature

4 study hours
  • •Identify and relate the oral drama of your people.
  • •Discuss the Adimu Orisa play.
  • •Outline the merits of any oral drama of your people.
  • •List elements of oral African drama.
  • •Relate the oral drama of your people with specific reference to setting, dramatic personae, language, plot structure, and stage.
Week
10

Module 2: NATIVE VOICES AS AFRICAN ORATURE

4h

Unit 5: Prose in Oral African Literature

4 study hours
  • •Discuss the indigenous prose fiction of your community.
  • •List and explain the elements in any prose genre selected from the pool of oral tradition.
  • •Itemize the moral lessons in any oral prose fiction.
Week
11

Module 3: DESIGNS AND FOCUS IN AFRICAN ORATURE

4h

Unit 1: "Chremasticism" and "Design" in Oral African Literature

4 study hours
  • •Discuss the concept of 'chremasticism' and 'design' in oral literature.
  • •State the oral rules identifiable with the oral literary of some parts of Africa.
  • •Familiarize yourself with the design of the orature of your people.
  • •Explain the conditions under which certain oral literary rules may be applied.
Week
12

Module 3: DESIGNS AND FOCUS IN AFRICAN ORATURE

4h

Unit 2: Functions of Oral African Literature (I)

4 study hours
  • •Discuss orature as a historical document.
  • •Explain oral literature as a cultural theatre.
  • •Attempt a discussion of orature as autobiographical in nature.
  • •Get familiar with the ability of oral literature to preserve religious and moral experiences.
  • •Explain how orature is a tool of African philosophy.
Week
13

Module 3: DESIGNS AND FOCUS IN AFRICAN ORATURE

8h

Unit 3: Functions of Oral African Literature (II)

4 study hours
  • •Demonstrate your awareness of the functions of oral literature.
  • •Identify some of the functions during practical oral performance of your people.
  • •Show a mastery of the knowledge of the culture of your people.
  • •Explain the social functions of oral literature.
  • •Identify the functions of oral literature to specific aspects of your oral culture and education.

Unit 4: Functions of Oral African Literature (III)

4 study hours
  • •Discuss oral literature as Africa's diary of events.
  • •Explain how oral literature serves as a weapon of warfare.
  • •Identify oral literature as an avenue for praises.
  • •Familiarize yourself with the 'songstar' nature of oral literature.
  • •Assess the rich cultural proverbs of oral literature.

This study schedule is in beta and may not be accurate. Please use it as a guide and consult the course outline for the most accurate information.

Course PDF Material

Read the complete course material as provided by NOUN.

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Study Tips & Exam Preparation

Expert tips to help you succeed in this course

1

Create a detailed outline of each module, focusing on key concepts and examples.

2

Develop flashcards for key terms and definitions related to oral literary theories.

3

Practice analyzing sample oral narratives using different theoretical approaches (e.g., mythological, sociological).

4

Form a study group to discuss and debate challenging concepts and interpretations.

5

Review all Tutor-Marked Assignments (TMAs) and identify areas for improvement.

6

Focus on understanding the functions of oral literature and its relevance to contemporary African societies.

7

Practice applying aesthetic principles to analyze oral narratives from diverse African cultures.

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