Journal of Academic Research for Humanities (JARH) is a double-blind peer-review, Open Free Access, online Multidisciplinary Research Journal
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Vol. 4 No. 4 (2024)
The International "Journal of Academic Research for Humanities"

Research Articles

On the Demise of African Traditional Oral Literature

Published 07-11-2024

  • Karim Mahamane Karimou
    • ,
  • Oumarou Adamou Idé

Karim Mahamane Karimou
Doctoral Student, Abdou Moumouni University, (UAM), Niamey/Niger

Oumarou Adamou Idé
Associate Professor at Djibo Hamani University of Tahoua—UDH/T—Niger

Abstract

This article aims at analysing the true causes of the demise of African oral traditional literature in general, and that of Zarma oral literature in particular. This article contends that contrary to the allegations of some scholars—according to which Islam is the cause of the death of oral literature in Africa—Islam does not condemn or prohibit oral literature across the board; it is, indeed, good to note that in its early history, Islam was conspicuously a religion built upon orality. The Holy Book of Islam—The Qur’an—itself was revealed orally before being written down. How, then, can anyone contend that Islam indiscriminately condemns oral literature? Is Islam, then, the true cause of the demise of African literature, or more specifically, is it the cause of the obsolescence of the Songhay-Zarma oral literature? What then are the real causes of this demise? To answer these questions, we adopt a hermeneutic approach as a theoretical framework. The article concludes that the causes of the demise of African oral literature are manyfold—Islam playing but a very marginal role in this

Keywords

African, Literature, Islam, Demise

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Author Biography

Karim Mahamane Karimou

Doctoral Student, (École Doctorale des Lettres, Arts, Sciences de l’Homme et de la Société), Abdou Moumouni University—UAM (Niamey/Niger), Part-time lecturer (on writing and translation) at Abdou Moumouni University, Part-time lecturer (on technical English) at École des Mines, de l’Industrie et de la Géologie—EMIG, Niamey,

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