Nigerian/ Igbo Storytelling
Clarissa Moland-Gibson, Keiara Hester, Alanda Cherestal
Storytelling?
- Storytelling in Nigerian culture are traditional stories that are passed down by the word of mouth.
- The stories have morals, they explain nature by exaggerating on it
- Stories are about multiple goddesses and gods.
- They were also about tales of war, battle, hero, leaders and kings.
Who Tells Them?
- Groits (gree-OH) are the ones that tells the stories.
- Each villages usually has an assigned Griot to tell the stories.
- Crowd participation is encouraged.
- Stories are told with music and dancing.
- The Griottes (gree-UT) are female storytellers.
- They would perform at ceremonies, celebrations, and special occasions.
- When a woman is married, a Griotte will sing to her to prepare her for her new life.
- They would sing about independence, encouragement, and empowerment to other women.
Things Fall Apart
Fufu
*A common food eaten in west Africa made from boiled root vegetables like ground plantain or cassava flour.
Weastling
*Wrestling was very popular sport held as an event where everyone and the village can attend.
As mention in chapter 1, stories are told about how Okonkwo defeated Amalinze the Cat .
FAMILY
In Chapter 11, Ekwefi tells her daughter, Enzima a story about a greedy tortoise.
*These stories are passed down to the kin because it explains how the world came to be and offers guidance on how to behave toward gods, spirits, and one's ancestors.
One Nigerian Folktale
- Main Characters: The tortoise, The birds
- Conflict: The tortoise wanted to go to a feast in the sky with birds but he couldn't because he didn't have wings to fly.
- Climax: The birds gave him wings to fly but he ate all the food when he got to the feast.
- Resolve: The birds got angry and took his feathers away.The tortoise try to jump, but he fell and broke his shell.
African Griots Live
African Drumming.-tahishiem blanchard by tahishiem
Conclusion
Work Cited
"African Storytelling." African Storytelling. Web. 28 Apr. 2016.
- "Traditional Family Ceremonies." Igbo Family Ceremonies and Traditions. Web. 28 Apr. 2016.
"African Storytelling: Four Distinctions." African Storytelling. 2010. Web. 01 May 2016.