Introduction
Just like other cultures of the world, African culture is reflected through its folklore, the tales that have profound meaning and give insights into the belief system and norms of the African community. The folklore of this nation imposes its standards of what is morally upright and respectable on the locals. There are many distinct ethnic groups living in Africa, each having its own language, clothing norms, cuisine, performing styles, and even reception customs. However, despite the diversity of their cultures, African nations possess similar folklore that indicates their fundamental values and principles. In this sense, folklore shows how matters of family, morality, and authority are revered in African society.
Discussion
African folktales are an essential part of the nation’s culture since they shape the people and give them advice. The transmission of folk tradition through the use of folklore, which aims to shape personality and give people moral qualities like sincerity, loyalty, bravery, and unity, is a significant component of traditional teaching in many African countries (Sone 42). African culture shapes folklore since the majority of tales are based on lessons that teach people to respect those with authority, be it the leader of a family or a country, which are inherent features of African communities. However, African tales additionally accentuate the importance of cooperation and communal style rather than the emphasis on individuality.
The first bright feature of African culture involves political principles that permeate both households and the government. Political systems have existed for millennia in African countries, and their leaders were often regarded as respectable people (Idang 97). The power structure in traditional societies starts with the family, which is its most important characteristic. There is a leader of each household, just as there is a leader of each community (Idang 107). The group leader is the next in line, followed by the supreme monarch. It was thought that to be unfaithful to a ruler was to be disrespectful to God and that authority came either by inheritance or conquest.
When it comes to political leaders, as seen in one of the folktales of Nigeria, the power and decisions of the king are unquestionable and god-like. The king does as he commands and views his decisions as the most appropriate in the given situation. For example, the tale The King and the Kini-kini Bird indicates how the king punishes his child for releasing the disobedient kini-kini bird who created disorder in the realm. The king fought his son for such foolishness and took his ear, demanding that the child bring back the released bird. When the bird is returned, the ruler heals the ear of the young boy by pressing the dead leaf against the head, which “softened and changed into an ear” (Scheub 241). It shows how disobedient children who act without thinking are punished, and in this situation, the parents will be right to do so. This additionally indicates the will of the leader who administers justice and punishes the wrongdoer, and others must respect his decisions unconditionally (Bujo 433). It emphasizes that the cruelty of the king in these circumstances is fair.
Furthermore, the traditional African nations’ economic ideals are characterized by collaboration. The communities were cooperative in character and mostly centered on agricultural activities. The collaborative aspect of African society is what inspired two or more people to combine their efforts and economically boost one another through the process of contribution known as osusu. They all came together and supported each other when one of them needed assistance. Such cooperation can be seen in the African tale The Man and the Leopard, wherein people from the same community hunted together to be able to provide for their families. Another sign of cooperation is a rat that, along with her children, helped a leopard who was tied to the tree. However, the tale also emphasized that, although there is a need to help those in need and cooperate with others, one must be careful and not be gullible. Naïve rat and her offspring for not being careful with their lives since a hungry leopard tied by the man “quickly seized her young ones and ate them up” (Scheub 86). While the man was aware of the leopard’s trickery, the rat was not careful.
Conclusion
Hence, African folktales that have persisted into the present day show how much African civilizations value their families, leaders, and moral values. Since they are intended to inform and counsel the populace, African folktales are a crucial component of the continent’s culture. The preponderance of stories is built around morals that instruct readers to respect those in positions of power, whether they are family or governmental leaders. African folktales, however, also emphasize the value of collaboration and a sense of community above the importance of individualism. For instance, The King and the Kini-kini Bird describes how the king punishes his kid for releasing the wayward kini-kini bird that caused chaos in the kingdom. In turn, cooperation and unity are shown in The Man and the Leopard, where people hunt together to be able to support their families.
Works Cited
Bujo, Bénézet. “Differentiations in African Ethics.” In Encyclopedia of Religious Ethics, 2022, pp.721-733.
Idang, Gabriel, E. “African Cultures and Values.” African Political Philosophy, vol. 16, no. 2, 2017, pp.97-110. Web.
Scheub, Harold. African Tales. University of Wisconsin Press, 2005.
Sone, Enongene Mirabeau. “The Folktale and Social Values in Traditional Africa.” Eastern African Literary and Cultural Studies, vol. 4, no. 2, 2018, pp.42-159. Web.