The Powers of Genre

Interpreting Haya Oral Literature

Dados Bibliográficos

ID3911465
AutoresKennell Jackson, Peter Seitel
Ano2000
Volume33
Fascículo2
Páginas477
Data de publicação2000-01-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessNão
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoThe International Journal of African Historical Studies (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0361-7882 • E-ISSN: 2326-3016
EditoraJSTOR (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.2307/220732
OpenAlexW645535237
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas11

The Powers of Genre describes a method for interpreting oral literature that enables dialogue between insiders and outsiders to a tradition. Seitel illustrates this method with lively examples from Haya (from Northwestern Tanzania) proverbs, folktales, and heroic verse. He then focuses on a single epic ballad to demonstrate, among other things, why stanzas need not rhyme, and how significance needs time in oral poetry and narrative. He makes a controversial claim that an heroic age, similar to that of Ancient Greece, existed in Sub-Saharan Africa. The work should interest anyone who works in oral literature and narrative - folklorists, literary critics, anthropologists, linguists, and Africanists

Genealogy · Linguistics · Caribbean and African Literature and Culture · Folklore, Mythology, and Literature Studies · History · Philosophy · Postcolonial and Cultural Literary Studies