African oral literature

African oral literature comprises the storytelling traditions, poems, songs, proverbs, and history passed down verbally across generations. It serves as a vital means of preserving cultural identity, moral values, and collective memory. These narratives often take the form of myths, folktales, praise songs, and rituals, performed by skilled storytellers or griots. Because it relies on spoken word rather than written texts, oral literature is adaptable, evolving with each retelling, and plays a central role in fostering community cohesion and transmitting knowledge in African societies.