Final answer:
Traditional African oral literature is expressed through various storytelling methods and conveys cultural, moral, and philosophical teachings. It centers around indigenous religions with a distant supreme being and specialized secondary deities who manage daily activities. This literature forms a vital aspect of cultural transmission, connecting past, present, and future generations.
Step-by-step explanation:
Traditional African oral literature is a combination of various aspects that are deeply rooted in the culture and values of African society. It comprises a range of storytelling methods, including poetry, prose, and song, which are rich in cultural, moral, and philosophical teachings. The literature is often told by sages, knowledgeable individuals within the community, who recite these often lengthy poems or stories from memory before different audiences. These works express tribal identity and detail elements of their nomadic life and the natural world around them.
The stories can be categorized under indigenous religions and tend to revolve around local or tribal deities, enforcing moral and ethical codes within the society. A key characteristic is the role of a supreme being, who is generally a distant deity that does not interfere with the daily affairs of Africans. Daily and mundane activities are usually managed by a host of specialized secondary deities. Common themes include the worship of ancestors, marking of significant life events, and rites of passage.
African oral literature thus serves as a means of cultural transmission, connecting generations past with the present and future.
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