Research Catalog

Dagara verbal art : an African tradition

Title
Dagara verbal art : an African tradition / Paschal Kyoore.
Author
Kyoore, Paschal B. Kyiiripuo (Paschal Baylon Kyiiripuo), 1957-
Publication
New York : Peter Lang, [2018]

Items in the Library & Off-site

Filter by

1 Item

StatusFormatAccessCall NumberItem Location
TextUse in library Sc E 18-1029Schomburg Center - Research & Reference

Details

Description
xii, 273 pages; 23 cm.
Summary
This book examines verbal art among the Dagara people of West Africa. It provides invaluable primary material for research, and does a close analysis of folktale narration, proverb usage, riddling, chanting of dirges and popular songs by male and female praise singers, and xylophone music performance as forms of verbal art. Folktales are characterized by wit, humor, and satire, and songs within tales are a mise-en-abyme, a story within a story that entertains but also enhances the narration through the participation of the audience in the performance. Moreover, Dagara tales are didactic and moralizing as a way of controlling the behavior of individuals in society. Riddling entertains but also helps to develop the cognitive abilities of children, and demands critical and logical thinking on the part of the participating audience. Proverbs were collected in context and analyzed closely for their meaning. The study also examines closely the art of speech-making, and concludes that a good locutor knows what figures of speech to use in order to enhance communication with the audience. This study concludes that an authentic theory of Dagara-and for that matter generally African- folklore must be grounded on a thorough knowledge of the traditions, rites and rituals, and the socio-political structures that have held the society together in its historical experience. The study is an important resource for areas such as African studies, African literature and folklore, folklore in general, anthropology, culture studies, ethnomusicology, ethnic studies, and gender studies among others.
Series Statement
International folkloristics ; vol. 12
Uniform Title
International folkloristics ; v. 12.
Subjects
Bibliography (note)
  • Includes bibliographical references.
Contents
Introduction -- Wit, humor, and satire in tales -- Songs as mode of communication in tales -- The female character in tales -- The supernatural as motif in tales -- The didactic and moralizing tales -- Dirges, praise songs, praise singers -- The female praise singer -- Verbal art of the xylophonist -- Popular songs as verbal art -- The art of speech making -- The art of proverb usage -- The art of riddling -- Conclusion -- Appendix: proverbs in context.
Call Number
Sc E 18-1029
ISBN
  • 9781433147043
  • 1433147041
LCCN
  • 2017038868
  • 99975968203
  • 40028019753
OCLC
1001301661
Author
Kyoore, Paschal B. Kyiiripuo (Paschal Baylon Kyiiripuo), 1957- author.
Title
Dagara verbal art : an African tradition / Paschal Kyoore.
Publisher
New York : Peter Lang, [2018]
Type of Content
text
Type of Medium
unmediated
Type of Carrier
volume
Series
International folkloristics ; vol. 12
International folkloristics ; v. 12.
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references.
Local Subject
Black author.
Other Standard Identifier
99975968203
40028019753
Research Call Number
Sc E 18-1029
View in Legacy Catalog