Oral Tradition as HistoryAnnotation Jan Vansinas 1961 book, Oral Tradition, was hailed internationally as a pioneering work in the field of ethno-history. Originally published in French, it was translated into English, Spanish, Italian, Arabic, and Hungarian. Reviewers were unanimous in their praise of Vansinas success in subjecting oral traditions to intense functional analysis. Now, Vansinawith the benefit of two decades of additional thought and researchhas revised his original work substantially, completely rewriting some sections and adding much new material. The result is an essentially new work, indispensable to all students and scholars of history, anthropology, folklore, and ethno-history who are concerned with the transmission and potential uses of oral material. Those embarking on the challenging adventure of historical fieldwork with an oral community will find the book a valuable companion, filled with good practical advice. Those who already have collected bodies of oral material, or who strive to interpret and analyze that collected by others, will be forced to subject their own methodological approaches to a critical reexamination in the light of Vansinas thoughtful and provocative insights. ... For the second time in a quarter of a century, we are profoundly in the debt of Jan Vansina. Research in African Literatures Oral Traditions as History is an essential addition to the basic literature of African history. American Historical Review |
Contents
CHAPTER | 3 |
DYNAMIC PROCESSES OF ORAL TRADITION | 13 |
CHAPTER | 33 |
Copyright | |
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Africa Ainu Akan become Burundi bushpigs Bwiti century chapter Children of Woot chronology claim clan clichés core images corpus culture culture hero deal Delivré dynastic Egúngún epic episodes evidence example exist Eyewitness genealogies genres given gossip Hadiya Hence Henige hero historian historical accounts homeostasis Hopi hunter ical Imbangala implicit meaning intended meaning interpretation interviewer J. C. Miller Kagame king kingdom kinship Kuba language later linguistic Liptako lists Mbegha memory mnemonic Myth names narrative Ndoong notion Nzebi occur official Oral Historiography oral history oral societies oral tradition Oromo past performance person poem poetry proverbs reconstruction recorded relation relationship remembered ritual royal rules Rundi Rwanda Scheub sequence Shambaa single slogans social songs stereotypes story structure tale Tee Grounds tell testimony Tikopia tion told traditions of origin transmission Uganda Vansina versions village whole worldview written sources Xhosa Zaire