Translating Igbo Oral Literature for Literature Classroom

Abstract

The paper investigates the pedagogic relevance of Oral Literature in Literature classroom. Literature in English refers to literature (prose, play, poetry) written by African literary writers who use English as a second language situation. The paper argues that literature of every speech community makes a purposeful incursion into their oral literature; this is also true of Literature in English. Such incursion is expedient as Literature in English, besides being a consortium of African cultural experiences from which learners tap, also documents for posterity the African heritage, which is being seriously eroded by Western civilization. This work identifies this problem: African oral literature is being seriously eroded, and if the erosion is not halted, it will likely result in the extinction of the people. To arrest the sad development, African literary writers consciously document their oral literature in their literary works. Notable in this regard is Achebe, who sees it as a duty to teach and celebrate our indigenous culture through literature. This work relies on both fieldwork and library research.