Yoruba chanters' performance strategies

Abstract

As the origin of oral literature, Africa houses outspoken communities who express their beliefs, thoughts and ideas laced with the long-age experience, knowledge and wisdom of the forefathers through oral performance – chanting. However, the strategies employed in chanting as a genre of Yoruba oral literature have not been well explicated in existing literature. Hence, this study attempted a critical examination of the various components of oral performance often employed by oral artists in chanting performances. This paper is qualitative research which employs a descriptive analysis of the strategies (also known as learning materials) employed in chanting. Eight (8) poems and dialogue were randomly selected from different forms of chants like ifá chant, èdá, ìjálá, ijuba, oríkì, rárà among others due to their general relevance and usage to examine the presence of these strategies. A random sampling technique was adopted for the study. Findings show that effective use of these learning materials such as confidence, voice, common sense, memorization, shyness, paying homage, singing, humour, and lineage appraisal enriches Yorùbá chanting performance and promotes cultural heritage. This study concludes that chanting, with its strategies, is an effective tool for teaching Yoruba literature, serves as an effective instructional communication tool and draws users to the ambience of their familiar environment.