@incollection{fdi:010082937,
  title = {{E}pic tradition},
  author = {{T}amari, {T}al},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{T}his chapter presents an overview of debates about the epic in {A}frica, including such questions as the definition of the epic, relationships to other literary genres, processes of transmission, social status of the performers, performer-audience interactions, stylistics, value as historical sources. {I}ntroductory general analysis is completed by a survey of representative works and traditions from each of the areas of the {A}frican continent that have been deemed to have epics, including: northern {A}frica ({E}gypt and the {M}aghreb), {W}est {A}frica (mainly the {S}ahelian and {S}udanic regions), {C}entral {A}frica, and {E}ast {A}frica (mainly the {S}wahili written epics.) {S}ome points made: (1) {T}ransmission of most epics is based on progressive assimilation of contents and style, followed by recreation in the performance situation. {H}owever, several cultural traditions require formal memorization. (2) {M}ost {W}est {A}frican epics are closely related to praise songs and historical narration, whereas many {C}entral {A}frican ones may have developed from myths. (3) {E}pics from {S}udanic and {S}ahelian {W}est {A}frica developed in a context of restricted literacy, rather than of a fully oral civilization.},
  keywords = {{EGYPTE} ; {SOUDAN} ; {SAHEL} ; {CAMEROUN} ; {GUINEE} {EQUATORIALE} ; {GABON} ; {MALI} ; {GUINEE} ; {GAMBIE} ; {LIBERIA} ; {NIGERIA} ; {KENYA} ; {TANZANIE} ; {MAGHREB} ; {REPUBLIQUE} {DEMOCRATIQUE} {DU} {CONGO}},
  booktitle = {{T}he {P}algrave handbook of {A}frican oral traditions and folklore},
  numero = {},
  pages = {183--211},
  address = {{C}ham},
  publisher = {{P}algrave {M}acmillan ; {S}pringer},
  series = {},
  year = {2021},
  DOI = {10.1007/978-3-030-55517-7_9},
  ISBN = {978-3-030-55516-0},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010082937},
}