Document Type

Project

Publication Date

Fall 1999

Keywords

Oral laws, Written laws, Chinua Achebe, African societies

Abstract

This paper is written in an attempt to shed light on the representation by Western academics, and by the Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe, of African societies that did not use written forms of communication but used oral forms of communication. Achebe in his novels Things Fall Apart, Arrow of God, and No Longer at Ease portrays social aspects of orally based societies that may serve to further aid academic studies of orally dominated societies. Throughout the text of his novels Achebe reveals an intimate relationship between individuals and community that is essential to the strength of an oral society. Achebe's presentation of law in colonial Nigeria in both its written and oral forms clearly illustrates the social changes that may be incurred due to a change in the medium of communication.

Department

Liberal Studies

Subjects - Topical (LCSH)

Oral tradition--Africa; Oral tradition in literature; Oral communication--Social aspects

Subjects - Names (LCNAF)

Achebe, Chinua. Things fall apart; Achebe, Chinua. Arrow of God; Achebe, Chinua. No longer at ease

Geographic Coverage

Africa

Genre/Form

student projects; term papers

Type

Text

Rights

Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author’s written permission.

Rights Statement

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language

English

Format

application/pdf

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