Agata Mrowińska

Współczesne rozstrzygnięcia nad przeszłością oratury

Introduction

Współczesne rozstrzygnięcia nad przeszłością oratury. Ramy współczesnych podejść do oratury w Afryce. Artykuł kwestionuje definicje literatury ustnej, podkreślając jej performatywność i kreatywność.

Abstract

CONTEMPORARY APPROACHES TO THE LEGACY OF ORATURE: HOW IS THE ROLE OF SPOKEN WORD SHAPED IN AFRICA?The paper invites to rethink the existent terminology describing oral literature and to challenge its common (mis)understandings in the related fields of Humanities. Reviewing the most important (and published) pieces of orature and their interpretations shows the ever changing comprehension of the phenomenon, taking into consideration its contemporary transformations and present embodiments on the African continent. The discourse leads toward renewal of the definition of the spoken literature, underling as its foundational characteristics the (literary) performativity and creativeness.

Review

This paper, titled "Contemporary Approaches to the Legacy of Orature," proposes a timely and essential re-evaluation of the conceptual and terminological landscape surrounding oral literature within the Humanities. The abstract clearly articulates a critical need to challenge prevailing understandings and misconceptions, setting a course to renew the definition of the spoken word. With a specific focus on the African continent, the study aims to illuminate how the dynamic role of orature is currently being shaped and understood, offering a significant contribution to the field. A key strength of the proposed work lies in its methodology: a review of important published pieces of orature and their interpretations, designed to illustrate the evolving comprehension of this phenomenon. By considering contemporary transformations and embodiments, the paper promises to offer a nuanced understanding of orature's adaptability and enduring relevance. The central argument – advocating for a renewed definition of spoken literature grounded in foundational characteristics of (literary) performativity and creativeness – is a particularly strong theoretical contribution that could significantly reorient future scholarly approaches. While the abstract robustly outlines the paper's theoretical ambitions and geographical focus, a brief indication of the specific sub-disciplines within the Humanities (e.g., literary studies, anthropology, performance studies) that are primarily being addressed, or a more specific historical scope for the "most important pieces of orature," could further refine its positioning. Nonetheless, this paper holds substantial promise for stimulating crucial discussions and advancing the scholarly understanding of oral traditions. Its focus on performativity and creativeness offers a compelling framework to analyze the vibrant and ever-changing nature of the spoken word, making it a valuable intervention for scholars in oral literature and African studies.

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