Why was storytelling important in Africa?

Storytelling in Africa has been manifested in many ways and was used to serve many purposes. It was used to interpret the universe, resolve natural and physical phenomena, teach morals, maintain cultural values, pass on methods of survival, and to praise God.

Why is storytelling important to black history?

Since the beginning of time, storytelling has been an important event in the African and African American communities. Through storytelling, questions were answered, history was conveyed, and lifelong lessons were taught and learned.

What was the importance of storytelling in history?

Stories are part of the history of every known society, where they served to transmit knowledge and valuable information from one generation to the next. Aeons before human started writing, stories were being told as a way to preserve and transmit knowledge.

Why was storytelling so important in early cultures?

Before there was writing, there was storytelling. It occurs in every culture and from every age. It exists (and existed) to entertain, to inform, and to promulgate cultural traditions and values.

How has storytelling changed history?

Storytelling originated with visual stories, such as cave drawings, and then shifted to oral traditions, in which stories were passed down from generation to generation by word of mouth. There was then a shift to words formed into narratives, including written, printed and typed stories.

What are the benefits of storytelling?

The benefits of storytelling

  • Cultural understanding. Telling stories allows children to experience different worlds, countries, and traditions.
  • Communication.
  • Curiosity and imagination.
  • Focus and social skills.


What are 3 benefits of story telling?

Reading and sharing stories can:

  • help your child get to know sounds, words and language, and develop early literacy skills.
  • learn to value books and stories.
  • spark your child’s imagination and stimulate curiosity.
  • help develop your child’s brain, ability to focus, concentration, social skills and communication skills.

What is the role of the modern African storyteller?

African storytelling has been used to interpret the universe, resolve natural and physical phenomena, teach morals, maintain cultural values, pass on methods of survival, and to praise God (Ngugi wa Thiong’o 1986, Vambe.

What is the connection between history and storytelling?

So, a history is more factual, is non-fiction, is academic. It really happened, whereas a story is more imaginary, it’s fiction, it’s narrative. History: uncountable, more factual, non-fiction, academic, it really happened. Story: Imaginary, fiction, narrative, it often didn’t really happen.

Why is reading important for Black students?



Reading liberates, empowers, and ennobles. Throughout the centuries, Black people have used literature as a tool to elevate their futures. Yet, more than a century later, Black students are still seeking liberation around literacy.