African Folklore: An Encyclopedia - Marshalls University

African folklore 774
Some critics of radio and television dramas in Africa worry that they have replaced
older forms of entertainment, such as listening to elders tell traditional stories or to
musicians sing about folk heroes. They fear the erosion of traditional culture and the
influx of foreign influences. Others have argued that, in many cases, older forms of
entertainment were available only to men and thus the availability of dramatic
entertainment for wider audiences on television and radio is a welcome development.
Drama on African radio and television brings to the forefront important social issues that
can be engaged and reflected upon. It allows for a new type of creativity to flourish, one
that incorporates both modern and timeless themes, as well as newer and more traditional
storytelling devices. And finally, radio and television dramas in African languages are
vital for promoting the continued use and value of these languages. This is a particularly
pressing issue, as European languages (typically English, French, or Portuguese) are used
pervasively by most African radio and television stations, and are also accorded very high
prestige through other dominant institutions of society such as education and government.
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Rogers, Everett M., Peter W.Vaughan, Ramadhan M.A.Swalehe, et al. 1999. Effects of
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DEBRA SPITULNIK
See also Electronic Media and Oral Traditions; Popular Culture; Theater