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The importance of
oral tradition in humanity
According to UNESCO, “it encompasses an immense variety of spoken forms, such as proverbs,
riddles, tales, children's songs, legends, myths, songs and epic poems, spells,
prayers, chants, songs, dramatic performances, etc. to transmit knowledge,
cultural and social values, and collective memory. They are essential to keep
cultures alive. " (UNESCO, 2020)
If we start from this aspect, many of the African and
American territories were colonized, and sometimes the beliefs of the
inhabitants. This without counting on the mestizaje process that took place in
America that generated a mixture of identities and the creation of a culture
with various roots.
When verbally transmitted, oral expressions and
traditions often vary greatly. The stories are a combination of imitation,
improvisation, and creation that vary according to gender, context, and
performer. This generates that it will transform through time and if no line
continues, they disappear and die in oblivion.
That is why the oral tradition, being older than
writing and immaterial, has allowed keeping alive the legacies of cultures
that, when colonized, were forced to burn their cultural samples, but what
remains in the collective memory continues to live through time.
THE ORAL
TRADITION IN UGANDA
From UNESCO, it is considered an important part of the intangible
heritage of humanity "The empaako". This is a naming system used by
the Batooro, Banyoro, Batuku, Batagwenda and Banyabindi communities in Uganda
to impose on children, in addition to their name and that of their family, one
of the twelve names that all these communities share in common. Addressing a
person by calling him empaako is one way of reaffirming social ties. The use of
this name is a sign of closeness, sincerity, love, and strengthens the
collective ties. Besides, these names have a meaning in the tribes, therefore
who has each one has special characteristics that occur in the community. 
Also, the stories of Koogere who was a chief of the Basongora people
about 1,500 years ago. In a set of stories from the oral tradition - which are
part of the collective memory of the Basongora, Banyabindi and Batooro
communities, reference is made to their exceptional wisdom and to the
prosperity that reigned in the territory where they exercised their leadership.
Composed of adages and stories that describe wealth and abundance as rewards
for the effort at work and illustrate the charm and heroism of women, Koogere's
oral tradition is an essential integral part and source of inspiration for
social philosophy and cultural expressions. popular from those communities. To
preserve them, they are protected by elders and wise artists who are the
guardians of this oral tradition so that it persists through time.
These
stories are shared in the community and families in the form of stories or
songs, so the artists of the community are also in charge of protecting them.
Finally, the Swahili language, which has more than 10 million people,
has this language as their mother tongue, and more than 50 million use it as a
second language. The Swahili name derives from the Arabic word Sahil, which
means "from the coast."
it comes
from the contacts of Arab merchants, for centuries, with the natives of the
eastern coast of Africa. Under Arabic influence, Swahili was established as the
lingua franca used by various tribal Bantu groups. Currently, it is related to
"HAKUNA MATATA" which is a phrase of this language.
HAITI TRADITIONS
Haiti was one of the colonies that had greater
miscegenation in America and this allowed its cultural wealth to have
invaluable contributions to the oral tradition of humanity.
In the first place, Creole as an official language,
although Spanish (the island where Haiti is located next to the Dominican
Republic) was initially conquered by the peninsular troops, it was quickly
conquered by the French, leaving half of the island under its administration.
Also, a large number of African slaves who were taken but who did not forget
their traditions were part of this interesting mix where an almost exclusive
and official language for the country is constituted, as well as French, which
is not so common.
Additionally, their oral tradition remains
strongly rooted thanks to Vudu: This religion was brought by African slaves. It
is believed to have started in Haiti in 1724 as a serpent cult that worshiped
various spirits relevant to everyday life experiences. Their practices were
mixed with various Roman Catholic saints and rituals that were the religion
imposed by the colonizers. (Zapata Olivella, 1988)
Voodoo rituals are elaborate, steeped in secret languages that have been
passed down stealthily for generations, allowing them to maintain their African
cultural richness.
Despite the country's poverty and corruption,
Voodoo and Creole have remained in this community for more than 300 years,
which identifies them as uniting elements and part of the identity of those who
preserve them.
THE ORAL LEGACY
OF JAMAICA
Like Haiti, the island of Jamaica was
colonized and has African influence, the result of slavery experienced during
the colonial period, but in this case, it was by the British.
Much of the history is preserved thanks to the
maroon towns on the island. The word "maroon" designates slaves who
fled the plantations in the early 17th century. (UNESCO, 2008)
Coming from West and Central Africa, with diverse languages and cultural
practices, the Maroons of Moore Town (the city where the greatest indigenous
cultural wealth of the island is preserved) elaborated on new collective
religious ceremonies that integrated various spiritual traditions. Those
traditional expressions and practices that were later called Kromanti Play
still constitute the identity base of the maroons today.
Another of the legacies that arrived from
Africa but that were rooted in this island includes a figure called Ananse, who
can become a spider, a sword, and a human being.
Always in
Ananse's stories, she sets difficult goals for herself. Ananse is a popular
African character, believed to have been born from the Ashanti tribe and later
to Jamaica, Curaçao, Aruba, Bonaire, and the
archipelago of San Andrés, Providencia, and Santa
Catalina. Their stories took root on the island and over the years became a
fundamental part of the oral tradition.
Jamaica stands out for its rich culture and music,
which have made the island famous worldwide. The musical genres Mento, Ska,
Reggae, among others, have all been conceived there. The most popular music is
reggae, with its different styles and mixes
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