Orature refers to the oral form of literature where stories, fables, songs etc., are told orally. The preliterate society had no written literary document, but these did not make their rich culture stay mute. They too had events of joy and sorrow, victory and loss, heroism, and patriotism. These events were passed down orally as folktales and folk songs that later the literate generation named as oral literature or orature. Orature does not follow any chronology and rules of the written literary form. The Encyclopedia of African Literature defines it as: “Orature means something passed on through the spoken word, and because it is based on the spoken language it comes to life only in a living community. Where community life fades away, orality loses its function and dies. It needs people in a living social setting: it needs life itself.”
The term “Orature” was coined by Ugandan scholar, Pio Zirimu. Oral literature had lost most of its fragments but the literate society tried hard to preserve it as much as possible through written documents. Later the concepts of oral literature were used as plot, to produce many written literary works. The work of every orature represents its native culture and intends to praise it. However, the passing generation has tailored the myths of oral culture to fulfill their purpose. Even today, orature accomplishes its aim of representing culture although it’s used in written form. One such fine example of orature in written form is the post-colonial novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe.
The Orature Novel
Chinua Achebe (1930-2013) was a Nigerian writer and a dominant figure of modern African Literature. Things Fall Apart is his first novel and magnum opus, that holds a secular place in African Literature and is the most read African novel. The novel portrays the life of a village hero named Okonkwo. It depicts Okonkwo’s life achievements that were pulled down by the British colonizers. The novel also depicts how the British brought transition in the life and culture of Igbo people through imperialism and colonialism.Chinua Achebe employed the technique of orature, to demonstrate the strength of oral literature in the novel. This was done to foreshadow the written literary form, introduced by the Westerners. The novel, Things Fall Apart is an oral literary piece or orature due to the following qualities:
Oral Story
The novel is written like an oral fable, said by some elderly person, i.e., grandmothers, or grandfathers. We get to realize this feature in the very first stanza of the novel. At first, Achebe, tells us about Okonkwo’s high position. Then Achebe continues with Okonkwo’s poor and pathetic situations before gaining his present achievement and position. Again, such technique was applied while talking about ‘how ancient their village was’.
Repetition
In the novel Things Fall Apart, we get to notice the repetition of incidents frequently. For instance:
“And for three years Ikemefuna lived in Okonkwo’s household.”
The above statement was repeated several times in the novel. The impact it creates is that the storyteller is reminding the listeners about the incident repeatedly. Again, the failure of Unoka, which embarrasses Okonkwo is repeated throughout the three parts of the novel.
Proverbs
Achebe extensively used proverbs in this novel, used by Igbo people to ornament their language. For example:
“When a man says yes, his Chi says yes also”
The proverb means, they believe that if they work hard then their personal God will also support them. The proverbs of Igbo community are derived from life experiences, which were then passed on to their younger generation. The Igbo people did not have any formal education, but they learned everything through the experience of life.
Long Speech
Long speeches, embellished with extended ornamental language was a must in Igbo society to represent their culture. The long speeches are delivered especially during the beginning of any social gathering. An example of such a wonderful speech is of Uchendu, delivered when Okonkwo was exiled to his mother’s land, Mbanta.
“Is it right that you, Okonkwo, should bring to your mother a heavy face and refuse to be comforted? Be careful or you may displease the dead. Your duty is to comfort your wives and children and take them back to your fatherland after seven years. But if you allow sorrow to weigh you down and kill you, they will all die in exile.”
“These are now your kinsmen.”
“You think you are the greatest sufferer in the world? Do you know that men are sometimes banished for life? Do you know that men sometimes lose all their yams and even their children? I had six wives once. I have none now except that young girl who knows not her right from her left. Do you know how many children I have buried children I begot in my youth and strength? Twenty-two. I did not hang myself, and I am still alive. If you think you are the greatest sufferer in the world, ask my daughter, Akueni, how many twins she has borne and thrown away.”
**The purpose of this long speech by Uchendu during his son’s marriage ceremony was to relieve Okonkwo’s agony. It was to make him aware that mother is supreme as she comforts children during pain and it’s not a shame to live in one’s mother’s land.
Details of Customs
Another feature we find in the novel is the use of extended details for every custom and festival. For instance, in the discussion about Uri (betrothal gift) of Obierika’s daughter, broom sticks were used to negotiate the bride price. Instead of negotiating verbally Broom sticks were used to maintain peace and avoid ruckus. Again, there is a long narration on the importance of palm wine in marriage from grooms’ side to the bride’s family. Another incident mentioned in a long narrative to enrich our knowledge of Igbo custom is:
During the marriage ceremony, the neighbor’s cow broke out and spoiled the crop. The penalty for this damage was set by women instead of men. The women delivered the punishment because the crime done here was a womanly crime. In this incident the readers get an insight about the justice criteria of Igbo society. Here crimes are distinguished as manly and womanly crimes. Likewise, there are infinite details of customs of Igbo society in the novel. Achebe detailed the Igbo customs elaborately to let the people know about the culture of remote African people.
Native words
Chinua Achebe, to give the text an effect of orature, directly introduced Igbo words and phrases, without translating them in English. The meaning of these native words could be easily understood by the elaborated details of the context. Still Achebe included a glossary of Igbo words towards the end of the text. Achebe’s goal behind introducing native words was to create awareness of these words among the English readers. It also aimed to build and preserve the Nigerian oral traditions through the colonialism’s culture and language.
Conclusion
The narrative technique of Achebe did not follow any plot or rules as he wanted to establish the power of oral literature. Achebe intentionally wrote the novel as an orature as a post-colonial approach. He did not want to follow the rules of written literary form, that was the culture of the west. Achebe wanted to show the power of the orature of black community/African literature, written in their own established native rules.
