Ochendo: An African Journal of Innovative Studies

In African literature, proverbs hold a magnificent role in shaping the cultural settings and background that encapsulate the norms, values, beliefs, wisdom and perceptions of the people in a given community. This paper examines the role of proverbs in shaping African literature, with a precise focus on Igbo language. In Igbo culture today, proverbs are not merely linguistic expressions but also reflect the dealings of our daily life involving storytelling, oral traditions and even written literature. They function as tools for moral instruction especially for children, preservation of cultural heritage and medium to showcase our cultural rights. This study highlights their thematic importance in some works of Igbo scholars and writers thereby examining their role in understanding the complexities of Igbo proverbs in African literature in general thereby plays a vital role in shaping the behavior and attitudes of the people. The method of the study is descriptive. The study adopts oral tradition theory as the theoretical framework. The finding reveals that proverbs showcase our cultural heritage and is also essential in projecting oral and written literature to the limelight. Again, it is obvious that deeper appreciation between literature and language in African literature is highly showcased. The method adopted is descriptive research and this research therefore recommends that proverbs should be used in our educational system in order to teach morals and inculcate sound knowledge to the society. Government should see to it and implement it in the educational curriculum.

Open Full Text (PDF)