The Impact of Islamic Writing on the Oral Cultures of West Africa

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Periodical article

Title:	The Impact of Islamic Writing on the Oral Cultures of West Africa
Author:	Goody, J.
Year:	1971
Periodical:	Cahiers d'études africaines (ISSN 0008-0055)
Volume:	11
Issue:	43
Pages:	455-466
Language:	English
Geographic term:	West Africa
Subjects:	culture Islam literature (form) Education and Oral Traditions Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups) Religion and Witchcraft
External link:	https://doi.org/10.3406/cea.1971.2796
Abstract:	In order to analyse the effects of Islamic literacy on oral cultures and groups in West-Africa, the author has followed two ways of approach: 1. examination of examples of the recorded literature; 2. study of the differences between Muslim and non-Muslim groups within the framework of a single state. After giving a comment on some oral texts and after describing the influence of literacy on the internal differentiation in the state of Gonja the author comes to two main conclusions: 1. The area in which the influence of Islam on non-Islamic non-literature cultures is most apparent is that of magico-religious activity; 2. writing was at first valued more for its role in superhuman than in human communication. Ref., notes.