Yorùbá Oral Literature: A Source of Indigenous Education for Children

Many literary scholars have published on various forms of Yorùbá people's verbal art associated with children. However, with the exception of a few passing comments, little or no attention has been paid to the educational values of this aspect of Yorùbá literature usually referred to as ‘minor genres’. The concern of this paper, therefore, is to discuss specific traditional forms of educating children in pre-colonial Yorùbá society, drawing examples from oral literary materials such as: tongue twisters, lullabies, riddles and puzzles, songs, game poetry and folktales. The growing recognition for oral art among the Yorùbá people is due to its functions and appeal to the various sectors of the society. In view of the artistic power of Yorùbá traditional children's literature in particular, and the increasing recognition of its potential to educate and influence the thinking of children, this paper argues for its inclusion in school curricula and academic syllabi.