Some Notes on a Scheme for the Investigation of Oral Tradition in the Northern Territories of the Gold Coast

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Periodical article

Title:	Some Notes on a Scheme for the Investigation of Oral Tradition in the Northern Territories of the Gold Coast
Author:	Fage, J.D.
Year:	1956
Periodical:	Journal of the Historical Society of Nigeria
Volume:	1
Issue:	1
Period:	December
Pages:	15-19
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Ghana
Subjects:	oral history Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups) Education and Oral Traditions History and Exploration
Abstract:	In 1953 the author and Dr. David Tait commenced work on a pilot scheme for the collection of oral historical tradition in the Northern Territories of the Gold Coast. The principal considerations which guided in the choice of the Northern Territories for this scheme: the history of the peoples of the Northern Territories was less known and had received less attention than that of the peoples to the south of them; the history of the peoples of the N.T. could contribute to the understanding of the Akan migrations; in the N.T. oral traditions might be collected in fuller and purer forms than nearer the coast; the conclusions drawn by the French for the early history of the Mole-Dagbane group were likely to need revision; no oral tradition can be properly comprehended unless due account is taken of the social organisation and language of the people concerned. Also indicated are the actual techniques in the enquiry. Ref.