AfricaBib 
bibliographic database
| Previous page | New search |
The free AfricaBib App for Android is available here
 Periodical article |
 Leiden University catalogue |
 WorldCat |
| Title: | Tradition of Tigrinya Oral Poetry in Eritrea |
| Author: | Negash, Ghirmai |
| Year: | 2003 |
| Periodical: | Journal of Eritrean Studies (Asmara) |
| Volume: | 2 |
| Issue: | 1-2 |
| Period: | May-December |
| Pages: | 9-38 |
| Language: | English |
| Notes: | biblio. refs. |
| Geographic terms: | Eritrea Northeast Africa |
| Subjects: | oral poetry Tigrigna language Education and Oral Traditions Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups) literature Tigrinya language Oral tradition Folk poetry |
| Abstract: | Grounded in tradition, Tigrinya oral poetry has always assumed important social, cultural and literary roles in society in Eritrea. Based on earlier published material, the present essay offers a brief overview of the main genres of Tigrinya oral poetry, looking at the common themes and specialized events of each individual genre. It also provides a historical review of the oral poetry collected and/or published between the beginning of the 20th century and the 1940s by European collectors, with a special focus on the history of individual collections and their collectors. In addition, it provides an analysis and interpretation of some selected poems as illustrative examples of different genres. Next, it discusses the works of a few contemporary oral poets to show how they are related, or how they relate themselves, to the past tradition of oral poetry. Finally, the essay concludes with some cases and themes showing the relevance of present-day oral poetry, and brief remarks about its future. An appendix lists the Tigrinya texts of which English translations are presented in the essay. App., bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. [ASC Leiden abstract] |