Communication and collective memory: the plight of oral traditions in Côte d'Ivoire

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Periodical article

Title:	Communication and collective memory: the plight of oral traditions in Côte d'Ivoire
Author:	Blé, Raoul Germain
Year:	2011
Periodical:	Journal of African Media Studies (ISSN 1751-7974)
Volume:	3
Issue:	1
Pages:	89-108
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Ivory Coast - Côte d'Ivoire
Subjects:	oral traditions Bete Ebrié Dyula
Abstract:	As in most of sub-Saharan Africa, the medium of communication and the functioning mechanisms that permitted Ivorians to safeguard and transmit their culture has, until recent times, been oral tradition. This has served as the vehicle of collective memory. Today, this tradition is rapidly eroding. Based on ethnographic work among three different ethnic groups in Côte d'Ivoire - the Bété, Dioula and Ebrié, this article explores the key elements and functions of oral tradition. Given that the survival of a people is strongly dependent on its capacity to transmit its culture and identity to new generations, the situation is critical. However, it is also argued that modern media technologies can be put to use in order to document and catalogue much of the collective memory that still remains among the older generations. Bibliogr., sum. [Journal abstract]