African American Oral Tradition

Oral tradition is non-written history, it is spoken word only. In African societies, oral tradition is the method in which history, stories, folktales and religious beliefs are passed on from generation to generation. For the African people, oral tradition is linked to their way of life. Most African societies place great worth in oral tradition because it is a primary means of conveying culture. Oral Narratives link the past and the present, construct collective worldviews and identity, educate the youth, express political views, and provide entertainment and aesthetic pleasure. In many societies, there were highly trained and esteemed custodians of oral tradition.

Thompson complies an Africanist aesthetic paradigm that he describes as “Ten Canons of Fine Form”. For instance he argues that without vital aliveness we are no longer talking about African art. Expressing that both African Art and dance prizes the youthfully. Welsh Asante complies his Africanist paradigm as “Commonalities in African Dance”, by using aesthetic techniques. These texhniques attract dancers from all over the world are attracted to the distinctively stylized techniques and qualities, and many forms are seen as complex art.
For example its combination of counterclock movements through stiff shoulders, while using arm an hand gestures.

Wole Soyinka’s provides a framework for the discussion of African American dance as a continuum of African dance in the Diaspora by warning his audience against having a saline consciousness. Assuming that everyone and everything in/n the African continent is not African, also to have an strong nationaily when it comes to African Dance. Having unity is important to the evolution of African dance, because its creates Africanists. Something that is characteristic of African cultureor tradition that spreaded through