Page 43 - Thietre Arts

Theatre Arts For Secondary Schools

African theatre forms include storytelling, dance, recitations and rituals. Figure 2.1
shows the forms of African theatre.

Forms of African theatre

Storytelling Rituals Dance Heroic recitation

Figure 2. 1: Forms of African theatre

African storytelling
Storytelling refers to the theatre form through which traditions, customs, and other
cultural values are orally passed along from one generation to another. These traditions
and customs are communicated through folklore which includes legends, myths,
folktales, songs, proverbs, riddles and sayings. Like other African theatre forms,
storytelling offers a direct interaction between the storyteller and the audience. This
interaction is an essential element of storytelling. Normally, listeners respond to the
storyteller’s words, emotions and actions.

The storyteller uses verbal and sometimes non-verbal feedback to change the tones,
words and pace of the story to meet the needs of the audience. The storyteller uses
words, voice, facial expressions and body movements as tools to communicate the
message. These tools help the storyteller make a story more interesting, engaging
and effective in expressing mood and feelings. Non-human animates and inanimate
characters can be given human characteristics. Examples of these human characteristics
given to these characters include a dog speaking, a hyena cooking, a stone thinking
and a rabbit dressing like human being.

Types of traditional African stories
There are many types of stories in Africa like in any other part of the world. However,
African stories are categorised into four major types. These are folktales, myths,
legends and fables.
Folktales
These are stories that draw their content from the realities of the society. Thus, they
reflect people’s values and worldviews. Folktales are often used as a vehicle for
transmitting and preserving shared values and collective experiences. Folktales are
associated with traditional stories that people of a particular region or group repeat

35 Student’s Book Form One

18/10/2024 18:39
Theatre arts form 1.indd 35
Theatre arts form 1.indd 35 18/10/2024 18:39