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Storytelling in Northern Zambia: Theory, Method, Practice and Other Necessary Fictions
Author: Robert Cancel
Forthcoming in June 2013.
Storytelling plays an important part in the vibrant cultural life of Zambia and in many other communities across Africa. This book provides a collection and analysis of oral narrative traditions as practiced by five Bemba-speaking ethnic groups in Zambia.
Combined with newly digitalised audio and video material, Robert Cancel’s thorough critical interpretation makes Storytelling in Northern Zambia a much needed addition to the slender corpus of African folklore studies that deal with storytelling performance. Cancel threads his way between the complex demands of African fieldwork studies, folklore theory, narrative modes, reflexive description and simple documentation and succeeds in bringing to the reader a set of performers and their performances that are vivid, varied and instructive. He illustrates this living narrative tradition with a wide range of examples, and highlights the social status of narrators and the complex local identities that are at play.
Cancel’s innovative study tells us not only about storytelling but sheds light on the study of oral literatures throughout Africa and beyond.
This book is part of our World Oral Literature Series in conjunction with the World Oral Literature Project.
ISBN Paperback: 978-1-909254-59-6
ISBN Hardback: 978-1-909254-60-2
ISBN Digital (PDF): 978-1-909254-61-9
ISBN Digital ebook (epub): 978-1-909254-62-6
ISBN Digital ebook (mobi): 978-1-909254-63-3
Storytelling plays an important part in the vibrant cultural life of Zambia and in many other communities across Africa. This book provides a collection and analysis of oral narrative traditions as practiced by five Bemba-speaking ethnic groups in Zambia.
Combined with newly digitalised audio and video material, Robert Cancel’s thorough critical interpretation makes Storytelling in Northern Zambia a much needed addition to the slender corpus of African folklore studies that deal with storytelling performance. Cancel threads his way between the complex demands of African fieldwork studies, folklore theory, narrative modes, reflexive description and simple documentation and succeeds in bringing to the reader a set of performers and their performances that are vivid, varied and instructive. He illustrates this living narrative tradition with a wide range of examples, and highlights the social status of narrators and the complex local identities that are at play.
Cancel’s innovative study tells us not only about storytelling but sheds light on the study of oral literatures throughout Africa and beyond.
This book is part of our World Oral Literature Series in conjunction with the World Oral Literature Project.
ISBN Paperback: 978-1-909254-59-6
ISBN Hardback: 978-1-909254-60-2
ISBN Digital (PDF): 978-1-909254-61-9
ISBN Digital ebook (epub): 978-1-909254-62-6
ISBN Digital ebook (mobi): 978-1-909254-63-3
Robert Cancel is Associate Professor of African and Comparative Literature at the University of California, San Diego. He has also taught at the University of Zambia and the University of Ghana, Legon. His teaching and publications range from African oral and written literatures and cinema to Caribbean literature and music.
Forward
by Mark Turin
I. Writing Oral Narrative: The Role and Description of Self in Recording Living Traditions
II. The Tabwa Context: Mature Shifting of Frames and Adolescent Assertion
III. Chiefs, Tricksters and Christians: Bemba Tales and Lessons
IV. Bisa Storytelling: The Politics of Hunting, Beer-Drinks, and Elvis
V. Telling Tales While Keeping Secrets: Two Lunda Storytelling Sessions
VI. Stories on Demand: A Performance Session Among the Bwile
VII. Conclusion: Lessons from Frozen Moments
Works cited