Oral Literature of the Maasai offers an extensive collection of types
of oral literature: oral narratives; proverbs; riddles; and a variety of
songs for different occasions. The versions in this book were collected
by the author from a specific Maasai community in Kajiado County of
Kenya. The author listened to many of the narratives and participated in
many proverb and riddle telling sessions as she grew up in her Ilbissil
village of Kajiado Central Sub-county. However, she recorded most of the
examples of oral literature in the early seventies with the help of her
mother, who performed the role of the oral artist. Many songs were
recorded from live performances. The examples ring with individuality,
while also revealing a comprehensive way of life of a people. The images
in the literature reveal the concrete life of the Maasai - people living
closely with their livestock and engaged in constant struggle with the
environment. But like all important literature, the materials here
ultimately reveal a people with its moral and spiritual concerns,
grappling with questions of human values and relations, struggling for a
better social order.
This book recommends itself to the general reader. However, the book is
more than this: it includes stimulating discussions of examples, as well
as review questions and exercises. The book is highly recommended to
students of oral literature at secondary school level and at the
university.
