Folklore in a Contemporary African Society: Focus on Concepts of Deviance and Crime, Using Oring Folktales

Abstract

This paper discusses how the concepts of 'deviance and crime' in folklore can be used to understand social conformity and deviance, while also addressing challenges facing contemporary African society. The study focuses on examining the nature of conformity and deviance within society through the lens of Oring folktales. By analyzing events hidden beneath the symbolic elements of these tales, the paper seeks to address issues of greed in present-day Nigeria and the broader African context. The research data was gathered through oral interviews with three Oring elders aged 50-70, whose insights were recorded, translated from Koring language to English, and analyzed. The study utilizes discourse analysis and cultural dialectics, aiming to introduce folktales as a variable to mediate the dichotomy between stinginess and generosity, illustrated through the behavior of characters like the Tortoise (Ekul) and other animals, such as the Elephant, Lizard, and Cattle Egret, in selected tales. The paper argues that folktales possess a persuasive power that can influence individuals and society, employing a descriptive approach to analyze these stories as a means of addressing societal challenges in Africa, particularly in Nigeria.