The Impact of Writing on Oral Traditions

The arrival of Europeans in Yoruba culture transformed the fluid nature of oral storytelling into a static written format. This shift often limited the rich interpretations and adaptations that oral traditions could undergo, effectively freezing stories in a single identity. For instance, the classic example of fairy tales losing their diverse versions when put into writing illustrates this phenomenon, as the essence of stories like 'Little Red Riding Hood' became fixed and less adaptable. The consequences extended beyond narratives; gender-neutral terms for rulers in Yoruba were misinterpreted through a European lens, leading to a historical misrepresentation of women’s roles in leadership as exceptions rather than the norm.