Thou shalt not reveal thy secrets: the value of reticence in speech in Dagaaba Folklore

Abstract

The Dagaaba inhabit the northwestern part of Ghana. It is a predominantly farming community. Storytelling is one great pastime of the people especially during the dry season after the harvest of the crops. Some early researchers of traditional narratives have posited that the sole aim of telling these narratives is to entertain. This article seeks to show that the purpose and function of storytelling among the Dagaaba goes beyond the entertainment aspect. While the entertainment aspect is not to be ignored it is our contention that the telling of oral narratives among the Dagaaba is a vehicle of enculturation and socialization of the youth into the customs, traditions and morality of the society. The article analyses two oral narratives of the group in order to demonstrate the value of reticence in speech.

Institute of African Studies: Research Review 2005, Vol. 21(1): 19-27