Mwalim Discusses Folklore and the Facts of Fiction

BOSTON - Nov. 12, 2018 - PRLog -- In a recent oral traditions course, Mwalim explained to students the subtle difference between a short story and a folktale. While a short story is a prose that conveys a situation or event; a folktales goes the extra distance to reflect a cultural perspective, including values, traditions, beliefs, and even myths. Folktales are often presented as a form of explaining why things are the way they are. However, when taken at face value they are perceived as a falsehood or superstition. In reality, while the tale itself might be fiction and fanciful, the elements within the story are often where the truth are hidden. Mwalim explains that these truths are called "Landmarks" and the keepers of folklore are usually versed in the landmarks.

Mwalim offered the folktale from Ghana about the spider Anansi and the popular story of how Spider got the skinny waist. Obviously, this is not a truth as to how spiders got skinny waists, but it speaks to deeper values of the people who keep the tale; warning against greed and the value of sharing, as well as a warning against taking advantage of people.

The rest of the lecture focused on the aspects of a folktale and will continue in the next press release.

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