| المستخلص: |
The writer reviews two books which ascertain the importance of African oral tradition as a historical source of ancient African societies. The first book is Oral Tradition by Jan Vansina, translated by Ahmed Mursi, Prof, of folklore in the Faculty of Arts, Cairo University. The second book is Studies in African Applied Folklore by Sayyid Hamid Heraiz, translated by Prof. Mohamed Al Mahdi Bishri. Vinsena, the Belgian anthropologist with his book that appeared in the beginning of the sixties, wanted to give consideration to oral tradition as historical source. He set the rules for a new methodological approach in terms of content, not only in the field of critical studies of history, but also in the field of folkloric and historical research in general. Vinsena divided his book into five chapters; the first deals with the basic characteristics of oral tradition, its transmission by mouth and relationship with successive testimonies. The second chapter deals with the distinctive features, form, and content of testimony. The third includes a comprehensive survey of the various ways in which error or intentional misrepresentation can occur in a testimony. The fourth is dedicated to the study of the origin of testimonies and the consideration of a testimony in comparison with others. In the fifth chapter, Vinsena ends with studying the historical information that can be obtained from oral tradition. In Studies in African Applied Folklore the author is not only interested in African oral tradition, but also in African folklore in general. The first chapter re-discusses the issue, and concludes that the essential role of a folklore researcher is to reveal the hidden. The second chapter discusses the problems of urbanization and modernization and their impact on elements of folklore in the Sudan. The third chapter focuses on studying the relationship of folklore to traditional education in Africa that carries its cultural mechanisms, and unique philosophy. The fourth chapter introduces a number of concepts on history, social history and history making in light of the problematically of folklore and African oral history. The fifth chapter provides experiences in employing folklore in the development of traditional societies. The sixth chapter clarifies the relationship between science and traditional culture. The seventh chapter introduces examples of national struggle in Africa, based on customs, traditions and traditional knowledge.
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