Paper Details

Jan Vansina's seminal work, Oral Tradition as History, has revolutionized the study of oral traditions in historical research, particularly in Africa. Published in 1985, this pioneering book provides a comprehensive framework for understanding oral traditions as both historical sources and cultural artifacts. Vansina, a trailblazer in African history, challenges the notion that oral traditions are mere folklore, instead arguing that they constitute valuable historical evidence that can be critically analyzed to reconstruct the past. This review delves into the book's key themes, arguments, strengths, and limitations, situating it within broader historiographical debates. The book is structured into an introduction, seven chapters, and a conclusion, where Vansina meticulously examines oral traditions as a dynamic process and product, scrutinizing their reliability, social and cultural context, and potential as historical evidence. He provides meticulous methodologies for analyzing oral traditions, offering nuanced insights into their transmission, performance, and interpretation.

Oral History, Oral Traditions, Cultural History, Memory History, Book Review of Oral History.