MERITS
1.
it has been
discovered that it is not possible to
cover in writing all past activities of
man professor E.J Aleoga has noted that
“even after writing become
establish, a large amount of information
continues to be carried in the memories of
participants in important events
2.
Oral history and
oral tradition are therefore very important particularly in Africa where
written sources are scanty and mainly written by Arabs and
European writer who wrote out of bias .
Oral history and oral tradition are dramatic
and enjoyable than written records because they are in sense of
folk –tellers. They can be understood and enjoyed by both literates and none literates people because
they can know their history without
reading any book.
3.
Oral traditions
are cultural history and therefore serve purposes other than the purely
historical .
4.
Oral tradition
have thrown to height ribh cultural heritage and historical past. It has
therefore, the debunked statement credited in by Europeans writers that African
has no history. It showed that the statement are arose from progides, ignorance, racial begottory and intellectual strength jacket.
5.
It is an original
or primary source collected from the
people who participated or eye
witness to the events. According to H. A clement” they are usually base on true events.
Documented
oral tradition, although it is difficult to handle, may be a useful historical
material and may considerably to our knowledge, of the past
Our
traditions are valuable instruments of stoical cultural liberation form our
colonial attach
They
reflect our socio –political organization leading to understanding of both the
unity and diversity of our present
society.
DEMERITS
Oral
traditions are usually handed down from
generation to generation and the infant
is likely to adds or subtracts or even forget some of the facts . However, oral history appears more reliable than oral tradition
some
Africa societies such as (Soughai)
maintain a group of professional story –tellers, whose functions were to sing
the songs of praise of nobles and
rulers. These songs often suppress things that are bad and encourage those that creditable.
In
Borno Mahrams are useful source of
historical information. They can be also be deliberate exaggerations
of the story by the informants especially for political reasons.
Deeds belonging to other rulers might be attributed or credited to be
remembered or the recent rulers. Eg Oba Ewuare
(14-40 –1473) was a heir in Benin, all
the good deeds are attributed to him.
People always
attempt to trace their origin from a powerful
or influential emperors eg Efik
tracing their own origin from Aro-chukwu Onitsha tracing their origin from powerful empire. Yoruba tracing
their origin from Mecca. Benine tracing
from the more affluent empire
of Oyo. It
is difficult to get oral traditions