The African Epic

African epics may be grouped into two main categories, namely ‘feudal’ and ‘clan’ epics. Feudal epics are distinctive of societies organized into hierarchical professional castes, and their function is mainly political. They can be compared with European epic poems, containing elements such as: one or several heroes surrounding a king or prince, political clashes resulting in war, ‘homeric’ fights, lofty deeds which leave their stamp on the collective awareness by giving shape to its system of values. Clan epics are very long narratives punctuated by musical accompaniment and enumerating the valorous exploits of a heroic figure. By and large, they diverge far more from historical reality than feudal epics. Supernatural aspects play an important role. While feudal epics are related in a dignified manner, clan epics are presented more like a theatrical performance. What both types of epic have in common is the fact that their interpreters are always specialists. Examples are given of the two types of epic, notably from West Africa. Bibliogr., notes, ref.