ANALYSIS OF YORUBA FOLKTALE: “ALO ONITAN AJEMO ENIYAN ATI ERANKO’’ (HUMAN AND ANIMAL FOLKTALE) BY BABALOLA

Abstract

Yoruba folktales popularly known as ‘Alo’ are on the verge of extinction among the Yorubas. This study explores the meaning and different types of folktales/folklore and their functions in Yoruba society. Folktale teaches morals and values and allows children to know about their culture and environment. Folktale makes for a memorable lesson in morality. The study also looks at different views of scholars concerning the classifications of folktales. The study analyzes a folktale “human and animal†(Alo Onitan Ajemo Eniyan ati Eranko) written by Babalola, using sociology of Literature theory as a framework. The study reveals that there is a contradiction in the scholar’s classification of Yoruba folktales based on the theme of humans and animals. The study, therefore, recommends that Yorubas should go back to the ancient times of using folklore because there are lots of benefits in it. Folktales are more important and influential and the advantages of using folklore cannot be overemphasis. Folktales have always been useful and are still useful till date.