ORAL LITERATURE IN AFRICA -- Contents -- Online Resources -- Illustrations -- Foreword -- Preface -- Preface to the Second Edition -- Acknowledgements -- Acknowledgements: Addendum 2011 -- Abbreviations -- Note on Sources and References -- I. INTRODUCTION -- 1. The 'Oral' Nature of African Unwritten Literature -- 2. The Perception of African Oral Literature -- 3. The Social, Linguistic, and Literary Background -- II. POETRY -- 4. Poetry and Patronage -- 5. Panegyric -- 6. Elegiac Poetry -- 7. Religious Poetry -- 8. Special Purpose Poetry- War, Hunting, and Work -- 9. Lyric -- 10. Topical and Political Songs -- 11. Children's Songs and Rhymes -- III. PROSE -- 12. Prose Narratives I. Problems and Theories -- 13. Prose Narratives II. Content and Form -- 14. Proverbs -- 15. Riddles -- 16. Oratory, Formal Speaking, and other Stylized Forms -- IV. SOME SPECIAL FORMS -- 17. Drum Language and Literature -- 18. Drama -- Conclusion -- Bibliography -- Index.