<h3>What Is Oral Literature?</h3><p><strong>Oral literature</strong> is literature that is spoken and passed down by word of mouth, from elders to children, across generations. It existed long before writing and remains a living part of Kenyan culture.</p><h3>Common Genres</h3><ul><li><strong>Narratives</strong> – folktales, myths, legends and trickster tales (e.g. stories of the clever hare, <em>Sungura</em>).</li><li><strong>Proverbs</strong> – short, wise sayings that carry advice.</li><li><strong>Riddles</strong> – word puzzles that sharpen thinking.</li><li><strong>Songs</strong> – lullabies, work songs and wedding songs.</li><li><strong>Tongue-twisters</strong> – playful phrases that test pronunciation.</li></ul><h3>Why It Matters</h3><p>Oral literature does more than entertain. It <strong>teaches values</strong>, preserves <strong>history and identity</strong>, and builds <strong>language skills</strong>. The features of a genre – such as a proverb's brevity or a narrative's repetition – help it stick in the memory.</p><div class="callout"><strong>Kenyan context:</strong> Kenya is rich in oral literature from communities such as the Agikuyu, Luo, Kalenjin, Maasai and Mijikenda. A grandmother by the fire might pose the riddle: “Kitendawili – I have a house with one pillar.” Answer: a mushroom. Such riddles, alongside proverbs like “Asiyesikia la mkuu huvunjika guu” (one who ignores good advice meets trouble), pass wisdom from one generation to the next.</div>