The Devil's Colors: A Comparative Study of French and Nigerian Folktales

Ugochukwu, Francoise (2007). The Devil's Colors: A Comparative Study of French and Nigerian Folktales. Oral Tradition, 21(2) pp. 250–268.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1353/ort.2007.0005

URL: http://journal.oraltradition.org/issues/21ii

Abstract

This study, largely based on five separate published collections, compares French and Nigerian folktales - focusing mainly on French Dauphine and Nigerian Igboland - to consider the role color plays in encounters with supernatural characters from diverse color background. A study in black, white/red and green, the paper compares the naming of colors in the two languages and illustrates their usage as a tool to communicate color-coded values. Nigeria's history, religious beliefs, and language development offer additional clues to what at first appears to be fundamental differences in cultural approach. Attempting to trace the roots of this color-coding, the study also considers the impact of colonization on oral literature and traditional art forms.

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