Cette eau-là mange les gens – vie et mort sur la berge en pays igbo (Nigeria)

Ugochukwu, Francoise (2008). Cette eau-là mange les gens – vie et mort sur la berge en pays igbo (Nigeria). Cahiers de littérature orale(61) pp. 177–195.

Abstract

This study, based on a corpus of some eighty folktales collected in Igboland (Nigeria) between 1972 and 1987, considers the role of water – rivers, streams, lakes and the ocean – in the daily life of characters. It reveals the ambiguous role of water, the difference between generous rivers and deadly lakes, and highlights a totally different approach marked by gender characteristics, with male characters using the water and females receiving from it. It also acts as a showcase of popular beliefs and water cults in Southern Nigeria and the Niger delta. Beyond revealing ambiguous representations of water, Igbo folktales emphasize its centrality and its pivotal role in Igbo life and culture.

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