口头传说在非洲史研究中的地位和作用

Oral Tradition's Position and Role in African History Studies

随着传统史学向"新史学"发展,历史研究发生了深刻的变化,新的理论和方法层出不穷。在此背景下,口述史学方兴未艾。由于非洲尤其是撒哈拉以南非洲文献资料的缺乏,口头传说对非洲历史的研究有着特别重要的意义。非洲国家独立后,在非洲本土历史学家的努力下,口头传说的价值得以重新发现。口头传说不仅是研究非洲历史的重要资料,而且提供了从内部解读非洲的钥匙。与欧美口述史研究的重点放在社会史领域所不同,非洲口述史研究重点遍及政治史、民族史和文化史等领域。非洲口述史不只是对文献档案历史的拾遗补缺,而是历史研究的主体,并且已经成为非洲史研究的亮点和特色。

With the shifting from traditional historiography to new historiography,more and more changes have taken place in historical studies.New theories and methods sprout out.Under this background,oral historiography has been attracting historians' attentions.Due to the shortage of African documents and materials,especially those from Sub-Sahara Africa,the position of oral tradition in African history studies cannot be substituted.After the independence of African countries,with the efforts from the native African historical experts,the value of oral tradition is rediscovered.Oral tradition not only plays an important role in exploring more materials from African history,but also can be a key medium in letting people know the deep inside from Africa itself.Contrary to developed countries' oral history,African oral history has emphasized the following areas:politics,nations and cultures rather than sociology.