Sustainability of the Structural and Semantic Parallels in African Proverbs and Riddles: A Case of Temne Proverbial and Riddling Sessions

Abstract

The study investigated the Temne proverbs and riddles of Sierra Leone. It particularly looked at the connections between these two oral forms and African Oral Literature. The aim of the study was to identify the main structure and semantic meaning that distinguish Temne proverbs and riddles. The researchers used linguistic and anthropological methods, which were adapted from Thulla to discover the structural and cultural meanings of Temne sayings. Specifically, the researchers employed both embedded and exploratory designs to provide a better understanding of the basic interpretations given to the concept of proverbs and riddles of the Temne people. A total of 60 communities were selected for the study from 12 Chiefdoms. The researchers carefully evaluated existing materials, including Temne proverbs and riddles from Thulla’s collection, and conducted key informant interviews with 20 locals in the study area and 4 focus group discussions with indigenous Temne language experts to collect primary data. The study identified many similarities between them, which implies that the two forms are developed and interpreted using a common cognitive framework. The findings reveal that Temne Proverb and Riddle are circular and have instructional purposes, which adds to the debate over the need to preserve oral traditions. The study also finds that Temne proverbs and riddles emphasize different values, which demonstrates the Temne people’s philosophy and language, suggesting their continued significance in the community.