Functional Role of Traditional African Folklore in Modern African Literature: A Study of Bessie Head’s Life

Abstract

Traditional African folklore has long served as a foundational mechanism for cultural transmission, moral education, and social cohesion within African communities. In the context of modern African literature, folklore functions not only as a nostalgic element, but also has been recontextualised to reflect contemporary realities. Thus, the objectives of this study are to identify the lessons conveyed in Bessie Head’s Life and assess the relevance of these lessons to contemporary African society. The study employs a qualitative and interpretative literary analysis of Head’s Life, using close reading techniques and thematic coding through the lens of postcolonial literary. From the analysis conducted, some of the lessons conveyed through the text include the value of communal wisdom, consequences of personal behaviour, virtue of modesty and dignity, and the risk of autonomy without accountability. Furthermore, the identified lessons maintain significant relevance in the contemporary African society as they continue to engage with core themes of identity, promote desirable behaviour, dignity of labour and social harmony. These lessons, carried forward through literature, serve to preserve cultural heritage and to mediate evolving values in a rapidly changing society. This study concludes that folklore-based narratives remain vital in shaping moral consciousness and maintaining cultural continuity within modern African contexts. It is recommended that African literature rooted in folklore be actively promoted across educational, media, and community platforms to strengthen ethical reflection and development, as well as strengthen cultural awareness and collective cultural identity especially among younger generations.