Riddles in Africa have always been thought of as a type of art form, albeit often of minor interest, but have long been included in the studies of OL
There is a good reason for this. Riddles often involve metaphorical or poetic comment.
Introduction cont’d
In Africa riddles are common & have been extensively collected.
They are very often closely connected to proverbs. Like proverbs they are expressed briefly & concisely; they involve analogy , whether of meaning, sound, rhythm, or tone.
In spite of such close connection, riddles emerge as s distinct type of literary expression in most of African cultures.
Often considered a domain of children &, unlike proverbs, to be for entertainment rather than for serious consideration.
“A statement or question or phrase having a double or veiled meaning, put forth as a puzzle to be solved. Riddles are of two types: enigmas, which are problems to be solved generally expressed in metaphorical or allegorical language that require ingenuity & careful thinking for their solution, conundra which are questions relying on their effects on punning either question or answer.” (Wikipedia)
Definitions cont’d
“A question or statement framed as to exercise one’s ingenuity in answering it or discovering its meaning, conundrum.” Dictionary.com
“A type of question that describes something in difficult & confusing way & has a clever or funny answer.” Cambridge English Dictionary
The examples of story riddles are not common, but this does not mean that they do not exist. Consider the following:
> Ndachoka pano kupita kwa Chikanda ndi tambala wanga m’thumba. Panjira ndatola atambala asanu ndi anayi. Kufika kwa Chikanda, amalume andipatsa atambala asanu ndi awiri. Ndafika kunyumba ya a Sitima andipatsa atambala asanu. N’chiyani?
Riddles just like other verbal arts respond to what is going on in their environment. The riddles note, describe, comment, analyze what is going on in the environment in all its aspects. There are always new riddles being created in response to what is going on in society.
Functions of riddles
Riddles have several functions. The following are the commonest;
As entertainment: riddles can be “thrown” just for fun;
As means of educating children (through riddles children can learn linguistic skills & various elements in their environment;
As a means of identity, i.e. in some societies where initiation is central, one has to answer certain riddles in order to prove that he is an initiated member of that society;
As a means stimulating the intellect (i.e. children learn to think on their feet).
(Re)sources
Timpunza Mvula, E.S. (1976) An Appendix of Malawian Riddles, Kalulu: Bulletin of Malawian Oral Literature, 1, 1.
Chipasula, M. (1977) Some Riddles of Likoma Island Chewa-speaking people. Kalulu: Bulletin of Malawian Oral Literature, 1, 2, 75-85.
