Storytelling as we all know is the act of narrating an event for someone mainly because they did not witness it, or because they are ignorant. Storytelling might be narrating an event that happened recently or that has happened a long time ago, but to use storytelling to preserve culture, the elders usually tell stories of past heroes, past events, historical events and facts that has happened in the past, way before the young ones were born, the impact it has had, and how it has shaped the culture in today’s world. The core values of these cultures are also passed down to the young ones through storytelling.
In every culture in the world, there are people from the past that made sacrifices for the culture, and their story must be told, they should not be swept under the carpet because it is a modern world, thereby preserving ancient history and cultural values.
Historical View on Storytelling
In the ancient times, storytelling was basically word of mouth, and communities rely on the elders to tell them stories on past events.
In Africa, folktales and myths were used to pass ancestral wisdom to the young ones, and it made the stories enjoyable to kids
In ancient Greek, their values were also preserved through epic tales, about their gods, the past events etcetera.
Native Americans told creation myths and legends to explain the origin of the world and nature.
Storytelling as a Moral Compass
Stories are powerful tools for teaching people the difference between right and wrong. Parables, fables, myths and legends often come with a moral lesson.
In many cultures, children learn discipline, respect, and empathy through these stories
For example, Aesop’s fables highlight honesty, patience, and kindness, while African folktales often talk about wisdom, and justice by embedding morals into stories; cultures ensure that values are preserved in younger generations.
Storytelling as means of Identity
In so many cultures, storytelling is often used to remind people of their roots, thereby making them know where they belong, and language plays a crucial role in this. Telling stories in the ancient language makes the young ones learn the language as well as feel a sense of identity to their culture.
Endangered languages are revived through telling stories to younger ones in that language, and values are shared through stories of festivals, rituals, and ancient communal values.
Modern Relevance of Storytelling
Now that we don’t necessarily go to elders to tell us stories, how has storytelling survived? That’s the question.
But it has definitely survived and transformed to a better place, and a more sustainable way of telling stories
- Books: So many books nowadays talks about stories about the culture, we don’t even longer have limited access to local cultural stories through books, we can learn about other cultures too, and how it works, it is vast and easier through books
- Movies and TV Shows: Filmmakers also try their best to adapt ancient history in the movies and TV shows, thereby shedding more light on the cultural values and the importance.
- Social Media: Social Media allows people and communities to share insights about their culture and traditions globally, even to people in the diaspora.
Impact of Globalization on Storytelling
Globalization has a both risk and opportunity effect on storytelling:
- Risk: Local stories can be overshadowed by mainstream entertainment thereby leading to extinction of cultural values. E.g. Western movies often dominate global screens, pushing smaller indigenous stories aside.
- Opportunity: Digital tools (YouTube, podcasts, blogs, TikTok) give communities a platform to preserve and share their traditions worldwide. Nigerian folktales, for instance, now reach global audiences through animations and apps.
Storytelling is more than telling stories, it is an inheritance, a living tradition. It connects us to our ancestors while preparing the next generation to carry the culture to the next level. Whether through folktales, books, films, or digital platforms, storytelling will always remain a cultural preservation. Keep the culture alive by keeping the stories alive.
