To apply the functionalist theory to the oral literature of your community. Draw examples from narratives, proverbs, riddles and songs.

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TASK: To apply the functionalist theory to the oral literature of your community. Draw examples from narratives, proverbs, riddles and songs.

Functionalist or adaptations approaches to cognition have made significant contributions to our understanding of how particular forms of behaviors and neural mechanisms reflect their adaptive functions. Until recently, researchers studying behavior have tended to focus exclusively on one level of analysis. More recent approaches to the evolution of cognition, such as evolutionary psychology, have sought to incorporate multiple levels of causation by explaining behavior not merely in adaptive terms that means in terms of their immediate effects on fitness in current environments, but as the product of underlying proximate mechanisms, shaped by evolution, that might or might not produce adaptive behavior depending on the conditions under which they develop and operate. So the among of the functions of the oral literature are the following.

Aesthetic value
Oral literature is valuable in its own right as an aspect of the best creative works of women and men. When you listen to accomplished storytellers, pithy proverbs from elders, captivating verses from oral poets, you realise that they form the best creative works to come from the African continent. It enables us to understand the nature and techniques of verbal art to communicate with others effectively.
Example of proverb in nyakyusa community, bhubho kumswila umwana bhobhubho ukukula. Thats means the baby you eat is what you are.

Educational Functions
One of the major functions of oral literature is to teach. In the traditional society, oral literature was the main tool of education and social propriety. However, oral literature does not teach directly. It teaches suggestively through allusion. Proverbs, songs, narratives and riddles are performed to teach members of the society so that they can become better at heart and in deed. These genres praise good behaviour and condemn deviant conduct. Through the stories of animals, artists are able to offer commentaries on social behaviour. Since oral literature is moral by nature. There is no text that glorifies vice over virtue, evil over goodness. A good example is the narrative of the nyakyusa community. Ifyenja fya Ku nyuma alipo ulama, njumo atughalagha nu Mwana ngwa nyumba ijingi, umama jura akale nu nkundwe nagwe. Akalighanile Palo akalemwana gwake gwa kumpapa.
Akimbagha isakulu antumagha nkusuma ehela my nyumu sya bhandu na mwisebho. Isiku limo umwana jula bho abhukile nkusuma suma. Alyaghanile nu mama jhumo alintulile umwana alisyobhile umama jula pakuti anaka abhapapi Papo apasyagha pakusyobhesya umwikemo ujhu akabhile kumama jhula. That means long time ago there was a woman who live with stepson, she didn't love him her life, also she didn't allow him to go to school, she was want him to go in the street and pauper. One day that son was in the street he meeten with a woman who want to help him. That son when he heard the aid from women, he cheated her as he have no parents because of worry of loosing that opportunity of aid from that women.

Cultural identity
Due to our past history of slavery and colonialism, the negative attitude to anything African still persists, especially among the youth. In the international cultural forums, African culture is ridiculed as belonging to antiquity. It is sad that we have African sons and daughters who are sad about being black. They are also ashamed to be reminded of their mother tongues. The net result, unfortunately so, is the fact that Africa has become a net importer of alien cultural values. To reverse this negative trend, the study of oral literature it hepl to understand the contemporary African society. It enables young people to rediscover their origins and their roots. It is therefore true that we need oral literature for self realisation and self confidence as true sons and daughters of Africa.

Entertainment
Oral literature is one of the most common forms of entertainment in the community. Through oral narratives, riddles and songs, the audience is made to have light moments in life and also to appreciate the beauty of human existence. Remember the narrative we mentioned earlier on about the women and his tragic attempt to feast in two parties. You can't help laughing until you feel some pain in your lungs. This brings out the entertainment value of oral performances. You can also recall that song and dance are popular in African oral literature. These performances are valued for their entertainment value. This is illustration as follow,
            "inyu manyi kivarere Mwana mmweke mweyerani,
             Unochelewa ufanya mashengo uuwani woo
             Uu umweyerani oonanganga uhoo nu pwanela...." 
That's means "my fellow take my child I going to dance mweyerani drum, you will late to activity in you home, this is mweyerani is very attractive drum.                                                                                                        

Common Humanity
Oral literature from different communities makes us realise that our similarities as human beings are greater than our differences. Many of our previously judgmental notions evaporate when we realize that the societies and people we had thought to be backward are in fact as complex, humane, artistically inspired, morally deep and philosophically profound as our own. Example a However, it during the fieldwork in Kyela District that students went through serious reflection and learning. Whereashad been made to think that the Mtwara are warlike, backward and resistant to change, the truth was that the community is welcoming, progressive and resilient in its struggle to survive in a very difficult environment.  This discovery led us to a conclusion that oral literature displays the best of our humanity, shows the strengths of our community and binds us to traditions while helping to shape our future. It enables us to celebrate our community and our humanity. It makes us humane. Example in riddle, in nyakusya is akamanyani loli poposa apa kubhuka alinaugwe, mbwele. That means in English is the enemy bul wherever you go with you is fly

Embodiment of hope
In depicting man's bafflement with, and determination to understand mysterious forces of nature, oral literature is an affirmation of man's resilience and love for life and an immortalisation of the human spirit in face of adversity - yesterday, to-day and tomorrow, and here and everywhere. In this respect oral literature is an embodiment of humanist, universal and eternal values, a message of hope for the future of humankind as it aesthetically captures a moment that will never return. Example is we jipinde bha mbisi. That means fish on the beach are still raw.

Therefore the functions are above explained so there are challenge which faced the oral literature like when artist died and work died,  some time literature is discriminate people who have not to buy tape recorder and it is difficult to save all memory in chronological order as word by word.


References
Adam R. G.(1973)introduction to forklore Columbus. Ohio collegiate.
Hawthorn. J.(2002), A glossary of contemporary literary theory. Arnold
Siikila. A. L &J, (2005). Return to culture, oral tradition and society in the southern cook Island academia scientiurum

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