Dominant Voices and Sounds of Akan Proverbs and Riddles

Abstract

This paper studies the literary and linguistic features of some proverbs and riddles in Akan. We assembled data from oral and documented sources, with which we attempt to identify various categories of sounds through linguistic and literary means. Furthermore, we distinguish the intrinsic qualities of sounds in Akan proverbs and riddles. We also identify intrinsic structures that enrich the proverbs and give them a semblance of musicality. We contend that the sounds of various kinds of man-made musical instruments can be heard in many Akan proverbs and riddles, including sounds produced through the human organs of speech. All of these combine to give Akan proverbs and riddles a distinctive character in its oral state, which written literature can at best approximate. We conclude therefore that, in Akan proverbs and riddles, we deal with a ‘symphony orchestra’ made up of an array of man-made instruments, accompanied by human vocal techniques of various types