Symbolism in Luganda folktales

Abstract

Folktales in Buganda have been and are still one of the most powerful oral literary tools used in grooming and the upbringing of children in the culture. This is done so that children do not forget their heritage, morals and everything that significantly makes them stand out as a person. This nature of teaching is fast dying due to the modernity wave sweeping across Uganda; people are forgetting just how important cultural orature is in the grooming of children. Thus the importance of identifying the symbols present in these oral narratives. Interviews with various people such as; elders in some parts of the Buganda kingdom, participation in focus groups and a thorough observation of some of these narratives being performed will provide the necessary information on the symbols. This will prove that the symbols in the folktales are indeed important in understanding the concept of symbolism on top of earmarking the importance of these very symbols in the folktales. It is therefore important to thoroughly examine this literary feature.