Joanne R. Pompano
Call and Response Form
African storytelling is often a participatory experience where the storyteller and audience interact with each other while the story is being told. The storyteller often repeats important phrases or ideas. A "Call and Response Form" is utilized in which the storyteller or caller "raises the song" while a chorus of community members responds or agrees. During performances the audience often interrupts to provide criticism or suggestions. This form is used throughout Africa.
"Call-and-response" is a feature of storytelling during which the audience repeatedly responds on cue with its line and repeats the same line throughout the performance. The storyteller or poet recites a line and the audience answers with a set retort. In doing so, a pattern develops in which the storyteller and audience alternate responses. This call and response style also allows members of the community to express their hopes and sadness and sorrows and joy.
Today this practice continues and is similar to many African-American worship services as seen in the response of "amen" or by repeating the key points made by the minister during the preaching of the sermon.
The Praise Song
An important component of African oral tradition is the praise song. A praise song is a spoken poem about a person that is chanted to a drum beat or performed as a song. Each line contains a "praise name" or a colorful description of some aspect of the person.