Amos Tutuola, a pivotal figure in African literature, crafts narratives that weave the folklore of his native Nigeria into compelling stories, despite an education disrupted by servitude and hardship. His distinctive use of English, while often considered naïve, transforms into a unique linguistic canvas that is both fantastical and accessible. Tutuola's works, notably The Palm-Wine Drinkard and My Life in the Bush of Ghosts, showcase a narrative style that defies Western norms while richly embodying African oral traditions.

An Unorthodox Style

Tutuola’s literary voice is marked by idiosyncratic English, characterized by run-on sentences and unusual word combinations, which create images that are simultaneously alien and enchanting. His style includes phrases like “I would jealous him” or “two o’clock in the mid-night,” which highlight his inventive approach to the language. This blend of flamboyance and innocence initially challenges readers but ultimately captivates them as the story progresses.

A Narrative Tapestry

The Palm-Wine Drinkard serves as a framework for motifs and characters drawn from Nigerian folklore, linked through the character of the narrator in a picaresque fashion. These stories reflect childhood tales Tutuola heard, yet they stand out for their vivid descriptions unlike the succinct character types typical in recorded folktales. Evangeline Walton’s work with Welsh mythology parallels Tutuola’s exploration of African narratives, as both authors expand on traditional tales with rich detail and dramatic storytelling.

Hyperbole and Oral Tradition

In Tutuola’s narratives, hyperbole and repetition amplify the storytelling, echoing the oral tradition’s emphasis on drama and exuberance. His depiction of captivity in Unreturnable Heaven’s Town, for example, is rendered with exhaustive detail, illustrating the horror and resilience of his characters. Such techniques may directly reflect the oral storytelling traditions, which are known for their hyperbolic and repetitive nature.

Folklore Reimagined

Tutuola’s works juxtapose traditional folk beliefs with modern sensibilities, merging past and present in a vibrant narrative. The dead in his stories are not gone but exist in another realm, while the bush—full of spirits and magical entities—tests human cunning and resolve. These mythical landscapes are inhabited by figures both uniquely African and universally archetypal, such as the Curious Creature who rents his body parts or the exploration of how Death came into the world.

A Legacy in African Literature

Though some view Tutuola as a preserver of the past, adapting folklore rather than seeking new identities like some contemporaries, his work remains original and impactful. By presenting old motifs through a modern lens, Tutuola not only revalidates an ancient genre but also firmly establishes himself as a significant voice in literature. His protagonists navigate worlds where time and belief coexist fluidly, embodying the resilience and adaptability that define human nature in the face of the extraordinary.