The Role of the Audience in Oral Performance

Oral performance is a vital constituent of the socio-cultural life of Africans as it manifests itself in varying forms—poetry, song, oral narratives, proverbs, riddles, jokes, etc.—in virtually every aspect of their lives: cultural, spiritual, social, and occupational. Verbal art, as it is called, is therefore highly regarded and revered among them. Every occasion—formal and informal—offers a veritable opportunity for oral creativity which provides entertainment, information, and cultural transmission. As a matter of fact, oral performance is an inseparable aspect of the lives of Africans. Oral performance is essentially public; therefore, audience, the spectators who the performers perform for, constitutes a crucial component. Like a Siamese twins, audience cannot be divorced from performance. This is because African audience is not a mere passive spectator but an active and informed one who is keen, critical, and commentarial. The crucial role of the audience provokes and galvanizes performer to better dramatization and rendition. African audience is therefore very dynamic. It is on this premise that this chapter explores the dynamic nature and critical role of audience of oral performance in Africa. The chapter is discussed under the following headings: overview of oral performance, characteristics of oral performance, audience, role of audience, and conclusion.