* Storytelling: Elders would gather children and adults alike to share stories, myths, legends, and folktales. These stories were often used to teach moral lessons, explain natural phenomena, and preserve history and cultural values.
* Songs and Dances: Music and dance were integral parts of Igbo culture and played a significant role in preserving and transmitting stories. Songs and dances often depicted historical events, myths, and legends.
* Proverbs and Riddles: Proverbs and riddles were used to convey wisdom and to test the intelligence of listeners. They served as concise and memorable ways to express complex concepts.
* Festivals and Rituals: Many Igbo festivals and rituals were rooted in mythology and storytelling. These events allowed communities to re-enact historical events, celebrate their deities, and reinforce their cultural identity.
Examples of how Igbo stories and mythology were passed down:
* The story of the creation of the world: This myth, like many others, was told and retold through generations, explaining the origin of humanity and the natural world.
* The story of the trickster god, Eze Igbo: This story, told through folktales and proverbs, served as a source of entertainment and offered insights into human behavior.
* The annual Yam festival: This important festival celebrated the harvest and was filled with stories and rituals that honored the gods of the land.
It's important to note that these oral traditions weren't simply a collection of stories. They were living, evolving forms of communication that connected the Igbo people to their history, beliefs, and values. The arrival of British missionaries, with their emphasis on written literacy, significantly impacted the transmission of these stories.