A Contextual and Aesthetic Analysis of Jesus of the Deep Forest: Teaching an African Oral Poem

ABSTRACT:This essay discusses the contextual and formal qualities of Jesus of the Deep Forest, a long Ghanaian praise poem, situating this discussion in light of the difficulties Western readers often experience in encountering African oral literature. An analysis of the poem's artistic design begins with the conventions of its genre as an apae, a highly respected verbal artistic expression in Ghana. Without a narrative structure, the apae relies on a complex system of parallelism and repetition, along with three types of praise names. Close analysis of several representative passages demonstrates how repetition works. The poem's metaphors, shifts in voice and address, and use of allusion provide further access for aesthetic investigation. Such analysis demonstrates the creative evolution of an ancient literary form to address fresh contemporary realities. The elaborate artistry and the cultural significance of the poem point to the enduring importance of oral and religious genres for Africa today.