Rewriting, orature and symbolism in Ondjaki

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to analyze in which way the orality or orature, the popular tradition, the symbolism and its respective rewriting to a new audience are manifested in Ondjaki’s works, contributing to the diffusion of African culture, history and literature in Brazil to a formative reading public. Ondjaki, literary pseudonym of Ndalu de Almeida, is the author of African Countries of Portuguese Official Language (PALOP) that has more children books published in Brazil. His works rescue traditional folktales of Angola, his birthplace, keeping characteristics form oral tradition which pass, in this way, to new generations. The works analyzed in this paper are: Ynari, a menina das cinco tranças (2004), O leão e o coelho saltitão (2008), O voo do golfinho (2009) e Ombela, a origem das chuvas (2014)). The formation of a children reader public was well motivated, in Angola, by the Angolan Writers` Union (UEA) and the National Book and Disc Institute (INALDI), by means of publication of books designed for the young readers. Recognizing the oral tradition, Ondjaki exalt those who told stories before him, as well as he contributes that the tales survive and reach an increasing number of readers.