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The Powers of Genre describes a method for interpreting oral literature that depends upon and facilitates dialogue between insiders and outsiders to a tradition. Seitel illustrates this method with lively examples from Haya proverbs, folktales, and heroic verse. He then focuses on a single epic ballad to demonstrate, among other things, why stanzas need not rhyme, and how significance needs time in oral poetry and narrative. Making a controversial claim that an heroic age, similar to that of Ancient Greece, existed in Sub-Saharan Africa, this work will intrigue anyone who works in oral literature.

Discourse analysis, Narrative --- Folk literature, Haya --- Haya (African people) --- Haya language --- Oral tradition --- Tradition, Oral --- Oral communication --- Folklore --- Oral history --- Aiba language --- Ekihaya language --- Heia language --- Kiziba language --- Luhaya language --- Lusiba language --- Ruhaya language --- Ziba language --- Bantu languages --- Aiba (African people) --- Babumbiro (African people) --- Bahamba (African people) --- Bahaya (African people) --- Bahyoza (African people) --- Banyambo (African people) --- Basiba (African people) --- Baziba (African people) --- Buhaya (African people) --- Ekihaya (African people) --- Haya (African tribe) --- Heia (African people) --- Kiziba (African people) --- Ruhaya (African people) --- Wahaya (African people) --- Wassiba (African people) --- Ziba (African people) --- Bantu-speaking peoples --- Ethnology --- Haya folk literature --- Haya literature --- Narrative discourse analysis --- Narration (Rhetoric) --- History and criticism. --- Haya language. --- Folklore.