MERITS
1. it has been discovered that it is not possible to cover in writing all past activities of man professor E.J Aleoga has noted that “even after writing become establish, a large amount of information continues to be carried in the memories of participants in important events
2. Oral history and oral tradition are therefore very important particularly in Africa where written sources are scanty and mainly written by Arabs and European writer who wrote out of bias .
Oral history and oral tradition are dramatic and enjoyable than written records because they are in sense of folk –tellers. They can be understood and enjoyed by both literates and none literates people because they can know their history without reading any book.
3. Oral traditions are cultural history and therefore serve purposes other than the purely historical .
4. Oral tradition have thrown to height ribh cultural heritage and historical past. It has therefore, the debunked statement credited in by Europeans writers that African has no history. It showed that the statement are arose from progides, ignorance, racial begottory and intellectual strength jacket.
5. It is an original or primary source collected from the people who participated or eye witness to the events. According to H. A clement” they are usually base on true events.
Documented oral tradition, although it is difficult to handle, may be a useful historical material and may considerably to our knowledge, of the past
Our traditions are valuable instruments of stoical cultural liberation form our colonial attach
They reflect our socio –political organization leading to understanding of both the unity and diversity of our present society.
DEMERITS
Oral traditions are usually handed down from generation to generation and the infant is likely to adds or subtracts or even forget some of the facts . However, oral history appears more reliable than oral tradition
some Africa societies such as (Soughai) maintain a group of professional story –tellers, whose functions were to sing the songs of praise of nobles and rulers. These songs often suppress things that are bad and encourage those that creditable.
In Borno Mahrams are useful source of historical information. They can be also be deliberate exaggerations of the story by the informants especially for political reasons. Deeds belonging to other rulers might be attributed or credited to be remembered or the recent rulers. Eg Oba Ewuare (14-40 –1473) was a heir in Benin, all the good deeds are attributed to him.
People always attempt to trace their origin from a powerful or influential emperors eg Efik tracing their own origin from Aro-chukwu Onitsha tracing their origin from powerful empire. Yoruba tracing their origin from Mecca. Benine tracing from the more affluent empire of Oyo. It is difficult to get oral traditions
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