Reconstructing Fantasy in Digitalised Folk Tales: a Case Study of Tinga Tinga Tales

Abstract

This study, guided by semiotics and the theory of children literature, analyses the role of digital technology as a medium for repackaging Africa's folktales in selected episodes of Tinga Tinga Tales. The episodes selected are: Why the hyena has short hind legs, why leopard has spots, why the tortoise has a cracked shell, why bat hangs upside down, why bush baby has big eyes, why cheetah has tears, why the eagle flies high in the sky, why guinea fowl has dots, why vulture is bald and why parrot can't keep a secret. The study does this with a view to establish how digitalization increases the possibility of fantasy, drawing children to a dream world and how the digitalized narratives supersede the written narratives in terms of conveyance. The question guiding the methodology is "What is the impact of the digital technology on the African oral genres."