Reality or Fantasy: A Study of Animal Behaivour in Igbo Folktales

Abstract

In Igbo folktales, animals are depicted behaving like human beings. In this way, they are shown with family relationship similar to human’s. Such family members have duties spelt out. Outside, they have towns with kings and even soldiers doing their duties. Among these animals, there are inter and intra species friendship.  A situation such as this has led early analyst to conclude that such stories are created out of the experience of man in order to teach human lessons. But then, the stand of this paper is that if we rely on scientific investigations, we can discover that what the tales relate is how it is in the actual world of animals.

Keywords: Animals towns, houses, families, friendship, reality, fantasy.