Oral Literature and Cultural Identity: A Study of Yoruba Folktales Among Secondary School Students in Ibadan, Oyo State

This study investigates the role of oral literature in shaping cultural identity among secondary school students in Ibadan, Oyo State, South West Nigeria. Despite the growing influence of digital media and Western education curricula, Yoruba folktales remain a significant vehicle for transmitting cultural values, moral lessons, and historical narratives across generations. The research adopts a descriptive survey design, drawing on a sample of 200 students from five purposively selected secondary schools in Ibadan North Local Government Area. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and focus group discussions, while content analysis was applied to selected folktale texts. Findings from reviewed literature indicate that oral traditions are increasingly being displaced by formal literacy practices, yet community elders and cultural practitioners continue to assert their relevance. This study seeks to document the specific folktale genres most familiar to contemporary secondary school students and to assess the extent to which these narratives influence their sense of Yoruba identity. The theoretical framework draws on ethnopoetics and cultural identity theory. Results are expected to reveal gaps between the folktale traditions preserved by older community members and the cultural knowledge held by younger generations. Recommendations will address how educators and policymakers can integrate oral literature into the formal school curriculum to preserve and revitalise Yoruba cultural heritage. Keywords: oral literature, Yoruba folktales, cultural identity, secondary education, Ibadan.