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How did Amos Tutuola use Yoruba oral storytelling traditions in The Palm-Wine Drinkard?

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Athol Fugard sits in the center with John Kani on the left and Winston Ntshona on the right; all three are seated closely together outdoors. — African literature South African dramatist Athol Fugard sitting between actors John Kani (left) and Winston Ntshona, 1973.

In The Palm-Wine Drinkard, Amos Tutuola masterfully integrated Yoruba oral tradition by transposing its structures and imagery into a literary mode rather than merely transcribing or imitating it.123

Tutuola utilized the following techniques to bridge these traditions:

Quest Narrative Structure: He adopted the classic quest tale, a staple of oral storytelling, to frame his protagonist’s journey. The hero’s episodic encounters with death and various perils mirror the structure of traditional folktales.12
Mythological Integration: He incorporated Yoruba mythology and religion into loosely constructed prose epics, improvising on traditional themes to create a rich, inventive fantasy world.1
Linguistic Style: The novel is written in a unique English that reflects the cadence and style of the Yoruba oral tradition, distinguishing his work from mainstream literary conventions.2
Organic Growth: Unlike writers who simply transcribed oral materials, Tutuola demonstrated a dynamic grasp of literary form, imposing a unified vision upon a series of relatively random, myth-inspired events.13

By successfully navigating the space between oral and written traditions, Tutuola transformed original folklore materials into a significant work of modern literature.3