PRESERVATION

This study examines Ten stories and songs in Ẹdo: A case study of Ora, by investigating the cultural significance of these stories and songs, analyzing the content and meaning of the stories and songs in Ora, and lastly, promoting the understanding and appreciation of the Ora culture. The study relied on oral and documented data collected from primary sources. The oral data which made up the primary data were elicited from competent native speakers of Ora language. The interviewees were residents of Edo State whose ages range from fifty years and above. The respondents are: old people (3 man and 2 women), who are competent speakers of Ora language and also vast with the history, traditional stories and songs of the land. The data collected were recorded using a voice recorder which were then written down for organization and categorical analysis. The ethnography of communication, Hymes (1964) theoretical framework was used, several methods of data analysis was employed to explore the intersection of stories and songs in Ora. . Findings revealed that there are cultural significance of the stories and song in Ora, the stories and songs in Ora have content and meaning, and lastly, these stories and songs can be promoted when they are sung and thought especially to the younger generations as it will help in preserving the Ora's culture. The researcher recommends further studies in this particular area and any aspect not touched in this study be treated by linguist, scholars or any other researchers who have interest in the documentation and preservation of the stories and songs in Ora or any other Edoid language.

This study aimed to investigate the place of storytelling in Ẹdo language documentation and preservation by assessing the significance of these storytellings in the language, examining the role of these stories in the maintenance and revitalization of the language in contemporary society, and to explore the influence of modern technologies and media platforms on the practice of storytelling and language documentation in the language. The research relied on data gotten from primary source. Interviews and storytelling sessions were conducted with elders, storytellers, and community members in Ẹdo- speaking areas in Benin City, specifically around Ovia North-East Local Government Area. The stories were first written in Ẹdo before been translated to English. The theoretical framework used for the analysis of this research was the Ethnography of Communication (SPEAKING MODEL) by Hymes (1964). The findings revealed that storytelling plays a significant role in documenting the Ẹdo language. Through oral traditions, stories serve as a repository for linguistic and cultural knowledge, preserving key expressions, idioms, and customs. It allows the language to be passed down from one generation to the next, ensuring its continuity. Storytelling also contributes to the maintenance and revitalization of the Ẹdo language in contemporary society. It helps keep the language alive by providing an engaging way to learn and practice it, especially in a time when modern languages and technologies are often prioritized.