The role of visual narrative in African literature
By Dr Wale Okediran
I consider it a great pleasure to have been asked to give the keynote at this epochal event. African literature is the body of traditional oral and written literatures in Afro-Asiatic and African languages together with works written by Africans in European languages. Traditional written literature, which is limited to a smaller geographic area than oral literature, is most characteristic of those sub-Saharan cultures that have participated in the cultures of the Mediterranean. The relationship between oral and written traditions and in particular between oral and modern written literatures is one of the greatest strengths of modern African literature.
Storytelling is not only for entertainment or cultural activities. It has also been confirmed as an effective medium of educating the public on various important developmental topics ranging from culture, climate change, environmental pollution, gender based violence, drug abuse to many other emerging issues.
Visual arts, on the other hand, are a powerful medium for storytelling, allowing artists to convey narratives through images, colours, and composition, often without the need for words. This approach can be used in various forms, from traditional painting and illustration to digital media like photography and video.
Storytelling in visual arts, also known as visual narrative, is the process of conveying a story or narrative through visual media like images, paintings or even digital art. This form of storytelling uses visual elements such as composition, colours, lines and symbolism to create a narrative that engages the viewer and evokes emotions. Visual storytelling is a way of narrating a story with the aid of visual elements such as images and videos.
It is not limited to storytelling as an end in itself, but has a very specific objective. It may be preparatory to the fulfilment of a call to action, it may serve to accompany the user along a path to purchase or it may aim to create engagement and excitement for a particular theme, product or brand. Visual storytelling is a practice that has evolved hand in hand with human beings.
People have felt the need to communicate and talk about themselves since ancient times, making use of visual, oral and textual narration. Narration through images preceded other forms of communication.
Just think of ancient rock carvings or Egyptian hieroglyphics, which demonstrate that we have always engaged in the art of visual storytelling, combining the evocative power of images with a narrative structure.
Today, this approach has reached its peak and these skills will be essential to face the professional challenges of the future. Why is the practice of visual storytelling so important? Visual communication is immediate, comprehensible and effective.
The human brain processes visual information 60 thousand times faster than textual information. We only need 13 milliseconds to process an image, and 90% of the information transmitted to our brain is visual (we are equipped with a narrative memory).
Another advantage of communicating through images is the duration of memory: after three days we can remember 10% of the information contained in a text, but if the text is combined with an image, the percentage rises to 65%. You can now imagine the awesome effect and power of communication and entertainment when you combine two powerful forms of arts—storytelling and fine arts!
While congratulating Padiki for this wonderful initiative, I wish to thank all those who have made this epoch-making event a reality. I welcome you all to a wonderful and successful outing.
* Dr. Okediran, Secretary General of the Secretary General of Pan African Writers Association (PAWA), gave this keynote address at the premiere of ‘Tales and Brush Strokes with Padiki’ on Saturday, June 6, 2025
