<P> Telling stories is a nurturing act for the listener, who is connected to the storyteller through the story, as well as for the storyteller who is connected to the listeners through the story . </P> <P> Early storytelling probably originates in simple chants . People sang chants as they worked at grinding corn or sharpening tools . Our early ancestors created myths to explain natural occurrences . They assigned superhuman qualities to ordinary people, thus originating the hero tale . </P> <P> Early storytelling combined stories, poetry, music, and dance . Those who excelled at storytelling became entertainers, educators, cultural advisors, and historians for the community . Through storytellers, the history of a culture was handed down from generation to generation . </P> <P> The importance of stories and storytellers throughout human history can be seen in the respect afforded to professional storytellers . </P>

Where did the west african storytelling tradition begin