I never forget that, before the advent of universal education with the Education Acts of the 1880s & later, illiteracy did not mean lack of talent or ability, but simply a lack of the necessary means of harnessing such attributes. Think of the terrible amount of potential that must have been wasted. The frequently accomplished and beautiful creations of the people thus deprived of the outlets they might have had and the things they might have achieved given the opportunity are among the few things salvaged from that terrible loss and waste. This is by no means the only reason I love and respect Folksong and the other Folk arts; but it is certainly one powerful one, and a good place to start to answer this thread's question.

~Michael~