This paper explains the many uses of ‘kanga’ or ‘leso’ as a medium for passing on messages of var... more This paper explains the many uses of ‘kanga’ or ‘leso’ as a medium for passing on messages of various types in the day to day life of a Swahili person. The paper explains the shape of the kanga, the various uses and the different expressions (‘names’) which are either poetic idiomatic expressions or prose type. Most of the expressions touch on the themes of religion, weddings, general words of wisdom, caution and admonition, congratulatory messages, parents and their immeasurable love and care, among others.
This paper has the objective to make a thematic analysis of a classic poem Utendi wa Mwana Kupona... more This paper has the objective to make a thematic analysis of a classic poem Utendi wa Mwana Kupona using a Swahili/Islamic approach. The poem is believed to have been written by Mwana Kupona binti Mshamu in 1858. The poem is intended to be a motherly advice to her daughter about her religious and marital duties in a Swahili society. As a background to this paper, it was found out that Swahili culture has been greatly influenced by Islam. Ever since Arab, Persian, Indian and other merchants from Asia and the Middle East visited the East African coast to trade or settle, the Waswahili people embraced Islam. The Islamic religion influenced Swahili culture greatly. One of the more direct influences was the adoption of the Arabic script which the Swahili used to write their poetry and used it for other communication. The Arabic language had a lot of impact on the Kiswahili language, enriching it with new vocabulary, and especially religious and literary terminology. This is why a majority...
This paper explains the many uses of ‘kanga’ or ‘leso’ as a medium for passing on messages of var... more This paper explains the many uses of ‘kanga’ or ‘leso’ as a medium for passing on messages of various types in the day to day life of a Swahili person. The paper explains the shape of the kanga, the various uses and the different expressions (‘names’) which are either poetic idiomatic expressions or prose type. Most of the expressions touch on the themes of religion, weddings, general words of wisdom, caution and admonition, congratulatory messages, parents and their immeasurable love and care, among others.
International Journal of Educational Research, 2013
Introduction A reading of Ari Katini Mwachofi’s Mama Ee reveals it as an analysis of gender relat... more Introduction A reading of Ari Katini Mwachofi’s Mama Ee reveals it as an analysis of gender relations specifically within the institution of marriage in a patriarchal social order. The playwright portrays an antagonistic relationship between women and men. However, different from earlier Kiswahili works, the woman’s voice here is new, aggressive and revolutionary as she negotiates for her identity. The main female character Mwavita, can only be likened to Lanina the main character in Alamin Mazrui’s Kilio cha Haki. But different from the latter, woman here not only fights for her rights, equal treatment, self-identity, and self-determination, her freedom, her sexuality, she is also on a mission of sensitization and consciousnessrising. The ending to Mama Ee is symbolic: it envisions the birth of a new African woman; holding hands Mwavita and Tenge – the protagonists, in unison say: Umoja ndiyo nguvu, utengano udhaifu. Tujitoe bila uvivu, kwa nyoyo zilonadhifu “Uke na uonevu”, usiwe ...
Wataalamu mbalimbali wamefafanua dhana ya hadithi fupikwa namna mbalimbali. Kipera hiki cha fasih... more Wataalamu mbalimbali wamefafanua dhana ya hadithi fupikwa namna mbalimbali. Kipera hiki cha fasihi andishi ni zao la athari za kimagharibi. Hadithi za fasihi simulizi zimerutubisha hadithi fupi zinazoendeleza majukumu ya tangu jadi ya kuelimisha, kuongoza, kuonya na kuburudisha. Hadithi fupi ya kisasa ina sifa za matumizi ya lugha ya nathari, masimulizi mafupi aghalabu ya tukio moja, mhusika mkuu mmoja au wahusika wachache, msuko sahili na hatimaye mshikamano na umoja wa mawazo na mtindo. Katika makala haya, tunachambua hadithi teule za Kiswahili kuhusu nafasi na ujitambuzi wa wanawake. Kachukua Hatua Nyingine ya Kyallo Wadi Wamitila inajadili hatua ambazo mwanamke anafaa azichukue ili ajikwamue na utumwa wa ndoa zinazompa mwanamume uwezo wote. Nayo Ngome ya Nafsi ya Clara Momanyi inaonyesha hatua anazochukua mtoto msichana kujikomboa dhidi ya mila na desturi zinazomnyima utambulisho wa kibinafsi na kijinsia. Wasia wa Baba ya Ahmad Kipacha inaonyesha jinsi utamaduni na mafundisho ch...
This paper explains the many uses of ‘kanga’ or ‘leso’ as a medium for passing on messages of var... more This paper explains the many uses of ‘kanga’ or ‘leso’ as a medium for passing on messages of various types in the day to day life of a Swahili person. The paper explains the shape of the kanga, the various uses and the different expressions (‘names’) which are either poetic idiomatic expressions or prose type. Most of the expressions touch on the themes of religion, weddings, general words of wisdom, caution and admonition, congratulatory messages, parents and their immeasurable love and care, among others.
This paper has the objective to make a thematic analysis of a classic poem Utendi wa Mwana Kupona... more This paper has the objective to make a thematic analysis of a classic poem Utendi wa Mwana Kupona using a Swahili/Islamic approach. The poem is believed to have been written by Mwana Kupona binti Mshamu in 1858. The poem is intended to be a motherly advice to her daughter about her religious and marital duties in a Swahili society. As a background to this paper, it was found out that Swahili culture has been greatly influenced by Islam. Ever since Arab, Persian, Indian and other merchants from Asia and the Middle East visited the East African coast to trade or settle, the Waswahili people embraced Islam. The Islamic religion influenced Swahili culture greatly. One of the more direct influences was the adoption of the Arabic script which the Swahili used to write their poetry and used it for other communication. The Arabic language had a lot of impact on the Kiswahili language, enriching it with new vocabulary, and especially religious and literary terminology. This is why a majority...
This paper explains the many uses of ‘kanga’ or ‘leso’ as a medium for passing on messages of var... more This paper explains the many uses of ‘kanga’ or ‘leso’ as a medium for passing on messages of various types in the day to day life of a Swahili person. The paper explains the shape of the kanga, the various uses and the different expressions (‘names’) which are either poetic idiomatic expressions or prose type. Most of the expressions touch on the themes of religion, weddings, general words of wisdom, caution and admonition, congratulatory messages, parents and their immeasurable love and care, among others.
International Journal of Educational Research, 2013
Introduction A reading of Ari Katini Mwachofi’s Mama Ee reveals it as an analysis of gender relat... more Introduction A reading of Ari Katini Mwachofi’s Mama Ee reveals it as an analysis of gender relations specifically within the institution of marriage in a patriarchal social order. The playwright portrays an antagonistic relationship between women and men. However, different from earlier Kiswahili works, the woman’s voice here is new, aggressive and revolutionary as she negotiates for her identity. The main female character Mwavita, can only be likened to Lanina the main character in Alamin Mazrui’s Kilio cha Haki. But different from the latter, woman here not only fights for her rights, equal treatment, self-identity, and self-determination, her freedom, her sexuality, she is also on a mission of sensitization and consciousnessrising. The ending to Mama Ee is symbolic: it envisions the birth of a new African woman; holding hands Mwavita and Tenge – the protagonists, in unison say: Umoja ndiyo nguvu, utengano udhaifu. Tujitoe bila uvivu, kwa nyoyo zilonadhifu “Uke na uonevu”, usiwe ...
Wataalamu mbalimbali wamefafanua dhana ya hadithi fupikwa namna mbalimbali. Kipera hiki cha fasih... more Wataalamu mbalimbali wamefafanua dhana ya hadithi fupikwa namna mbalimbali. Kipera hiki cha fasihi andishi ni zao la athari za kimagharibi. Hadithi za fasihi simulizi zimerutubisha hadithi fupi zinazoendeleza majukumu ya tangu jadi ya kuelimisha, kuongoza, kuonya na kuburudisha. Hadithi fupi ya kisasa ina sifa za matumizi ya lugha ya nathari, masimulizi mafupi aghalabu ya tukio moja, mhusika mkuu mmoja au wahusika wachache, msuko sahili na hatimaye mshikamano na umoja wa mawazo na mtindo. Katika makala haya, tunachambua hadithi teule za Kiswahili kuhusu nafasi na ujitambuzi wa wanawake. Kachukua Hatua Nyingine ya Kyallo Wadi Wamitila inajadili hatua ambazo mwanamke anafaa azichukue ili ajikwamue na utumwa wa ndoa zinazompa mwanamume uwezo wote. Nayo Ngome ya Nafsi ya Clara Momanyi inaonyesha hatua anazochukua mtoto msichana kujikomboa dhidi ya mila na desturi zinazomnyima utambulisho wa kibinafsi na kijinsia. Wasia wa Baba ya Ahmad Kipacha inaonyesha jinsi utamaduni na mafundisho ch...
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