ORAL LITERATURE NOTES Visit elimupedia.com for more

ORAL

LITERATURE

NOTES

ANDMODELQUESTION

PAPERS

CHAPTERONEABRIEFINTRODUCTION

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Oralliteratureisone of theareastestedinLiterature inEnglishoftheKenyaCertificateofSecondaryEducationExaminations.TheotherareasinthispaperincludeTheNovel,Drama,PoetryandtheShortStory.WhatisOralliterature?Haveyou everimagined whatlifewaslike inthe days ofourgreat–greatgrandfathers?Howdidtheyspendtheirleisuretime?Certainlytheydidnotspendtheirfreetimereadingtheworksoftheirgreatwriters.Thisissimplybecausethey could notread.The civilization ofreading andwriting was stillatitsrudimentarystagesandin somepartsoftheworldthiscivilizationwasunheardof.Booksasweknowthemtodayareamuchrecentinvention.Butarewesuggestingthatsimplybecausetherewerenonovelsorshortstoriesasweknow themtoday,therewerenostoriesorpoemsorotherartisticforms?Farfrom it!From timeimmemorial,man has always told stories.He has alwaysrecitedpoems.Thesestoriesandpoemsareareflectionofhumanityatvariousstageson development.Itisthrough storiesand poemsthatpeopledefinethemselves:whotheyare;whattheybelievein;whattheyvalue;theiroccupations;whattheyeatetc.Sincetheartofwritingwasnotaswidespreadasitistoday,howwerethesestories,poemsandsongspreservedand transmitted?Theywerepreserved inpeople’smemoryandtransmittedbywordofmouth.InadditionAfricansocietiesforinstance,theextendedfamilywouldgatheratthehearth(fireplace)intheeveningaftersupperandspendtimetellingstoriesandposingriddles.Childrenwouldmemoriesthesestoriesandriddlesandwouldsoonstartretellingthemandwhentheygrewup,theywouldhandthemdown totheirchildrenandthecyclewouldcontinue.Thissituationstillobtains inmanysocieties today.Thisespeciallythecaseinmanyruralareaswhereoneislikelytofindcommunitiesthosearelargelyhomogenous.InthesecommunitiesoralliteratureisverymuchaliveA mentionedabove,oralliteratureistransmittedbywordofmouth.Forthisreasonitiscalledoral.As you revise oralliterature,therefore,you should bearin mind thatOralLiteratureisspoken,generallyperformedand oftendramatizedbya skilled performer.Thatmeansthatifyouarereadinganarrativeforinstance,youhavetobearinmindthatthenarrativewasactuallyperformedtoaliveaudienceasopposedtoanovelorashortstorywhoseoriginalformatwasthewrittenform.Youshouldalsoconsiderthatthetargetaudienceforaparticularpieceoforalsharesacommonsocial,culturalandhistoricalbackground.Theycould,forinstancebemembersofaparticularethniccommunityorevenmembersofthesamevillageorclan.

Oralliterature:Amisnomer?Muchoftheconfusionsurroundingthestudyoforalliteraturestemsfrom theverynatureofthenameofthesubject:Oralliterature.OxfordAdvancedLearner’sDictionarydefinestheword“oral”as“spoken;notwritten:anoralexamination,


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storiespassedonbyoraltradition(i.e.fromonegenerationtothenextwithoutbeingwritten)…Thesamedictionarydefinestheword“literature”as“”writingsthatarevaluedasworksofartespeciallyfiction,drama,andpoetry….”

From thetwodefinitionsabovewearequicktonotethattheterm oralliteraturegeneratesanobviouscontradiction.Thatwhichisoralcannotalsobewrittenatthesame time.Itis becauseofthe contradiction by this term thatmanyscholarshavesuggestedalternativetermstodescribethesubject.Theseincludeverbalart,orature,performedartetc.Ifyouwereaskedtosuggestamoresuitabletermtorefertothesamesubject,whatwouldyouuse?

FeaturesoforalLiteratureThesearefeaturesthatdistinguishoralliteraturefromotherformsofliteraturesuchastheNovelandtheShortStory.

ThespokenwordAsopposedtotheNovel,andtheShortStorywhoserawmaterialsisthewrittenword,OralLiteraturereliesonthespokenword.Narrativesandsongsarepasseddownfrom onegenerationtothenextthroughthespokenwordpreserved inin people’smemoryasopposedtothewrittenwordpreservedin books.Itis onlyaftertheinventionofwriting thatmostoftheoralliteraturepieceshavebeenwrittendownsothattheycanbereadilyavailabletopeopleforstudyandanalysis.

OccasionAsopposedtothe“written”formsofliterature,someoftheoralliteraturepiecescallforSpecificoccasionsto beperformed.Forinstancetherewillbesongsperformedduringmarriageceremonies,funerals,whilesoothingthebaby tosleep,whenworking,beforegoingtowaretc.Inotherformsliteratureforinstancethenovel,theshortstoryordrama,theaspectofoccasionisnotimportant.Forinstanceonecanreadanovelanytime.

PerformanceOralliteraturelivesinperformanceOnecannotforinstance,fullyappreciateaweddingsongunlessitisperformedinordertounderstandandenjoy.Whenoralliteraturepiecesarewrittendown,theaspectsofperformancearelost.

Reasonsforstudyingoralliteratureinschool/importanceoforalliteratureOralliteratureformsanimportantpartofinformaleducationbyteachingpeopletoimprovetheirSelfexpression,Powersofobservationandmemory.Italsosharpenstheir


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WitsandImagination,ItteachespeopleSocialvaluesBehaviourandHowtorelatetotheworldandtoothersItalsoinformspeopleontheircollectivehistoryandculture,Itisalsoarichsourceofentertainment,Ithelpsusappreciatethecultureofothercommunitiesin our countryleading toabetterunderstanding ofthesecultures,whichcouldleadto socialcohesion(unityindiversity).

Someformsoforalliteraturecouldbeusedtomobilizethemassestowardacertaingoal.ThefightagainstHIV/AIDShasbeenlargelyconductedthroughsongs.

TypesoforalliteratureThesearealso calledgenresorformsorevenclassificationsoforalliterature.Theyinclude:1.Oralnarratives2.Songs/oralpoetry3.TheShortForms.)a)Proverbsb)Tonguetwistersc)Riddles

CHAPTERTWO

ORALNARRATIVESThesearefurthercategorized/classifieda.Mythsb.Legendsc.Etiological/explanatorynarrativesd.Tricksternarrativese.MonsternarrativesF Humannarratives

MYTHSa.Amythisastorythatattempttoexplaintheoriginsofaparticularphenomenon.b.Itcouldaccountfortheoriginsofacommunity,orothernaturalphenomena.Amythinvolvesgodsandothersupernaturalbeingsintheirstructure.Communitiestreasurethem becauseoftheirreligiousvalueandastheirofficialaccounthowtheycameintobeing.

ExampleofaMythTHEORIGINOFDEATH(Kalenjin)AccordingtotheKalenjin,thenumberofhuntersintheirlandhadincreasedsomuchthatthewildanimalsWerebeenwipedout.Thesehuntersdecidedtohuntalltheanimalsoftheplain.Onedayoneofthehuntersstoppedtodrinkfromapool.Ashewasdrinkingfrom thepool,henoticedareflectioninthewater.Thereflectionwasverybeautiful.Itwasabirdthatlookedlikeacock.Thefeatherswereverybeautifulbut


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insteadofhavingtwolegsthisbirdhadfour.Theheadwaslargeandhadabluecomb.Thehunterwonderedwhatthisbirdwas.Hehadneverseensuchacreatureinallhislife.Hethoughthewasdreaming.Hefinisheddrinkingwaterandrosetogo,butthenherealizedthatthecreaturewasareality.Thecreaturemovedandwatchedthehunter.Thehunterin turnwatchedthecreature.Certainly the creature wasstrange.The hunterdecided to aim an arrow atit.“Perhapsthemeatoftheunknowncreaturewasverysweet,”hethoughtashereleasedthearrow.Afterthestrangecreaturefelldead,therefollowedrainthatwasheavierthathadeverbeenknownbefore.Therainwasfullofthunderandlightning.Nobodyknowswherethehunterwent.Allthatisknownisthatheneverreturnedtohisfamily.Andfromthatdayofheavyrain,peoplebegantosleepforever.AstheKalenjinsay,thundergotveryangryattheshootingofhisinnocentson,andso hesentheavyrainanddeathaspunishmenttopeople.Beforetheheavyrain,peoplehadsleptandwokenupasusual.Thusthelongsleepknownasdeathwascausedbythehunter’scuriousity.

NoteThisstoryattemptsto explaintheoriginofdeath,animportantphenomenon.Itisdeliveredinaserioustoneandinvolvespowerfulsupernaturalbeing,thunder.

LEGENDSThesearenarrativesaboutmemorablehistoricaleventsandpeople.Eventsheremayincludeinterethnicwars,famines,migrationofpeopleand soon.Some ofthehistoricallysignificantpeoplewhofeatureinlegendsincludewarriorsandgreatchiefssuchasLwandaMagere(Luo),WangombeWaihura(Gikuyu),GorMahia(LUO)etc.Intheprocessofbeingpassedonfrom onegenerationtoanother,legendmayacquireelementsoffantasyasexaggerationsareadded,perhapsasawayofemphasizingthemightofthesubjectofthelegend.AgoodexampleoftheseelementsoffantasyistobefoundinthestoryofLwandaMagerewhoissaidtohavehadabodysohardthatspearsbouncedoffhisbody!

ExampleoflegendTHEARINKON(Maasai)Therewereonceapeopleknownastheilarinkonwho wereownersofthelandthattheMaasaioccupiedaftertheirascentfrom theKerioescarpment.Thesepeoplehadaleaderwhowasamightygiant.Sincehewasverymuchfeared,itwasdeemed wisetoavoid him forfearthatuponthe slightestprovocation;hemightdecidetowipeoutthewholeMaasaipopulation.ButtheArinkonremainedresentfulofthe Maasaioccupation,spreading overtheirland.They sentmessagestellingthemtoleave.ButtheMaasaiwereunwillingtoleavetherichlyendowedcountry,havingjust


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recoveredfromtheformidableascentoftheescarpment.Atthesametime,theywere reluctantto fightpeoplewhose mightthey were unsure of,especiallyhavingobservedsignsofgreatphysicalmightintheirleader.Theyinsteadplayedtricksonthem.Theystartedbybribingthem withgiftsofcattle,sheepandvariousotheritems,withthehopeofbeingpermittedtostayon.ButthesepeopledevelopedahabitofpesteringtheMaasaiwiththeintentionofgettingthem fedup,hopingtomakethemleave,eithertowherevertheyhadcomefromorelsewhere.Oneday,theArinkonchiefsentamessagetotheMaasaisaying,”Wewillletyoustayifyoubringwarmfrothingmilk.”TheMaasaisaid:”Verywell,giveuseightdaysandwewillbringit,”SincetheMaasailivedalongwayoff,themilkwouldwithoutdoubthavecooledbeforetheygottotheArinkonchief.Assoonastheygothome,theMaasaicalledameeting.Closebythemeetingplace,therewasalittleboywhowasherdingcalves.Heheardwhattheelderswerediscussingandsaidtothem:”Fathers,donotworryyourselves,goanddriveawaythatcowwhosecalveisdeadandwhentheenemieshaveassembled,milkquicklyandtakethemilkwhileitisstillfrothing.”TheMaasaiwaiteduntiltheenemyhadassembled,waitingto killthem,notexpectingthem toproducethemilk.Theymilkedthecow andquicklytookthemilk. TheArinkon werestaggeredwithshock.Theyimmediatelyknew thattheymusthavebeentricked.Therulersaid:“Verywell,theyhavebeatenusonthisone.”Hethentoldthem togoandreturnonacertainday.Onthearrangedday,theyreturnedtotheArinkon.WhentheMaasaireturnedtheArinkonrulersaidtothem,“Inowwantyoutobringmeasandalwithhaironbothsides.”TheMaasaiwereinafix,forwhohadeverseenahidewhichishairyonbothsides?Asthensayinggoes,“Abilitiesanddeterminationarenoequal.”TheMaasaisaid,“Verywell.”Backatthesamemeetingplace,theyoungboywasbriefedonwhathadtranspired.Hesaidquickly:“Itisasimplematter,goandfindadonkeyandcutoffoneear,makeasandalandtakeittohim.”Theeldersreplied:“Hehasspokenthetruth.“TheArinkonrulerreceivedthesandalwithgreatconsternationforhehadnotexpectedtheMaasaitoobtainitatall.TherulersaidtotheMaasai,”YoumaynowgobackandwhenIneedsomethingelseIshallsendforyou.”AssoonastheMaasaidepartedtheArinkonheldcounseltofigureoutthemostdifficultitem torequesttheMaasai,sothatfailuretoprocureitwouldleadtoafight.WhentheArinkonchiefnextsentfortheMaasai,hesaidtothem:“Goandfillupaguardandbringthemtomewhentheyarestillhoppingabout.”Theelderswentbackto thecleverboy,who had,bythen been nicknamedc̀leverone’andinformedhimofwhattheyhadbeentold.Whenheheardit,hesaid:”Oh!Fathers,thisisdifficult,butitiseasyatthesame time,butdo notworryyourselvesforwewillfindthem fleas.Takeholdofadonkeyandcutoffsomehairsfrom themaneandcrushinabuffalohorncontainerandputthem inagourd.When you hand the Arinkon the gourd you mustmake sure you facethewindwardside.


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Theeldersdidastheyweredirected andsoondeliveredthe f̀leas’.As theywerehandingoverthegourd,theytilteditsothatthehairswereblownaboutbythewind,creatinganimpressionthatthefleasweredashingabout.“Theregetholdofthem!”theArinkonshouted.Butcouldtheygetholdofthemwhentheyhadalreadydispersed?TheArinkonhadneverbeforebeensoflabbergasted!Anotherdaypassed,andstilltheArinkondidnotknow whattodo withapeoplethatwereprovingtoosmartforthem.TheyagainheldcounselandwhentheynextsummonedtheMalaysia,theirleadersaidtothem:“Iwantyoutobringmeonlytwomorethings.Bringmeametaltoothbrushandfindmeawaythatleadstoheaven.”TheMaasaidrewtheirhandsto theirmouthsin amazement.Theyrequested him to give them threemonthstofindthoseitems.Whentheyreturnedhome,theyheldameetingthatlastedthewholeday.Whenthecleverboywasinformedofwhathadbeenrequested,he said:“Go and bringmea clubandIwillshowyouhowtomakeametaltoothbrush.”Theywentinsearchofit.Severalclubsweretakentotheboy,buteachtimehetriedtouseoneitwouldbreak.Manyclubsgotbroken.Eventually,hesaidtotheelders:“GotoaplacecalledOletukatandgetmeaclubfromtheologol-timtree,whosestemhadbeenbittenoffbytherhinocerosandthewaterhasgonedowntotheroots.”Afteralongsearch,thetreewasfound,uprootedandtakentotheboy.Whenhetriedit,itdidnotbreak.Hesaid.“Now letusgototheArinkonwhereIwilltellyouofthemetaltoothbrush.”Atthefirstflickerofdawn,thepeoplestartedofftotheenemycountry.Theboywasamongtherestwithhisclubtuckedunderhisarmpit.TheyfoundtheArinkonhavinggatheredto receivewhatwasbrought.Themeetingwasopenedwiththeexchangeofnews.Whattheboywasgoingtodowasbynow obvioustotheMaasai.Thefatherofthecleverboystoodupandsaid:Thereheisinacrouchingpositionwiththenotoriousone**whoseshaftisblackand whose organsofsightdetectus.Ifyouarefortheaffirmativeconfirm so wecanfoldtheknee***andapproachabovetheorgansthatisbent****sothatthebrainmaypopoutthroughthenostrils.Ifyouareforthenegativeconfirmsothatwebeataretreat.”The Arinkon did not understand what was said, and started askingthemselves:”Whatarethesepeoplesaying?”Theelderanswered:”Wehavesimplysaidthatwehavebroughtthemetaltoothbrush……”theboystoodupasthoughhewasgoingtohandoverthetoothbrush.HehittheArinkonchiefandtheeyespoppedoutandthebrainoozedoutthroughthenostrils.Whiletheywerebeingbeaten,theArinkonwerebeingtold“Arinkon,here,havewhatyouhavealwayssought.”ThatwaswhentheArinkonracehasalwayssought”originated.**Thespear***Oneoftenhalfkneelsdowninpreparationtospearanobject.****Theear.

EXPLANATORY/AETIOLOGICALNARRATIVESThesearenarrativesthatattempttotracetheoriginsofphysicalandculturaltraits.Theydealwithlessseriousthemesthanmyths.


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Examplesofthesenarrativesinclude:1.Howthezebraacquireditsstripes.2.Whyhensscratchtheground.3.Whytheostrich’sneckislongAsopposedtomyths-Aetiologicalnarrativesdonotinvolvegodsandthesupernaturalworld.-Theydealwithlessimportantissues.-Aregenerallytoldtochildreninanefforttoquenchtheircuriousity.

ExamplesofexplanatorynarrativesWhycatsliketostaybythefireplace(Bukusu)The catwasformallyawildanimalandlivedin the forest.Theforestwastoodangerousforthecatso,seeking protection,itattached itselfto an elephant(whom itthoughtwasthemostpowerfulanimal).Alioncamealongandkilledtheelephant.Thecatthethoughtthatthelionwasafterall,themostpowerfulanimal.Foritsdefence,ithadtomakefriendswiththelion.Thenthehuntercamealongwithhisbow andarrowsandspear.Hekilledthelion,whichhadattemptedtoattackhim.Onhiswayhomethehunterwasfollowed followedbythecat.Whileatthehunter’shomethecatremainedhidinguntilanopportunityshowedupthecat’sdesireforthehunter’sfriendship.Oneevening,aratwhichwasdiscoveredeatingthehunter’smeatwaschasedpastwherethecatwashiding.Thecat,havinganaturalhatredforrats,joinedthechaseandkilledit.Thehunterhadnochoicebuttopersuadethecattoremaininhishouseandkillrats,whichwereathreattohisfood.Thisisnottheendofthestory.Onecoldevening,thehunterwentroundtoafireplacewhosemanagerwashiswife.Alltheordersatthefireplaceweregivenbythehunter’swifeandthehunterhadtoobey.Thecat,watchingthisrelationship,wasquicktonoticethatthehunter’swife was strongerthan thehunterhimself:she orderedhim about.Sothecatdecidedtostayaroundthefireplaceundertheprotectionofthehunter’swife.Anduptothisday,catsliketostaybythefireplace.

THEVULTUREANDTHEHENLongagothehenandthevultureusedtoliveonexcellentterms,helpingeachotheratanytimetheyneededahandtoprocuretheirdomesticnecessities.Oneday,thehenthoughtofborrowingarazorfrom thevultureto shavetheirlittleones.Theshaving wasalreadymuch overdue,butitcouldn’tbehelped,because she had no razor.Andwas depending on the kindness ofherneighbours.Sothehenwenttoseevultureandsaid,”Dearvulture,Ishouldliketoborrow yourrazor;minewaslostmonthsago.Mylittleonesarelookingveryugly,andalsoveryuntidy,withtheirlong,unkempt,overgrownhair.”Thevulturelistenedtothehenwithgreatconcern,afterashortsilence,said,DearhenIcannotrefuseyouthisfavour.Tomorrow perhapsImightneedyourhelpaswell,andwemusthelpeachother.However,youmustrememberonething.Youknow whattherazormeanstome.Ihavenoother incomeexcepttherentofthatrazor;thatistosaytherazorismyfield,whence


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Igetmydailyfood.IdonotintendtoaskyouanyfeeasIdowithothers;butpleasebecarefultoreturnittomeassoonasyouarefinishedwithyourshaving.”“Thankyou,brothervulture,Iquiteunderstandswhatyousay,andIam verygratefultoyou.I’llbringitbacktoyou.”Thehenwasverygadofthefavourandassoonasshearrivedhome,madearrangements to beshaved by anotherwoman.The following morning sheshavedherlittleones,sothatthewholefamilywasnowshininglikethemoon.Theworkover,sheputitinaleatherpurse,whichwashanginginacornerofthehut.Thedayspassedand passedawaylikethewaterunderabridge,butthenhenneverthoughtagainofreturningtherazortothevulture.Sheforgotitcompletely.Thevulturegrew impatient,anddeeplyresentedinhishearttheunkindness,naytheingratitudeofthehen.Pressedbynecessity,hedecidedtopersonallygotothehenanddemandhisrazor.“Ohdearvulture,”saidthenhenwithconfusionandgreatregret,”Forgiveme;Iamsosorryformynegligencereallyintendto returnyourrazorverysoon,butIputitmyleatherpurseandforgotaboutitcompletely.Letmegoandbringit;youw3illhaveitinaminute.”“Yes,Iknowyouareaforgetfulcreature;butlookatthedamageyouhaveme.Youhavedeprivedmeofmysustenanceformanydays.Mindyou,ifyouhavelostit,youwillpayforitandverydearly”,saidthevulture.Thehenrushedintothehousetofetchtherazor.Sheplungedherhandintotheleatherbag,butalas!Itwasempty;therewasnorazorinit.Shewasveryshockedattheunpleasantdiscovery.Shestartedsearchingonthefloortoseeifbyanychanceithaddroppedfromthebag,buttherewasnofindingit.Shelookedunderthechildren’sbed,rearthefire-stones,inthestore;buttherewasnosignofit.Havemercyonme!Iwillsearchbetter;Iam readytodemolishmyhutaltogether,andarchforitdiligentlyuntilIfinditandreturnittoyou.”“Itoldyoutobecareful,andIrepeatitagain;Iwantmyrazorback!Butmindyou,IwanttheveryrazorIgaveyou,andsosubstitute.”Thepoorhenspentalldaysearchingandsearching,butnothingcameto.Shedemolishedherhut,andstartedsearchingintheroofgrass,amongtherubbleofthewalls,betweenthepoles,intheashesandevenintherubbishpit;butnothingwasfound.Thefollowingdaythevulturecametoseetheresultsofthesearching.Hefoundthehenstillscratchingthegroundamongtheheapofdrygrassandoxdung;butnorazorwasyetdiscovered.“Iam verysorrydearhen,”saidthevulture,”butnow Icannotwaitanylongerwithoutcompensationformyrazor.Fortodayyoumustgivemeachick.TomorrowIwillreturnandseewhathashappenedinthemeantime.”Sothevultureflewawaywithachickgrippedwithinitstalonsunderitsbreast.Thefollowingdayhereturnedtothehen.Shewasstillscratchingtheground;butshecouldn’tseetherazor.Anotherchickwentawaywiththevulture.Andthesamethinghappenedinthefollowingdaysuntiltoday.Thatisthereasonwhythehenisalwaysscratchingthe ground,and the vultureswoopingon chickseven inourdays.Thehen isalwayssearchingfortherazor,andthevulturecompensatinghimselfforitsloss.


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TRICKSTERNARRATIVES1.Thesearenarrativesthatusuallyfeatureacharacter(animalorhuman)thatpracticesdeceitonothers.2.Thesestoriesoreoftenthannotareaimedatprovingthatbrainismightierthanbrawn.3.Thisisbecausetheweakercharacter(forinstancethehare)managestotrickabiggeranimal(forinstancetheelephant)andget5soutoftrouble.

ExampleofatricksternarrativeThemonkeyandthecrocodile(Meruversion)Onceuponatimethemonkeyandthecrocodileweregoodfriends.Thecrocodileusedtocometotheriverwhilethemonkeysatonthebranchesoftreesonthebanksoftheriver,andtherethetwofriendswouldspendthewholedaychatting.Thecrocodilewouldtakelonghourstellingthemonkeyinterestingstoriesabouttheworldofwater,andtheanimalsthatlivedintheriver.Themonkeywouldinturntellthecrocodilestoriesabouttheanimalsthatlivedonthedryland.Thefriendshipcontinuedforalongtime.However,onedaytheostrichwarnedthemonkeythatthecrocodilewasacunning,dangerousanimal.”Youwaitandsee.Itwillnotbelongbeforethecrocodilewantstoeatyou,”theostrichtoldthe monkeyashewentonhisway.Thoughthemonkeybegantobecarefulwiththecrocodiletheirfriendshipcontinued.Soonafterthecrocodiletoldhisfriendthathiswifehadanew bornbaby.Andthecrocodilewentontotellthemonkey:“MywifeandIwouldbeveryhappyifyouwouldvisitusandseeournew-bornbaby.“Themonkeywithoutasecondthought,agreedto visitthecrocodileandhiswifethenextday.Itwas arrangedthatthecrocodilewouldmeetthemonkeythenextafternoon,andcarryhimonhisbacktotheislandonwhichthecrocodile’shomewas.Onthenextdaythemonkey,fullofexcitement,wentto meethisfriend.Andhefoundthecrocodilewaitingforhimatthebankoftheriver.Afterexchanginggreetingsthemonkeyjumpedonthecrocodile’sbackandthecrocodilebegantoswim ontothedeepwaters.Theywereinthe middle of the river when the crocodile began to laugh loudly:”Haa……haaa…..haaa…..”.Themonkeywassurprisedforhecouldnotunderstandwhyhisfriendwaslaughing.“Whyareyoulaughing?”heasked.Inawarningvoicethecrocodilesaid,“AtlastIhavecaughtyou!FormonthsIhavelongedtotasteyourheartandIwilldosotoday.”Themonkeywasworried andhebegantothinkhow hewouldescape.Afterashortwhile themonkeytoldthe crocodile:“Whydidn’tyou tellme thatyouwantedtoeatmyheart?Iwouldhavegivenittoyou,butyouareunfortunatebecausemyheartisathome.“Andthemonkeywentontoexplaintothecrocodilethatwhenmonkeysgoonajourneytheyleavetheirheartswiththeirgrandmothers so thatgrandmothers spice and flavourthe hearts.The monkeypersuadedthecrocodilethatifhereallywantedtoeathisheart,heshouldtakehim backtotheshoresoftheriver.“TakemebacktothebanksoftheriverandIwillaskmygrandmothertogiveyoumyheart...”Themonkeypleadedwiththecrocodile.Thecrocodile,withoutthinking,headedbacktothebanksoftheriver.Heswam fastforhebelievedthatthemonkeywouldgivehimhisheart.Withinno


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timetheywereatthebankoftheriver.Themonkeyjumpedfromthecrocodile’sbackontoatreeandhebegantojumpfromonetreeto theother.Whenthemonkeywaswellseatedonabranchonabigtree,hespatatthecrocodileandcursed,“Mayyouandyourwifeandchildrenperish!Andasformyheart,youwillnevertasteit.“And so saying themonkeythrew adead branch atthecrocodile,whichswam backintothedeepwaters.Andthatishowtheirfriendshipended.

DILEMMANARRATIVEThesearestorieswhichshowacharacterorgroupfacedwithtwoormorechoices,usuallyofmoralnature,noneofwhichiseasierto make.Suchastoryismeanttoinitiatecriticaljudgmentanddebateamongtheaudience.AclassicexampleinAfricaisthestoryofagreatdroughtuponwhichtheoracleordainshumansacrificebemade.Thevictim isusuallythemostbeautifulgirlinthevillage.Herfamilyistornbetweenheedingtheoracle’swordanddeclining,whichwouldmeanthatthesocietyperishes.Thereisaconflictbetweentheloveoftheparentsfortheirdaughterandloyaltytothesociety.

MONSTER/OGRENARRATIVESThesearestoriesthatfeaturemafantastic,grotesquecreaturethatisusuallyrepresentativeofevil.Monstersusuallymasqueradeasbeautifulwomenorhandsomemen and usetheirphysicalattractivenesstoluretheirunsuspectingpreysintomarriage.Theirpreys sofullofthemselvesarenotabletoseethroughtheogre’sattractivefaçade.Usuallyitapersonlookeddownuponbythecommunitythatmanagestonoticetheevilnatureoftheogre.Theogreisusuallykilledandallthepeopleandpropertythatithad consumedrecovered.Mostogre narratives teach the audience nottounderestimatetheabilitiesofthosewethinklessendowedthanweare.Theyteachustolookbeyondtheapparent;notallthatglittersisgold.

ExampleofamonsternarrativeTHEGIRLANDHERMOTHERNarratedbyWambuiwaWaambuguAlongtimeago,therewasagirlandhermother.Themotherofthisgirlhadbeensickforalongtime.Whentheoldmenwenttoadivinertogetadiagnosis,theywouldcomebackandsaythattheyhadbeentoldto haveagoatslaughtered.Theywouldslaughterthegoat,eatitbutthemotherwouldnothaveherwoundhealed.Theywouldgo,againandreturntoreportthatthegoatshouldbeslaughtered.Theywouldslaughterthegoat,eatitbutthemotherwouldnotgetherwoundhealed.Onetime,thegirlfollowedthem andhidherself.She,thereforeheardthather


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motherwouldonlybehealedbythewoolthatisfoundbetweenogres,i.e,theirwoolthatgetsblownbythewind.“Now,”shesaid”Iwillgo.Ihadbetterdieandhavemymotherhealed.”Thegirlthentraveledandtraveledandclimbedupamugumotree.Whensheclimbedthemugumotree,sheclimbedhigherandhigheruntilshegottothetopmostpart.Shethengotthewoolthatwasontheogre’smugumotree.Whenshegotit,theogreheardthegirlclimbingdownthetree.Hetoldher:“Iwillcutyoung’weng’weandcutyouagainng’weng’we.”Itistheogrenowtellingthegirl.Andthegirlstartedsingingasfollows:Kamau,ourKamau,meetme,meetme.Iamcomingfromgettingthewool,yesthewoolBetweentheogres,betweentheogresAndthemono-eyedogreisstillbehindmeHesayshewillbiteme.Nowthegirlinonlyracing.Andthesmallogrecalledmono-eyedwasbehindhersaying:Iwillcutyoung’weng’weAndcutyoung’weng’weTheogrewouldthem throwhisknife.Theknifewouldcutofftreebranchesbecausethegirlisstillracing.Thegirlwouldthensing.Kamau,ourKamaumeetme,meetmeIamcomingfromgettingthewool,yesthewoolBetweentheogres,betweentheogresAndthemono-eyedogreisstillbehindmeHesayshewillbiteme.Thegirlisstillrunningandsmallogreisstillfollowinghersaying:Iwillcutyoung’weng’weAndagaincutyoung’weng’we.Nowitwouldthrowtheknife.Theknifewouldcutoffbranchesfromatree.Theogrewantedtoslashthegirl.Andthegirlwouldsing:Kamau,ourKamaumeetmeetme,meetmeIamcomingfrom gettingthewool,betweentheogresAndthemono-eyedogreisstillbehindmeHesayshewillbiteme.Theogrewouldthensing:Iwillcutyoung’weng’weAndagaincutyoung’weng’weThegirlran.Shegotnearherhome,Kamaubeganhearingechoes:Kamau,ourKamau,meet,meetme,andmeetmeIamcomingfromgettingthewool,yesthewoolBetweentheogres,betweentheogresAndthemono-eyedogreisstillbehindmeHesayshewillbiteme.Theogrewouldthensing:Iwillcut,cutyoung’weng’weAndcutyouagainng’weng’weWhenKamauheard,heranandclimbedup atree.Now whentheogrerunningafterthegirlpassedthrough,Kamauspeareditfromupthetree.Theogrewouldpullthespearoutandthrowitaway.Thegirl’sbrotherwouldgetholdofthespearand


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speartheogreagain.Whentheogrewasspearedandslashedwithasworditdied.Thegirlwenthomeandfoundhermother.Sheputwoolinthefire.Themothergainedherconsciousnessandaskedforwatertodrink.Thegirlthenputsomeofthewoolinthewoundandithealed.Sothemotherrecoveredandtheogredied.Thegirlstayedwithhermother.Themotherdidnotdieandthegirldidnotdietoo.

CHAPTERTHREESONGS/ORALPOETRYInAfricansocietiesalmostallcommunalactivitiesareaccompanied bysong anddance.Inmostsocietiestherearesongsforeeverystageandoccasion ofaperson’slife,from thecradletothegrave.Therearesongsatbirth,naming ceremonies,songs,and lullabies,singing games,songsin stories,initiation songs,marriage songs,work songs,warsongs,praise songs,worship ordivinationsongs,andlastlyfuneralsongs.Asopposedto narratives,which areprose,songand recitation areverse.Theydemandthatthecomposershouldarrangehiswordsinsuchawaythattheyshouldsoundperfectespeciallyintermsofrhythm andmelody.Thesetogetherwiththemeaningofthewordsenablethepoetorthesingertoexpresshisfeelingswiththestrongestimpactpossible.Wedistinguish between recitation and song mainlyon thebasisofmusicalcomplexity.Normally,musicalfeatureswillbemorepronouncedinsongthaninrecitation.

CLASSIFICATIONOFSONGS/POETRYTheclassificationusedinthishandbookisbasedonthefunctionsservedbysongsinquestion

RELIGIOUSPOETRYThesearesongsandpoemsperformedduringreligiousoccasionorforspiritualpurposes(prayer,incantations,andinvocations.)

ExamplePrayerbyaMulembwewomanafterachild’sbirth,recordedinCongoGodalmightycreator,GodMbuuwaMukunguaKinyama,Createdtrees,createdpeople,createdallcountries,CreatedtheBeen’EkiiyeofKalanda,createdtheBeenaandBaaMilembe,Createdthewhitewithwhitish,CreatedtheLomami,createdtheLuambaKasseya(tworivers),Createdthelandwherethesunrises,CreatedthefishatMaengye,Createdtheeldestandtheyoungestofthetwin,Createdthequidewholeads(childthatopensthewomb),Createdtheeatableandtheuneatableants.God,thouarttheLord,


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Whocomethintheroarofthewhirlwind,Outofyourdwellingplacefromwherethesunrises.Godcreator,thouartfatherandthoughartmother.OhGodIshouldn’toffendyouasifyouwereman;ThereisnogratitudeforwhatGodbestowsupontheeAlthoughhegivesyouawifewhogrindsmaize,awomanisabasket(I.e.sheleavesherfamilyinmarriage),Amanisarefuge,whenrainfallsImayenter(i.e.amanremainsinthevillageandmaybeaconsolationforhisparents).Godifhehasn’tgivenyougift,He’llrememberwhenyoupraisehim,HonourHimandyouarriveatMusengyeoftheMulobwe.Everyoneisn’tawelcomeguest,onlyachildisastrangerwhocomesquitenewinourmidst.Oheldestandyoungestofatwin,onlyachildiswelcomeasastranger.Friendgoodday,friendgoodday!

DIRGESThesearesongssung during funeralceremonies.Theyaresung during theactualburialandduringremembrancesorotherpost-burialceremonies.Dirgesrevealthecommunity’sattitudetowardsdeath.Theyalsoservetoconsolethebereaved,singpraisestothedeceasedandasalamentationtowardsdeathfortakingawaylovedones.

Example1PrayerbeforethedeadbodyThegatesoftheunderworldareclosed.Closedarethegates.ThespiritsofthedeadarethrongingtogetherLikeswarmingmosquitoesintheevening,Likeswarmingmosquitoes.Likeswarmsofmosquitoesdancingintheevening,Whenthenighthasturnedblack,entirelyblack,Whenthesunhassunk,hassunkbelow,WhenthenighthasturnedblackThemosquitoesareswarmingLikewhirlingleavesDeadleavesinthewind.Deadleavesinthewind,TheywaitforhimwhowillcomeForhimwhowillcomeandwillsay:“Come”totheoneand“go”totheotherAndGodwillbewithhischildren.AndGodwillbewithhischildren.(Namibia)


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(Source:UlliBeier(Ed).Africapoetry,Universitypress:Cambridge,1966)Thereisnoneedlewithoutpiecingpoint.Thereisnorazorwithouttrenchantblade.Deathcomestousinmanyforms.Withourfeetwewalkthegoat’searth.WithourhandswetouchGod’ssky.Somefuturedayintheheatofnoon,Ishallbecarriedshoulderhigh.Throughthevillageofthedead,WhenIdie,don’tburryunderforesttrees,Ifearthorns.Burymeunderthegreatshadetreeinthemarket,IwanttohearthedrumsbeatingIwanttofeelthedancers’feet.(Anonymous)(Source:UlliBeirer(Ed),AfricanPoetry,Universitypress:Cambridge,1966).

WARPOETRYTherearepoemsperformedbywarriorsduringawarevent.Thiscouldbesungasapreparationtowar,inordertoboostthemoraleofthewarriors.Theycouldalsobesungafterabattleasthewarriorscomebackhomevictorious.Warsongscouldalso besung in theabsenceofwarinorderto reinforcethemilitarymightofaparticularcommunity.Warpoemsalsoexpressthegeneralvaluesrelatingtowar.

Example:Fightnow!Comeandfightnow!Slaythem!We’llbrandishspears!StraightforthdothspeedyourarrowTremble!Yes!Theytremble!Whenwedrawnear,Andfarthey’llfleeasweapproachthem!Sharpenkeenyoyoarrows!BraveheadsupraisedandshoutingLoudlyyourdefianceAlltheyopposeus.QuicklyourspearsShallpiercetheirbreasts.Theywillbescattered

WORKPOETRYTherearepoemsthataccompanyrhythmicwork.Thiswouldincludechoressuchas


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paddling.Threshing,diggingorhauling.Inrecenttimesworkpoemshavealsobeeobservedamongroadworkers,minersandboulders.

Example:PoundingsongAtKitilisthereareherdsmen,bothboysandgirls,Therearegoatsandlambsandcattle:Mwesya,doInotcallyouinmypoverty?Ihavenofamily,Ihavenomother,Ihavenorelativestocallupon.Death,Iwillnotgivehim foodorwaterSeeinghehasdeniedmemyfatherandmyfamily.E!Grinding!Musyoka,Ihavenofamily,Ihavenomother,ThemotherofmysisterVika,LonzaandLinda;HowforlornIam!DidIcallyou?IdonotsharethesleepingmatwithLonza.HowforlornIam,Ihavenothingofmyown!

(source:JackMapanjeandLandegWhite.OralpoetryfromAfrica,Longman:NewYork,1983.)

LOVEPOETRYThesearepoemsaddressedtoabelovedmanorwomaninthehopeofmarriage.Theycouldalsobepoemsonfrustratedlove,orsongsinpraiseofalovedone.

ExampleWhencouldthypraisesbesung,Oloiltibili?ForthisscorchingsummerheatpreventsitThey7cannotbesunga5tmiddayForthesunweakensthecattle.TheycannotbesungatsunsetO,whenthesungetstothatpoint(Pointingtothepotionofthesunabout9a.m)Praisesofhewiththescarletonewillbesung.IdevelopedadmirationforhimNotatthedrinkinghall.IhavestoredtheloveofmyloveSinceIwasjustalittlegirl.IhavestoreditatthegallbladderTonurtureitdaybyday.Idarednotstorethispreciousloveofmylove


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Atthehead,forthemindaboundswithchanges.IthasedgedbetweenthefingersandthepalmAswellasthespleenandtheliver.TheloveofmylovehasgonedownTowheretheinfantslie.IstoreitwheretheinfantsarecarriedTokeepitgrowingdaybydaybyday.HethatdetestsmylovingthewarriorsFindonetoughloathingtodo.ScrapetheroadwithyourbuttocksUntilyouhavereachedNairobi.PutthehyenaatthesheeppenAswellastheslimbeast(cheetah)IfbymorningthesheeparesafeIwillgiveupthebrotherofTalashThenyoucanbleedthewhitenosedone(donkey)Topurgemefromthelonghairedone.(Kenya)(Source:NaomiKupury,Oralliterature of the Maasai,EastAfrican EducationPublishers:Nairobi,1983)

LULLABIESThesearesongssungprincipallytoputthebabytosleep.TheyaresunginthesofttuneThatenhancestheirsoporific effect.Theyemploysimple language;one thatchildrencaneasily identify with.Lullabies may also employ onomatopoeicwordsespeciallydesignedatensuringrhythm.Attime nurses maysing lullabies expressing theirattitudetowardstothemotherofthechildrentheyhavebeenleftinchargeof(seeexamplebelow)

BunyorolullabyHa!ThatmotherwhotakesherfoodaloneHa!ThatmotherbeforeshehaseatenHa!Thatmothershesays,”Lullthebabyforme.”Ha!Thatmother,whenshehasfinishedeating,Ha!Thatmothershesays,”Givethechildtome!”

HUNTINGPOETRYThesearesongssungbyhuntersontheirwaytoorfrom hunting.Theycouldalsobesungtoexpress disappointmentathaving failed to catch any game .Below is anexampleofahuntingsongperformedafterahippopotamushasbeenkilled:


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Chopit,chopit,Dotakeitandchopit;Dotakeitandchopityourself.Chipishya,bringtheboat.Haveyoukilledithunter?Chishyabringtheboat,Chipishyabringtheboat,Haveyoukilledithunter?

CHAINSONGSInchainsongseverysuccessivelineisderivedfromtheformer.ExampleOharcherOhArcher,OhArcher,Let’sshootateachother,let’sshootateachotherAndifyoushootmeandifyoushootme;Iwillhaveagoatslaughteredforyou.Iwillhaveagoatslaughteredforyou.Andthemeatandthemeat,Willbegiventotheblacksmith,willbegiventotheblacksmith,Andtheblacksmithandtheblacksmith,Willhavekniveswillhaveknives.Andtheknivesandtheknives,Willpiercetheheavenswillpiercetheheavens.Andtheheavenandtheheavens,Willsenddownrainwillsenddownrains.Andtherainsandtherains,Willmakethegrassgrowwillmakethegrassgrow.Andthegrassandthegrass.Willfattentheheiferwillfattentheheifer,Andtheheiferandtheheifer,Willbuyawifewillbuyawife,Andthewifeandthewife,WillpreparegruelwillpreparegruelAndthegruelandthegruel,Wewillgulpitwewillgulpit

WEDDINGSONGSThoughmanyweddingsongscapturethejoyassociatedwithweddingceremonies,manysongsexpresssorrow atthethoughtofleavingthefamiliarhomeforanuncertainfuture.Otherweddingsongssingpraisestothebride,thegroomandtheirparents.ExampleWeddingsong(from


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IisukaofwesternKenya)Itishard,Aloo,It’shardtoleaveyourhomeTogotoanother.It’shardtocallanotherYourmother.Fatherwaseducated,atKorotisAndisaclerkIhaveseentheclerk.Ihaveseentheclerk,Mamawaseducatedat“Chipyesi)(GBS:GirlsBoardingSchool)Andisanurse,MamawantedMamawantedherchildtobeaNurseWeedthegardenoffruitsWeedmama’sgardenoffruitsThattheycontinuetoyield.Aloo!Haa!Haa!

CHILDREN”SPLAYSONGSThesearesongsperformed bychildrenatplay.Thefollowing songissungbytwogroupsofchildren(markedAandBrespectively)inturns.Thechildrenjointheirhandstoform thecircleandswingtheirhandsastheysing.A:WatatawatiririourhouseisexcellentB:WatatawatiririitcannotbetbetterthanoursA:WatatawaTiririWhatisyoursmadeof?B:WatatawatiririoursismadeofstoneAWatatawatiririoursismadeoftimberB:WatatawatiririgiveusonepersonA:Watatawatiririwhomdoyouliketohave?B:WatatawatiririwewouldlikeKariukiA:WatatawatiririKariukiwhydon’tyougo?AtthispointtheboynamedKariukimovesfrom hisgroupandjoinstheothergrouptheotherteam beginsthesongagainandbytheendofthesessionthetwogroupswouldhaveexchangedmanyoftheirmembers.

SATIRICALSONGSThesearesongsthatcriticizehumanfolly.Theyaimatcastigatingthosewhodonotliveuptotheexpectationsofthesocietyandalsotodiscouragetherestfrom engagingin similaractivities orbehaviour. In mostcases such songs make use of


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hyperboleaimedatemphasizingonthewrongdone.

Example1Me-mrundeeehshestoleShestoleahen,shereallystoleeeh.

RefrainShestoleasheep,nodoubtshestoleShestoleawalkingstick,nodoubtshestoleShestoleapot,nodoubtshestole.Me-mrundeeeh,shereallystoleeehShestoleclothes,shereallystoleeeh.

RefrainMe-mrunde,shereallystoleeeh.Shestoleacat,shereallystoleeeh.

Example2THELAZYMANWhenthecockcrows,Thelazymansmackshislipsandsays:Soitisdaylightagain,isit?Andbeforeheevenstretcheshimself,BeforeheevenyawnsThefarmershasreachedthefarm,Thewatercarriershavearrivedattheriver,Thespinnersarespinningtheircotton,TheweaverworksonhisclothAndthefireblazesintheblacksmith’shutThelazyoneknowswherethesoupissweetHegoesfromhousetohouse.Ifthereisnosacrificetoday,Hisbreastbonewillstickout!Butwhenheseestheyam,Hestartstounbuttonhisshirt,Hemovesclosetothecelebrant.Yethistroublesarenotfew.Whenhiswivesreachpuberty,Richmenwillhelphim marrythem.(Nigeria)(Source:UlliBeier(ed).Africanpoetry,CambridgeUniversityPress,1966)

INITIATION/CIRCUMCISIONSONGSThesearesungduringcircumcisionorotherritesofpassage.

Example


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AKipsigisinitiationsongWetellyouwearegoing,Wemendon’tmockuswomen.WetellyoucircumcisionispainfulButyoucan’tdie.WetellyousteponthegrassWhileitfallsdown.SowetellyouchildrenThosegoforcircumcisionlikeEuropeansWhogotothe3irweddingcalmlyprepared.WetellyouStayfirmlikeastoneWeshallbehappyafteryourcircumcisionEventhosewho,arepassing,evenBrothers.WetellyouIsaythanksuntilwemeet.Seeyoufather,seeyoumotherandRelativeTillwemeet.

PANEGYRICPOETRYThesearealso referredtom aspraisesongs/poetry.Theyare sungto0praise apersonaclan,oracommunity.Praisepoetrymakesuseofimagerysuchassimiles,metaphors,andsymbolism.Hyperboleisalsooftenemployed.

ExampleTheboastofthegoodfarmerIhaveploughedandIhavesweated,AndnowIamenjoyingmycrops,myfriends,Likethebushbuckwhichusesitstailtopushrice-plantsintoitsmouthAsasignofitscontentment.Godfarmingwinsrespect,myfriends.WhereIdrinkbeernowIdrinktomyheart’scontent:WhenIeatmyfoodIeatwithasettledhearts,LikeourlittlefriendthefishThismakeswhitesoupforus,WhichplaysinitspoolalldayWithoutanythingtotroubleitsheart.Afarmerisaking:Eventhewizardpayshomagetoyou.Farmingbringshonourmyfriends:Youneednottoilyourfeettobegatthehomesofjuniormen.Youseemeinmyprosperitytoday


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BecauseduringtherainsIamthefriendofthemud:Rather,Iattackthesoilwithmyspecialfriend,thehoe.Fancynotcultivating!Fancynothoeing!Fancynotcultivating!Takethelittlehoeandbreakthesoil!ThedaywhenIkilledthepartridge,Whenthechild’smotherhadgonetothefield,Theporridgeranintomymouthlikelightning,Takethelittlehoe,weedthesoil!(Zimbabwe)(Source:JackMapanjeandLandegWhite,OralPoetryfrom Africa,Longman:NewYork,1983)

POLITICALSONGSOralliteratureplaysasignificant6roleinraisingpoliticalawarenessofpeople.Italsoactsasavehicleforsocialprotest.Thisisdoneespeciallythroughsongs.Politicalsongscanbedividedinto:(a)Songsofsocialprotest.(b)Songsforcreatingpoliticalawareness©Songsforcreatingpoliticalconformity.

ExampleSerikaliyaNyanyoNiyamaendeleoFuataNyayomwenzangu,HatutakimatataKamawewewatakaKuletamatataKenya,TafutaKenyayakoHatutakiporojoRaisamesemaAtawalindawatoto,JiungenasiiwenzanguHatutakiporojo!

CHAPTERFOURSHORTFORMSThesearegenresoforalliteraturecharacterizedbytheirbrevityandtheircompactness.Theareutteredinonebreathasopposedtonarratives,songsorrecitation,whichmaytakeseveralminutestoperform.Shortformsinclude:(a)Proverbs(b)riddles©Tonguetwisters

Characteristicsoftheshortforms


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Thesearecharacteristicsthatdistinguishshortformsfrom oralliterature.Theyincludethefollowing:(a) Invariability:Theyappear inthefixedpatternandthereisverylittlescopeforimprovisation.(b)Compactness:Theyarebriefandcompressed.(c)Word play;they heavily depend on word arrangementand word play,includinguseoffigurativelanguageincludingmetaphors,similespersonificationandotherimages.(d)Informality:unlikenarrativesandsongs,whichcallforparticularformalsettingfortheirrealization,the short forms (except riddles) are most frequentlyincorporatedintoordinaryconversationandperformedinintimateandinformalsituations.

PROVERBSWhatisaproverb?Aproverbcanbedefinedasaterse,pitystatementcontainingfolkwisdom

Proverbsareconsideredtobethemarkofadultwisdomandexperienceitisnowonderthatthemostprofound discussions and pieces ofadvice in manycommunitiesareconductedanddeliveredinproverbs.Inmosttraditionalsocieties,disputesandjudicialdecisionswerecarriedoutinproverbs.Proverbsareaproductoftheexperiencesofthepeople,experiencessomeofwhich havebeenlearned thehard way.Proverbsthereforerevealwhatpeopleadore,andwhattheydespise.Astudyoftheproverbsofacertaincommunitywillthereforehelpusappreciatethecommunity’sbeliefs,attitudesandpointsofview.

Characteristicsofproverbs(a)Proverbsareshortandtothepoint

(b)Proverbsrevealapeople’swisdom,andphilosophyoflife.Proverbscallourattentiontothegeneralrealityaroundus.Themessageorwisdom oftheproverbisthecollectivepropertyofthesocietyinwhichitisused.Itisraretoknow themakerofaparticularproverb.Proverbsonlymakesensewhentheydirectlyappliedtospecificsituationsorproblems.Thevalueofaproverbthereforeliesinitsapplicabilitytoaconcretesituation,howitassessesitand possiblysuggestsasolution to it.Oftenwefindproverbsthatcabeappliedtodifferentsituationswithdifferentinterpretations.Thismayexplaintheexistenceofproverbswhichatfirst,appeartocontradicteachother.E.g.Bellshouldbemanytomakeasound&Ahoardofratsdoesnotdigitselfahole.Proverbsshould thereforebeinterpreted incontext.A scholarwho dealswithproverbsoutofcontextshouldalwaystryasapartofhisinterpretation,tor


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econstructthesituationinwhichtheproverbwouldbeapplied.Aproverbisakindofconversation shorthand.The meaning ofa proverb is usuallyHiddenandalwayshastobeworkedout.

(c)Proverbsappearinfixedpatternsnearlyallthetimeandthereislimitedscopeonthepartoftheperformer.

(d)Proverbsaresayingsthathavebeenacceptedbyandthereforepartofthesociety.

(e)Proverbsdraw theirmaterialandimagesfrom aparticularenvironmentorsociety.Henceproverbsfrom themaasaiforexample,willdifferintheiruseofimagesfrom thoseoftheLuhyaeventhoughthemaybecommunicatingthesamemessage.

ClassificationofproverbsProverbsmaybeclassifiedintothefollowingcategories:Proverbsonfate.CautionaryproverbsProverbsongreedandselfishnessProverbswarningonprideandarroganceProverbsoncommunallifeProverbsasembellishmenttospeech/communicationProverbsonauthorityProverbsoncooperationNarrativeproverbs:thosethatthatservetoreinforcewhatthethecommunityconsiderstobedesirablepatternofbehaviour.Reflectiveproverbs:thosethatmirrorthecommunity’sattitudes,thoughtprocessesandworld-view.Summativeproverbs:thosethatarelongerdrawanalogiesbetweenphenomenaandconsistoftwoparts.

FUNCTIONSOFPROVERBSAchebeinThingsfallApartsays“Proverbsarethepalm winewithwhichwordsareeaten.”TheYorubahave ametaphorto the effectthat proverbs are the horses ofcommunication.Thesetwosayingspointoutthoseproverbsarefacilitatorsofverbalcommunication.Proverbsserveseveralsocialfunctions.Theseinclude:

ReflectiveproverbsTheseareproverbsthatexpresstestedtruths.Thesetruthshavebeenarrived atthroughreflectionsofman’sthoughts.Dherariembawuongonyiedhotangiyooko(Luo)Thecustodianofaloanedcowmilksitwhilelookingout.Eiuoltung’aniosuujnaaolanya(Maasai)Aman’ssonmaybeacowardbutheisstillhisson.


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Ogwang’thonewadgi(luo)Amongoosediesinsteadofhisbrother.Achiefislikedustheapwhereeveryonecomeswithrubbish.Wealthisdew.Heisripeinsidelikeawatermelon.

CautionThingociimatu(Gikuyu)WallshaveearsVutulevumanyimwamidave(Luhya)SlipperinessknowsnokingAhuruokkoudheiro(Luo)Thedoveisneverbackbitteninsmoke.Mpandangaziushuka(Kiswahili)Hewhogoesuptheladdereventuallycomesdown.

CounselIfyouarepatientyouwillseetheeyesofthesnail.Eitomisimisiiropetailoweni(Maasai)Corruptgiftsdarkenthehandsofthewise.Ngirepelakwarotwakechengjiket(Nandi)Ifyoutakeaknifefromachild,givehimaspieceofstickinstead.Kipodinepikikiyanynyang!Donotabusethecrocodilewhileyouarestillinwater.

WarningMuginimutaareHeiswisewhohaslistenedtoadvice(neversayyouwerenotwarned).AsiyefunzwanamamayeufunzwanaulimwenguHewhodoesnotheedhismotherscounselwillbetaughtbytheworld(thehardway)Onewhoexcretesontheroadwillfindflieswhenhecomesback.(Everyactionhasconsequences)ConsolationGuturimuthenyaukiaganaungiNodaydawnswithanother;everydayhasitsjoysandpains.BaadadhikifarajaAftersorrowthereisjoy.

NormativeproverbsTheseareproverbsthatprescribethemodeofbehaviourexpectedofaperson


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inaparticularsociety.-Thesatisfiedchildhasburnedthegranary.-Kinshipiskinship.

SummativeproverbsTheseareproverbsthatareusedto summarizeasituation.Whilegivingadvice,insteadoftellingapersonthatifhecontinuesinhisbelligerencehemightendupbeinghurt.Onecansimplyusetheproverb:“Astrongman’sheadisfullofscars.”Tosummarizethelesson.

ProverbsusedasembellishmenttospeechOftentimesproverbsareusedtomaketheartofconversationmorebeautiful.

STYLEINPROVERBSProverbslikeotherformsoforalliteraturecanbeanalysedintermsofstyle.

AlliterationJaberjauloAllthatglittersisnotgold.HasirahasaraAngerbringslossLiandikwalondiloliwaloWhatiswrittencannotbechanged.Chemachajiuza,kibayachajitembeza.Goodqualitygoodsneednoadvertising,badmerchandisedoes.

AssonanceKurriukuuutatumwatawanyunguTherearethingslikeearthenpotwhichifbrokencannotberepaired.AlidhaniyeamesimamaaangalieasiangukeHewhothinksishighupshouldbecarefullesthefallsover.IdiophoneBandubanduhuishagogoChipchip!Finishesthelog.Churururu-sindo!ndo!ndo!Agushisnotthesameasadrip.

RepetitionWatenwatKinshipiskinshipHarakakarakahainabarakaHurryhurryhasnoblessings.Chovyachovyayamalizabuyulaasali


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Constantdippingwillemptyagourdofhoney.

AllusionCiakorewacumugunda(ThefoodfoundWacuinthegarden.TheproverballudestoastoryattributedtotheoraltraditionoftheAgikuyuinwhichwefindacharactercalledWacu.Wac.,isdespisedbyherhusband.Once,sheissenttotheshambasothatthehusbandcouldholdafeastforhisfavouredwifeathome.Thechoicemeatbeingroastedbythehusbandissnatchedbyahawk.ThehawkcoincidentalydropsthemeatinWacu’sgrden.Wacubenefitsfrom whatwasdeniedher.Thisproverbisusedtoencouragehardwork.The meatdidnotfind herathomebutin the shamba.Italsowarnsagainstmistreatingothersasgodhasawayoftakingcareofthem.

MetaphorWealthisdew.KukamwonikuraTobepraisedistobelost.(Onemightallow thepraisestogetintohisheadandmighteventuallyturnoutworse)MugeniniRuwiAguestisariver.(Weshouldbehospitabletoguestssincetheywillbewithusforonlyawhile).SimileHeisripeinsidelikeawatermelon.(Awater-melonlooksraw from theoutsidebutripefromtheinside.Attimesjustlikewater-melon,itisdifficulttotellwhatisinthemindofaperson.Afoolislikeabeehive.(Potentialfordanger)

PersonificationKanuaweiire!Mouthyouateyourself!TheworminthecattleKraalsays:Iamanox.”Themouththatatethegrainisthesameonethatasks,”Whatshallweeat?”Enekethebirdsays,”Sincemenhavelearnedtoshootwithoutmissingtheirtarget,Ihavelearnedtoflywithoutperchingonatwig”

Hyperbole-Youwillnotseetheelephantmovingon yourownheadonlythelousemoving onanother’s.-Hewhowaitstoseeacrabblinkwillwaitlongalongtheshore.(Yoruba)-Ifyouarepatientyouwillseetheeyesofasnail.

Humour


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UthuriwaGitongandununganga-Thefartofarichmandoesnotstink.Nyathimioroemachiethneduong.-Itisthechildthatrunserrandsthathasbiggerexcrement.-Apersonwhoneversawthemotherinheryouthmightsaythefatherwastedhisdowry.

ExamplesofproverbsLuoproverbs1.Theharemightbesmallbutitbegetstwins2.Itiswithalightbasketthattheownerelidestherain.(Youaretoblameforselfimposedburdens).3.Thedrum isheavieronthereturnjourney.4.Nowyouareoil-shinny;mayyouonedaybedry!5.EvenFulusendTilapia.(Fuluisatypeoffishsmallerthantilapia.Theproverbstressesthenecessityofco-existencebetweenthemightyandthelessmighty).6.Amightymanisnevergreeted.(Hemayunderstandthegreetingtobeaninvasion)7.it’sonlyamadmanwhoshaveshisownhair.8.Thedetractorhas holesinthebuttocks.(Thereference to buttockshereisnotliteral.Ratheritreferstotrousers.Thedetractorsspendlonghourssittingtodefamehisvictims.Thisoversettingleavesitsmarksonthebuttocksandthetrousers.)9.Thebeautifulone’sgardenissmall.10.Themediatorhastwomouths.11.Thegossipneverages.12.Donotabusethecrocodilewhilestillinwater.13Theelephantisbackbittenonceithasturneditsback.14Theflythatlovesyouistheonethatperchesonyou.15Itishewhoeatswithablindmanthatknowsthedelicacyofthefat16.Hewhohasachilddoesnotsleepinthewilderness.17.Sleepissostrongthatitevenovercomesthelunatic.18Tyhesatisfiedchildhasburnedthegranary.19.Thesameplateyouhaveservedinisthesameplatethatwillbeusedtoserveyou.20.Thebeastsstaysinthesugarplantationbutdoesnotknowthesweetnessofthesugarcane21.Eventhoughtheantistinyitcannotberobbedofitstermites.

Gikuyuproverbs1.Amanispoornotbecausehescornspossessionsbutbecausehepossessesnothing2.Eatingtoomuchleavesyouwithaswollenstomach.3.Aslaughterhouseisnotwithoutalittleblood.4.Onthewaytoone’sbelovedtherearenohills.


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5.Aparentdoesnotmindherchild’smucous6.Thescentofroastedmeatbrokethehyena’sleg.7.Hewhostealswithaboywillliveinfearuntiltheboyiscircumcised.8.Hewhostealswithawomanwillliveinfearuntilthewomandies.9.Thewomanwhohasasoredancesontheoutskirts.10.Bothhethatchasesandhethatischasedbecometired.11.Youdonotseekinformationfromahungryman.12.Anotherman’sornamenttirestheneck.13.Fromthesamewombcomeathiefandawitch.14.Onewhocannotjumpclaimsthatthefieldisstony15.Thetoothlaughsatthesightofaspear.16.Onewhonevertravelsthinksthatitisonlyhismotherwhoisagoodcook.17.Thereisnodifferencebetweengrowingoldandliving.18.Thepottermayusepiecesofapotforhercooking.19.Therestlessmongoosemissestheslaughteringceremony20.Afool’sstaffisusedbythewisemantosupporthisownwalk.21.Thewarriormaybetrippedbyamaizecomb.22.Adisunitedbattalionisbeatenwithoneclub.23.Heiscleverwhohaslistenedtoadvice.24.Toomuchsharpnesscutsthesharpener.25.Nobarbershaveshimself.Yorubaproverbs1.Onewhowantstodrinkporridgewillplaywiththechildwhosemotherispreparingit.2.Thestrongman’sheadisfullofscars.3.Letmetaste,letmetastefinishestheseeds.4.Notalleggslaidinthedryseasonhatchesout.5.Themonkeylaughsatthelongtailoftheoneinfrontofit.


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6.Thesweetnessofstolenthingsshouts.7.Hewhocomeslastdrinksmuddywater.8.Hewhohasdiarrheaknowsthedirectionofthedoorwithoutbeingtold.9.Bystumblingonit,thestumphaspushedforwardtherunner.10.Aratbitesandsoothsyouatthesametime.

Kalenjinproverbs1.Whilewaitingtoeattheheadofabull,wecontinueeatingtheheadofagrasshopper.2.Wedonotlookafteroutcropsuntiltheyhavebeeneatenbymonkeys.3.Ahyenacannotsmellitsownstench.4.Anelephantisbigyetitdoesnotgivebirthtotwins5.Weblindfoldacowwhenmilkingit.6.Acow’shornsdonotkillitcalf.7.Wedonotannoythemidwiveswhenwearestillbearingchildren.8.Nobodycanuseanother’steethtosmile.

Luhyiaproverbs1.Whereyouareguest,breakfastisnotright.2.Whateveratethedogsatethebelltoo.3.Whateveryoudenyandoldmanhemaywellhaveeatenitbefore.4.Whateveryoudenyachildhemaygrowtoeatit.5.Whatyouhide,youmayeatwithrats.6.Apersonwhoisfeelingcolddoesnotneedtobeshownthefire.7.Thatwhichrunsaloneclaimstobeagoodrunner.8.Thehenthatscratchesthegroundmayfindsomethingtoeat.9.Ifyoueatmushrooms,youaresureto,eatmaggots.10.Whenacleanpersonbreaksthewind,peopleoftenblamethedirtyperson.Intheirmidst.11.Hewhowaitsforhisdishtocoolsharesitwithvisitors.12.Abride’seyespretendnottohaveseen.13.Thepersonwhocannotclimbatreeeatstherawfruitsnearertheground.

Additionalproverbs1.Wealthisdew.2.Kingshipisdew.3.Tomarryistoputasnakeintoone’shandbag.4.Familynamesarelikeflowers:theyblossominclusters.5.Awifeislikeablanket;whenyoucoveryourselfwithit;itirritatesyou,whenyoucastnitasideyoufeelcold.6.Heisripeinsidelikeawatermelon.(Describesapersonwhohascometoaresolutionwithoutmakingitpublic).7.Theworminthekraalsays,”Iam anox”.8.Noflycatchesforanother.9.Themakerofasongdoesnotspoilit.


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10.Metalthatisalreadyweldedtogether,howonecanunweldit.11.Themanwiththedeepesteyescannotseethemoonuntilitisfifteendaysold.12.Heatefoodanditkilledhim.13.Thewon’t–be–oldmanseesbythebloodstain.14.You willnottheelephantmovingonyourhead,onlythe lousemoving onanother’s.15.Thewantforworktodomakesamangetupearlytosalutetheenemy.16.LittlerbylittlethetortoisearrivedattheIndianOcean.17.Onewhoexcretesontheroadwillfindflieswhenhecomesback.18.Nooneteachestheleopard’scubshowtospring.19.Theeyecrossesabigriver.

RIDDLESAriddleisashortsayingintendedtomakeoneusehiswitsinunravelingthehiddenmeaningInAriddle,thelistenerisfacedwithaquestionoranallusivesentencereferringtosomethingelsewhichtheymusttrytofigureout.Riddlesaretoldasapreludetothetellingofstories.Theycanalsobetoldinbetweenstories.Riddlesarealsoused inconversationstoissueveiled threats,conveysecreteinformationandasavehicleofhumour.

PerformanceofriddlesDifferentcommunities’differentwaysofperformingriddles.Kikamba:

Challenge:Kwatandai(takeariddle)Acceptance: (A)Nakwata(Itakeit)Riddle: Kavetikaninikanaanesakwimwenyu(Asmallonewhocooksbetterthanyourmother)Solution: Ninzuki(It’sbees)Kiswahili

Kitendawili (ariddle)A;tega(poseit)R:Kaahukunikaekuletumvuenguomshenzi.(Stayonthissideandmeontheothersidesothatwecanstripthisfool).Guesses:Bythecompetitortodeciphertheriddle.Ifheissuccessfulhewins;ifnot,heproceedswithnextstep.Prize:tothechallenger(mjioritija)whosolvesorrevealstheriddleinthenextstep.Solution:Nihindi.(It’samaizecob).

FUNCTIONSOFRIDDLES(A)EnvironmentaleducationRiddlesstem from observationandcomprehensionoftheenvironment.Eachcommunityusestheobjectswithinitsenvironmentinitsart.


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1.Mycamelistheshortestbutiteatsthetreeatthetop-Bird.2.WhenIslaughtermycow Idon’tthrow awayanything.Ieateverythingincludingthebones.-coconut.3.Myhousehasnodoor.-egg4.Littlethingsthatdefeatus.–mosquitoes.5.Waterstandingup.–sugarcane.

(a)LanguageTraining1.Howmanywheelsdoesacarhave?Five2.Aquestionyoucannotanswer“yes”Areyouasleep3.Thetwo-leggedsittingonthefourleggedwaitingforthefourlegged.-Abirdonacowwaitingforatick.

(a)Culturalnorms(b)1.Ihaveawifeeverybodyshehasabeard.-Themaizeplant.(c)2.ThedirtyFatuma.-Broom(d)3.Mydaughterwholeaveshungryandreturnfull.-Thewaterpot.(e)4.Mydaughterhasineyeonthehead -theneedle5.ThecolourfulAgnes.Thechameleon(d)Entertainment1.Thebaldheadedmanhasentered.Ugali2.Thewhiteladyisintheoffice–thejigger3.Myfather’slittlehillwhichiseasilydestroyed-porridge4.MagiregedewalksasifhewereproudWagon5.Shiligilishigi. –thewind.

(e)RecordofchangeTheseareriddlestherecordthechangesthathavetakenplaceinthesociety.1.Mytrainisrunninginthefiled.–thecentipede.2.OnarrivalatthestationIwasshoutedat-train.3.Alittlechapwhoplaysthetype-writer.–thetongue.CLASSIFICATIONOFRIDDLES

1.RiddlesonpeopleThewhiteladyisintheoffice-jiggerIpassedwhenMumia’swiveswerequarrelling-Weaverbirds

2.CulturalobjectsAsmallgourdfullofblood-atick.WhenIbeatmychildpeopledance-drum.

3.NaturalphenomenaWhattreehasonlyonethorn? -sisal.Ameetingunderarock-Thebeard

4.DomesticanimalsWhyhavetheytakenafew forgrazingandleftsomanyresting? -becausethey


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thesheep’sdroppingsMywhitemouthedcowissharedbyall -toothbrush

5.PartsofthebodyAsmallbushinhabitedbyanimals -thehead.GoroundonesideofthemountainwhileIgoroundtheotherbutweshallnevermeet.–theears.

6.PlantsWhattreehasonlyonethorn? -sisalIpassedwhenMumia’swiveswerepregnant. -Milletheads.

7.Modern Techno logy The saloo n car carrying whites only.Charcoaliron.

8.Howmanywheelsdoesacarhave?-fiveBirdsIpassedwhenMumia’swiveswerequarrelling. –weaverbirds.Mycamelistheshortestbutiteatsthetreeatthetop. –abird.

9.WasteproductsIcutatreeandlef6titsteaming. –humanwaste.Itsteamsbutitisnotlit. –freshcowdung

10.Interrogativeriddles:Theseareriddlesthatareintheformofquestions.Whattreehaswhyhavetheytakenafewforgrazingandleftsomanyresting?Becausetheyaresheep’sdroppings.

11.Declarativeriddles:Theseareriddlesintheform ofastatement.Mostoftheriddlesgivenbelowaredeclarativeriddles

12.Epigramaticriddles:Theseareriddlesthatarepresentedinaseriesofpuzzles.Ohthseones ripebananas.Ohthoseotherones.Waterinacave.

13.Idiophonicriddles:Theseareriddlesbasedonsounds.Ciandci.Cindano“aneedle”(inreferencetothesoundmadewhenaneedleisgoinginandoutofagarment).Magiregedewalksasthoughheisproud.–wagon.

Examplesofriddles1.Njorogethecarpenter.

–Abeetle.


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2.YouholdIhold. –Cuttingofmeatintopieces.3.Ciandci.(Quietnoisemadebyaneedlepassingthroughcloth).–

Aneedle4.Itcamefrom Kambalandinatie.

Thecrow,5.Onesideofthegourdiswhite. –

Chickendroppings.6.Ihavegoneroundtheforestwitharedmotorcycle.

Rainbow.7.Itwenthungryandcamebackfull.

Thesmallbagforgreens(vegetables.)8.Awinnowingtrayintheplain.

Anelephant’sfootprint.9.Itisupsidedownbutitdoesnotleak.

Acow’sudder.10.Theyfaceupasthoughtheyareabouttoleadasong.

Thehornsofcattle.11.Ihaveapersonwholivesbetweentwoswordsbuttheynevergetcut.

Thetongue.12.Icutatreeandleftitsmoking.

Humanexcreta.13.Ihaveahomewhereonlywomendwell.

Abananaplantation.14.Myhousehasonlyonepole.

Themushroom15.Thosethingsinthecavehaveonehundredeyes

Honeycombs.16.Anelephantwithoneear

Acup.17.Abundoisbusy,Abundoisharvesting.

Thelouse.18.Adundodancesandsheisrewarded.

Fire.19.IpassedwhenMumia’swiveswerequarrelling.

Weaverbirds.

20.IpassedwhenMumia’swiveswerepregnant. Milletheads21.Iwalk,runandrunperpetually.

Water22.Theratfamily’sgun.

Matchsticks.23.Ameetingunderarock.

Thebeard.Theoldmanwhocroaksatnight


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. Afrog24.Theoldmanwhocannotclimbahill.

Thehippo.25.Theoldmanwhoneverleavesbehindtheovercoat.

Thetortoise.26.Thesalooncarcarryingwhitesonly. Thecharcoaliron.

27.Themaidenwhomdiesaftergivingbirthonlyonce.Thebananatree.

28.Mydaughterwhoworkswithoutresting.Theheart

29.Thetwoleggedsittingonthefour-leggedwaitingfortheeight-legged.Abirdsittingonacowwaitingforatick

30.Itsteamsbutitisnotlit.Freshcowdung31.Whyhaveyoutakenafewforgrazingandleftbehindsomanyresting?

Becausetheyaresheep’sdroppings.32.Mywhite-mouthedcowissharedbyall.

Thetoothbrush.33.GoroundinsideofthemountainandIgoroundtheotherside,butweshall

nevermeet.Theears.34.Thereisabareplacewherenooneeversettlesifonedidsotherewouldbe

crying.Theeyes.35.Whattreehasonlyonethorn?36.Sisal.

36.Therockyonewitheightholes.Theheadofanelephant

37.WhenIbeatmychildpeopledance.Adrum.

38.Myhouseissmallbutithasmanyholes.Afishtrap.

39.Atreehasfallenfarawaybutitsbrancheshavebreachedhere.Newsofdeath.

40.Itcanneitherbeheldnorcaught.Smoke.

41.Ialwayshearbutcannotseehim.Wind.

42.Hereisarockandthereisarock.Thegrave.

43.Littlethingsthatdefeatus.Mosquitoes44.Waterstandingup.Sugarcane.

44.Thehouseinwhichonedoesnotturnaround.Thegrave

45.Thelittlechapwhoplaysthetypewriter.Thetongue.


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SimilaritiesbetweenProverbs1.Theyarebrief.2.Theyemployfigurativelanguage.3.Theyappearinfixedform.4.Theyexpresssomeobservationofphenomena.

Differences1.Riddlesareperformedinaformalstructureandpatternwithatleasttwoparties,whereoneisachallengerandtheotheronetherespondent.Proverbsontheotherhandareinfusedinspeech.2.Thebasicfunctionofriddlesissocializationandentertainment.Proverbs,ontheotherhandexpresscommunity’swisdomandworldview.3.Dueto thefunctionsmentioned in(2)above,riddlesarecommon amongchildrenwhileproverbsareusedmainlybyadults.

TonguetwistersTongue twisters are intended to testthe speaker’s fluency.Theyrequire thespeaker to utterwithouthesitation or faltering,a sequence ofwords withparticularproblemsofarticulation.Thesewordsthemselvesusuallyhavebasicmeaningusuallyofajocularnature,and partof‘fun’ofperformingtonguetwistersconsistsin thelikelihoodthatdistortion ofutterance,duetoarticulationproblem willresult indistortion orconfusionofmeaning.Tonguetwistersteaseourearsandourbrains.Onehastobeaverygoodlistenerinordertogetthesoundsofatonguetwistercorrectly.Onemustalsohaveagood memory to repeatitaccurately.Tongue twisters also requirealotofconcentration.Thisisbecauseoneofthemainproblemsinperformingthem isthatwhattheysayneednotmakesimple,logicalsense.Theemphasisismainlyontherattleofsounds.Tonguetwistershingemainlyonbothalliterationandassonance.Somehowever,maybebasedontonalvariations.FunctionsofTongueTwisters

1.LanguagetrainingTheyhelpintrainingchildrentobefluentinlanguage.Theyalsohelpinlanguagetherapyforchildrenwithspeechimpairment.

2.EntertainmentTonguetwistersofferentertainmentasperformersstruggletoarticulatethesyllablecorrectly.

3.EducationTonguetwistershelpinenhancinglisteningandmemoryskillsinchildren.Sometongue


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twistersalsomakereferencetopeople,animalsorobjectsfoundintheenvironment.Thishelpsinenvironmentalconservation.ExamplesofTongueTwisters.

1.Akawalaakaawakaawakuawaakaawakawa?(Luganda)ThegirlswhogaveKaawabitercoffee;whereisshefrom?

2.Walewatuwaliwaliwalawaliwaliwaliwao.(Kiswahili)Thoseverypeopleoftheheadmaneatthericeoftheheadman.

3.KanakaNikorokonakoramakokorakonakanakanikorakora. (Gikuyu)Nicholas’childfledafterspottingatadpole.ThetadpolealsofledafterspottingNichols’child.

4.Ugokagututugutatugututhirari?(Gikuyu)Whenwillyoucometohelpusslash?

5.Kanakaakokiakalukikookiakakikaakookakuukwakunakokokakokekakaku?(Kikamba)Koki,kaloki’schild,doyoufearthissmallflythathascometoyourplacewithverydirtyhands?

6.ShirikalarelilaRwanda.(Kiswahili)RwandaRailwayCorporation.7.Peterpleasepauseforproperapplause.

8.Theredlorryrolledalongthelimururoad.9.Shesellssea-shellsatthesea-shore10.Theshortsoldiershotthetallsoldierontheshoulder.

CHAPTERFIVEFIELDWORKINORALLITERATUREEverystudentoforalliteraturemustrememberthatoralliteratureisactualizedinPerformance.Thismeansthatallthesongs,riddles.Proverbs,tonguetwistersnarrativesetcstudiedinoralliteraturecoursemusthavebeencollectedfrom aspecificcommunityperhapsatspecifictimese.g.afuneral,weddingafamilyget-togetherorevenintheeveningaspartofrecreation.Ifno scholarorresearchereverwentouttocollectoralliteraturematerialsthenwewouldnothaveapoolofinformationonwhichtobaseourstudies.Westudydifferentgenresoforalliteraturebecausesomeonewentoutintothecommunityandcollectedanarrative,asong,orariddle.Thisprocessofgoingoutintothecommunitytocollectoralliterature materialsand relatedinformationforstudyandanalysisisreferredtoasfieldwork

IMPORTANCEOFFIELDWORK1.Wehavenotedabovethatoralliterature‘lives’inperformance.Whenitiswrittendownvariousaspectsarelost.Letustakeasongforinstance.Whenyouwatchalifeperformanceofasongyouenjoyandappreciatethesongmorebecauseapartfromthewordsofthesong,yougettohearthemelodyofthesong,thesinger’sbeautyofvoiceandmusicalaccompanimentse.g.drums.Youalsogettoseethecostumeswornbythesingers,themovementsthatgowiththemusicandtheinteractionbetweenthesingersandtheaudience.Oneisalsoable


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toassestherelevanceofthesongtotheoccasion.Whenthesamesongisputdowninwriting,onecananalyzethewords.Allotheraspectsarelost.Fieldworkenablesonetocapturetheaspects.

2.Inorderforsomeonetofullyappreciatetheoralliteratureofaparticularcommunity,heorshehastogetintouchwiththatcommunityandobservetheirculture.Thisisbecausesomeoftheirculturalaspectscouldexplainthenatureoftheformsoforalliteratureofvariouscommunities.ForinstanceonecouldappreciatewhytheMaasaioralliteraturedrawsheavilyfrom thepastoralworldbyobservingthecloseconnectionthatexistsbetweentheMaasaiandtheiranimals.

3.Formsoforalliteraturehavebeenpassedonfrom onegenerationto thenextthroughthewordofmouth.Thiswasespeciallysointhepast(especiallyintraditionalcommunities)whenoralliteraturewasmuchmorealive.Withchangesinlifestylesofpeopleandwiththeadventofurbanizationandtheemergenceofcosmopolitancommunities,thereisneedtorecordoralliteraturefrom pastgenerationsforposterity.Thiscanonlybeachievedthroughfieldwork.

4.Throughfieldworknewareasinoralliteraturearediscovered.Onemaysetoutto collectmaterialsonacertaingenreandendupdiscoveringnewareasorsomenatureofacertaingenreoforalliteraturehithertounknown.

5.Fieldworkfacilitatesthecreationofwideinformationbaseformsafoundationforamoreextensivecomparativestudyoforalliteratureofcertaincommunities.Bycomparingtheformsoforalliteratureofdifferentcommunitiesweareabletobetterappreciatetheculturaldiversityofourcountryandlearnfromoneanother.

6.Fieldworkinoralliteratureequipsthestudentwithskillsthatwillbeusefulinothersubjectslikegeography.

StagesinfieldworkPreparationstage:Thisistheinitialstagebeforegoingouttothefield.Thisstageinvolves:1.StatingthepurposeandscopeofresearchwhendeterminingthePurposeandscopeoffieldwork,thefollowingquestionsshouldbeconsidered:Whatisto becollected?(Allorsomeoftheformsoforalliterature?)andwhyismaterialbeingcollected?(Forcomparativeanalysisorforclassdiscussion?)2.Identifyingthelocationoffieldwork.Isitandurbanorruralarea?Isiteasilyaccessiblebymeansoftransportreadilyavailabletothestudent?3.Findingoutandfamiliarizingoneselfwithwhateverearlierresearchthathasbeencarriedoutonthesamesubjectfrom thesamecommunity.


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4.Specifyingthetime(season)whentocarryouttheresearch.5.Establishingcontactwithusefulpeopleintheintendedcommunityofresearchinorderto beableto accessinformantsandartistes,andalsoforlogisticalarrangements.Thusrequiresthatthestudentvisitstheareatotalktoprospectiveassistantsandinformantsandgaugetheirexpectations,competenceandattitudebeforedecidingonwhomtorelyonforassistance.6.Decidingonthekeymethodstobeusedincarryingoutthefieldwork.Themethodchosenwilldeterminethepriorarrangementshavetobemade.Forinstance,ifaquestionnairehastobeused,therewillbeneedtopreparealistofquestions,typethemoutandmakeenoughcopies.7.Securingofficialadministrativepermissiontoconductresearchinthechosenareafrom therelevantofficials,e.g.DistrictOfficerandChief.8.Budgetingforthefieldworkto indicateexpectedexpenditureontransport,accommodation,recordingmaterialsetc.9.Acquiringandgettingreadyrecordingmaterialse.g.penandpaper,taperecorder,cameraorvideoequipmentasnecessary.2.MaterialcollectionThis is done systematically using specific techniques such as observation,questionnaires,interviewsandparticipation.3RecordinginformationThisisdonebywriting,tapingorfilming.4.ProcessingThisisthescrutinyof information collected in preparation forinterpretation,documentationanddissemination.Processing includestranscription (putting downthe recorded materialin writingword forword)and translation (writing thematerialoutinthelanguageinwhichitwillbesharedoutandofferingthenearestequivalenceofmeaningandsense,usingtheidiom oflanguageoftranslation.5.AnalysisandinterpretationThisinvolves.1.Classifyingthecollectedmaterialintogenresandsub-genresusingspecificcriteria.2.Identifyingthemes,stylisticdevices,functionsetc.3.Interpretingtheinformation.4.Drawingconclusions.

KEYMETHODSOFCOLLECTINGORALLITERATUREMATERIALSItisimportantthatwedistinguishthedifferencebetweencollectingandrecording.Collectingreferstothemethodsusedbytheresearchertoelicitinformationfromtheinformantsorartisteswhilerecordingreferstothemeasurestakenbytheresearcherinensuringthatthematerialcollectedispreservedforfuturereference.Someofthemethodsusedincollectingoralliteraturematerialsinclude:ThequestionnaireThisreferstoalistofquestionsthatwillleadtogatheringimportantpiecesofinformationfromvarioussources.Thequestionnaireisusefulin,for


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instance,ingetting theinformant’sbiographicalbackground.Itcanbeadministeredineitheroftwoways:-Theinformantfillsitoutpersonally.-Thestudentfillsitinashe/sheinterviewstheinformant.Thequestionnaireisusefulingatheringinformationongenresthatdonotcallforspecificoccasions to be performed.These include proverbs and tonguetwisters.Theonlydisadvantagewiththequestionnaireisthatitcannotbeusedtocollectsongssinceitcannotcapturethevisualandaudioeffectsofsongs.

TheinterviewThisinvolvesmeetingthesourceofthe informationfaceto faceandverballyseekingtherequiredinformation.Aninterview canfollow astructuredpattern(thestudentmovingsystematicallythroughalistofquestions)orbeunstructuredandinformal (the studentconductsageneralconversationto probeforspecificinformationwhilerecordingtheinformationontapeorbywriting.)Interviews are importantespecially ifone wants to seek details aboutthepersonallifeofanartisteorincollectingproverbsandriddlesonecouldalsouseinterviewtocollectnarratives.

ParticipationTaking partin the performance is much favoured method ofcollectinginformation because itgivesthestudentachancetoexperiencethespiritoftheactualperformance.Italsoenhancestherapportbetweenthestudentandthecommunity.Byjoiningtheperformance,thestudentbridgesrelationalgapsandfindsiteasiertoseekand getinformationinafreeratmosphere.Butthestudentmustensure thatparticipation does distracthim/herfrom making a recording ofmaterial.

ObservationUnlikeparticipation,observationisamethodbywhichthestudentstandsaloofandrecordswhatisgoingonintheperformanceandinthecommunityinatlarge.Itisnecessarytoreinforcethismethodbyconductingfollow upinterviewsonobservationsmadetodeepeninsightsandclarifyissues.

KEYMETHODSINRECORDINGORALLITERATUREMATERIALSThereareavarietyofmethodsforrecordingyematerialcollected.Thechoiceofmethoddependsonanumberoffactorsincludingthepurposeofresearch,time availableto the studentandtotheinformants,fundsavailable,student’stechnicalcompetence,etc.Themostcommonoftheserecordingmethodsare:Writingthenmaterialdownasitcomesfromtheperformersandinformants.Recordinginformationonaudio,tape.FilmingorvideorecordingtheperformanceandinterviewsMemorizingthematerial.


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Problemsencounteredduringfieldwork1.Communicationbarrier.Thishappenswhenthestudentdesnotsharethesamelanguagewithhis/herinformants.Thisproblem couldbesolvedbygettingsomeonewhounderstandsthelocallanguagetoaccompanyyouduringfieldwork.2.Transportproblems.Thisisespeciallycommoninruralareaswheremeansoftransportarenotreadilyavailableorarenotregular.Poorweathercouldalsoinhibitmovement.Apriorvisitto the place in orderto familiarize oneselfwith thetransportsystem and thestateoftheroad willhelp theresearcherto takeappropriatemeasurestocountertheproblem.3.Suspicionbymembersofthepublicespeciallyinareaswherepeoplearenotusedtohostingresearchers.Thisproblem couldbesolvedbygettingoneofthelocalsespeciallyarespectable memberofthecommunitytoaccompany you.This willinspireconfidenceinyouandalsoreduceriskofsuspicion.4.Informantsdemandingcashormaterialrewardsfromtheresearcher.Oneshouldexplainbeforehandthatthisisanacademicexercise.Andthattherewillbenomaterialbenefitsthatwillaccruefromvolunteeringinformation.5.Lossofrecordingmaterialthroughtheftorotherwise.Youcouldasksomeonetoaccompanyyou.Thispersonwillactasyoursecuritydetail.6.Lack ofcredible informants.To solve this problem one oughtto haveinformantsonstandbyin case the one you chose disappoints you.This can be organizedduringthepreparationstageofthefieldwork.7.Diseaseofdiscomfortcausedbychangeofclimate.Oneshould bereadyforthis.Heshouldcarrywithhim thenecessarypreventiveorcurativemedicineandappropriateclothingtosuittheclimaticconditionsoftheresearcharea.8.Theadministrationmaydenytheresearcherpermissiontoundertakefieldworkinacertainarea.Onecouldalwaystryanotherareathatwouldproducethedesiredeffects.

CHAPTERSIXCOMMONLYASKEDQUESTIONSINORALLITERATURECharacterAnalysis(a)DiscussthecharacterofM’Bott-the-road.Supportyouranswerwithillustrationsfromthestory)(b)DescribethecharacterofChameleon


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(c)From youOralLiteraturefieldworkgivenamesofthreeanimalcharactersthatyouhavecomeacrossandmentionthemaincharactertraitsofeachanimal.(d)Whydoyouthinkanimalcharactersaregivenhumancharacteristics?(e)Compareandcontrastthetwocharactersinthisnarrative(f)Describethecharacterofthethirdwifeandshowhowitaffectstheeventsofthestory.(g)Identifyanytwocharactertraitsofthegirlinthisstory.Illustrateyouranswer.(h)WhatdoyoulearnaboutShakascharacterfromthisPoem?(I)IdentifyandillustratethreecharactertraitsofKaria.Whenansweringquestionsoncharacterization,youmustalwaysprovide

TRAITSandILLUSTRATIONS.Ordinarilyyoushould expectasetofoneofthetraitandaccompanyingillustrationstoearnyoumarks.Thisisnotalwaysthecasehenceyouneedtogiveasmanytraitsasyoucanget.Whenthenumberoftraitsyouaresupposedtogivehasbeenspecifiedforinstancein(g)above,youshouldsticktothenumberoftraitsgiven.NBAlwaysgiveatleasttwoillustrationsforeachtraitthatyougive.Describeeachtraitonitsown.Donotlumpthem togethere.g.Chameleonispatient,wiseandgenerous.Youshouldinsteadstartwiththetrait“patient”andthem offerillustrationsforIt,then move onto‘Wise’and do the same thing and then“generous,”againfollowingthesameprocess.Writefullsentences.Useshortparagraphs;onetraitshouldoccupyoneparagraph.Thismakesiteasyforthepersonmarkingyourworktofollow yourargument.Itisadvisabletounderlinethetrait.Thisagainassiststhepersonmarkingtoquicklypointouttheimportantpartsofyouranswer.Usethepresenttense.”Chameleoniswise……”not“Chameleonwaswise……”Itisadvisable(Perhapsevenlogical)tostartbygivingthetraitandnottheillustrations.

Featuresoforalnarratives/poetry(a)Identifyandcommentonanythreeoralfeaturesofthistale(b)Whatfeaturesoforalnarrativesareevidentinthisstory?(c)Identifyfourfeaturesinthisstorythatarecharacteristicoforalnarratives(d)Identifyanythreecharacteristicsoforalnarrativesinthisstory.(e)Identifyandillustrateanythreeliterarydeviceswhichmakethisnarrativeanoralpoem.(f)Whatfeaturesofthisstoryshowthatitisatraditionaloralnarrative?(g)Identifyandillustratetheoralfeaturesofthispoem.(h)Whatevidenceistherethatthisisanoralpoem?Identifyandillustrateany


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twosuchfeatures.Thefollowingarethecommonfeaturesoforalnarratives:

TheopeningFormulae:Alongtimeago,onceuponatime,Longago”,etc.Theopeningformulaeiseffective-Arrestingtheattentionoftheaudience-Introducingtheaudiencetotheworldofmakebelief-Identifyingthenarrator-Introducingthenarrative.

Theclosingformulae-Markstheendofthenarrative-Releasestheaudiencefromtheworldofmakebelief-Givesachancetothenextnarrator.Theuseofanimalcharacters(youmustmentionwhichanimalcharactershavebeenused)-Mostcharactersrepresentcertainmembersofsociety.Theelephantmayrepresentthemighty;theharemayrepresentthesmall/insignificantmembersofsocietywhosurvivebyusingtheircunning.-Itiseasiertopassthemessageto theaudiencewithoutoffendingthembypresentinganimalsinsteadofhumancharacters.Peoplecaneasilyidentifywithanimalssinceanimalsarereadilyavailabletothem.(Theycoexistwithanimals.)Theuse ofsong.Song is saidtobe a multi-purposeaspectofstyle inoralnarratives.

Thisisbecauseit.-Linksepisodesinanarrative-Revealsthecharactertraitsofthesingersorthosementionedinsongs.-Involvestheaudienceinthestory.-Helpstorelievetheaudienceofthetensionaccumulatedduringthenarration.-Attimescouldbeusedtocreatesuspensebyheighteningtheintensityofcertainpartsofthenarrative.-Breaksthemonotonyofthenarration.Elementsoffantasy/Useofthesupernatural-Innarrativestheremaybecertainthingsthatthecharactersmaydothatappearto beintherealm offantasy.Forinstanceasnakemaybeseencrying,orastonetalkingtopeople.Onemayravenfindtreesintheforestsinging.Inoralliterature,anythingispossible.Presenceofmorallesson-Ineverystoryyouwillfindalessonthattheaudiencearesupposedtolearnfrom it.Thelessoncouldbedirectlygivenorimpliedinthestory.Seethenextsectionforthepresentationofthelesson.


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Thefollowingarethecommonfeaturesoforalpoetry.Repetition-Inoralpoetrycertainpartsofthepoem arerepeatedtoform thechorusortoemphasizetheirimportance.Repetitioncouldalsobeusedtoensurerhythm inthepoem.

Hyperbole.-Someaspectsfoundinoralpoetrymayappearexaggeratedorevenfantastic.Forinstanceinpraisingapersonimagessuchas“heisthunder”or”thelionofthevillage”maybeused.Insatiricalsongssomeonemaycastintheextreme.

Directaddress-Onemayencounterphrasesthatimplythepresenceofalivingaudience.E.g.KamausonofWambuiwerewenottogetheratManyani(detention)?

Morallesson.-Likeoralnarrativesoralpoetryusuallycontainamorallesson.Someofthemaremarkedanonymousastheyarenotproductofanindividualbutthecollectivepropertyofthecommunity.

Freetranslation-SomepoemsmaycontainphrasesorwordsthatareinStandardEnglish.Thisisbecausewhiletranslatingthepiecesinquestionfrom the sourcelanguageintoEnglish,anartistmaychoosetotranslatewordforwordresultinginphrasesthatmaynotbereadilyaccessibletoEnglishe.g.“whenthesunstoodinthemiddleofthevillage”i.e.atnoonor“shewasmeasuredadressatChogoria”

Referencetolocalplacesandnamesofpeople.-Mostoralpoemsweremeantforaparticularaudience.Thiscouldforinstancebemembersofthesamevillageorpeopleofthesameagegroup.Forthisreasononemayencounternamesofpeopleandplacesthathemaynotbefamiliar.

Morallessons(a)Mentiontwolessonsthatwelearnfromthistale.(b)Withillustrations,identifythreelessonsthatcanbelearntfromthisnarrative.©Innotmorethatfivesentences,statewhatthemainmessageofthestoryyouheardwas.(d)Whatmorallessondoyoulearnfromthisstory?(e)Stateandillustratetwomorallessonsyoucanlearnfrom thisoralpoem.(f)Mentionanytwomorallessonslearnedfromthisoralstory.(g)Stateonethemeofthisnarrative.Whenaskedtostatethemorallessons,youshouldaskyourselfthefollowingquestions:WhatistheaudiencesupposedtolearnfromthisstoryORWhydidthenarratorchoosethisstory?You mayuseaproverbto summarisethe lesson oruseaplain statementtopresent


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it.Afterthatyouaresupposedtosupportthelessonstatedwith

ILLUSTRATIONSFROM THETEXT.DoNotstatelessonsthataretoospecificasnottobeuniversal,E.g.-Weshouldbeobedientsoasnottobepunishedbyourparents.-Weshouldnotstealbecauseifwearecaughtwewillbekilled.-WeshouldobeyGodbecauseifwedonot,thenGodwillpunishus.Intheexamplesabove:itdoesnotfollow thateverytimeweobeyourparentswearepunishedoreverytimesomeoneiscaughtstealingheiskilled.

Examplesoflessonslearntinclude:-WeshouldrespectGod--Weshouldbedutiful--Oneshouldnotcryoverspiltmilk-Wisdomisstrength-Youreapwhatyousow-WeshouldbegratefulWhenillustratingthelessons,youshouldfollowthreesteps:-Statethelesson-Statewhodidnotactaccordingtothelessonlearned.-Explaintherepercussionsofnotactingaccordingtothelessonlearnt.ForExample:“From thestorywelearnthatweshouldbegrateful.Inthisstory,theanimalsshowedingratitudetotheirgodCheptailelbynotgiving partoftheirharvestasasign ofgratitude.Becauseoftheir ingratitudetheywerepunishedwithaseveredrought.Citingproverbsthatsummarisethelessonslearned(a)Giveoneproverbfrom youfieldworkandexplainhow itappliesinanylessonyouhaveidentifiedin(c)above(b)StateandexplainaproverbthatcouldbeusedtowarnthepeopleofRanisi.(c)Giveoneproverbthataccuratelysummarisesthistheme.

Whenaskedtosummarisethelessonlearntusingaproverb,youhaveto:-Statethelessoninplainlanguage.-Satetheproverb-Explainthemeaningoftheproverb.-Explainhowitcouldbeusedtosummarizethemessagethatyouhaveidentified.

Forexample-Thelessonlearntinthis narrative is thatthosewho havecertain weaknessesshouldnotcastigateotherswhoseem tohavethesameweakness.Aproverbthatcouldbe


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usedtosummarizethislesson is“Thosewho livein glasshousesshould notthrowstones.”Inthisnarrative,weseethehyenacastigatingthehareforhisgreed. Heevenwantshimkilled.Lateronweseethehyenabeingvilifiedforbeinggreedy.Thehyenacanthusbecomparedtoapersonintheproverbwholivesinaglass-houseandisbusythrowingstones.Hewillonlysucceedinharminghimself.-Youmustalwaysexplainhow theproverbsummarizesthemessagelearntevenwhenyouhavenotbeenasksto.

Aspectsofperformance(a)Withreferencetoaperformanceofanarratoryouhavewatched,statewaysinwhichsheorhemadehisorhernarrativelively.(b)Trytopictureyourselfasthestory-tellerchargedwiththeresponsibilityofnarratingthisparticularstory.Whatstorytellingdeviceswouldyouemploy?(c)Ifyouwereto doasolo performanceofthisoralpoem,what wouldyouemphasise?

Someaspectsofperformanceinclude-Changeofvoicetoimitatethedifferentcharacters(mimicry)-Useoffacialexpressionstocapturedifferentemotions-Dramatizationoruseofgesturestocapturetheactioninthestory-Useoftonalvariationtocapturedifferentmoodsinnthenarrative.-Involvementoftheaudiencethroughaskingofquestionsorinvitingthem tojoininthesinging(ifthereisasonginthenarrative)-Whengivingthesetypesofaspectsofperformance,youmustpointoutexactlywhichpartsofthetexttheaspectswouldbeemployedin.Ifyoufailtodothis,thenyouwon’tgetanymarks.

-Forexampleonecansay“Iwouldusemyhandsandlegstodramatizetheogrerunningaftertheboy.Iwouldusemyhandstoenactthekillingoftheogrebythewarrior.Iwouldalsovarytoneofmyvoicetocapturethepanicoftheboyashewasbeingchasedbytheogre.Iwouldusefacialexpressionstoexpressthejoythattheboyfeltathavingbeingrescuedfrom theogre”

CLASSIFICATIONOFORALLITERATURE

(a)Whattypeoforalnarrativeisthis?Givereasonforyouranswer.(b)Explainwhythisnarrativecouldbeclassifiedaslegend(c)Whatdoyouunderstandbythewordgenreinoralliterature?(d)Identifytwotypesoforalnarratives.


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(e)Giveanexampleandashortexplanationofeachtypeyouhaveidentified.(f)Whattypeoforalpoemdoyouthinkthisis?Giveareasonforyouranswer.(g)Whatkindoforalpoemisthis?-Youareexpectedtodemonstrateamasteryofthevariousclassesthatarethereinoralliterature-Apartfrom merely stating them;you should also be able to give reasonsjustifyingyouchoiceofclassification.

Economicactivities(a)Listtheeconomicactivitiesofthecommunitydepictedinthisoralnarrative.(b)Describetheeconomicactivitiesofthecommunityinthisstory.(c)Identifytwosocio-economicactivitiesofthecommunityinthisnarrative.-Whenaskedtostatetheeconomicactivitiesofthecommunityfrom whichanarrativeorpoem istakenyouaresupposedtogothroughthepoem ornarrativeandlookforpointers.Forinstance,ifcowsarementionedinthenarrative,thentheeconomicactivitycouldbelivestockkeeping.Ifmaizeismentioned,thenperhapsthiscommunitypracticesarablefarming.-Youmustshow how youarrivedatyourconclusionsabouttheeconomicactivitiesevenwhenyouhavenotbeenaskedto.Mostcandidateslosemarksforeassumingthattheexaminerhasreadthenarrativeandthereforemustknowhowtheyarrivedattheanswer.-You havetoassumethattheexaminerhasnotreadthenarrativeand issolelyrelyingontheinformationthatyouaregivinghim.

Theaudience(a)Whatkindofaudiencewouldthisnarrativebesuitedforandwhy?-Whenanswering thisquestionyouhaveto askyourselfthefollowingquestion:Whatclassofpeopleinsocietywouldbenefitfrom thelessonslearntinthisnarrativeorpoem?ORgiventhelanguageused,whichmembersofsocietyarelikelytodrawmostbenefitsfromthetext?-Thenarrativeorpoem couldbesuitableforchildren,theyouth,elders,girls,boys,youngmenorwomenetc.-Themostimportantthinghereisthatyouareabletoidentifythecorrectgroupandsupportyourchoiceofaudiencewithevidencefrom thetext.Mostcandidateslosemarksfromerelystatingthegroupthattheythinkwouldbestbenefitfrom thetextwithoutgivingthereasonswhy.Thisistreatedasmerespeculation.

Reasonsforstudyingoralliterature(a)Statetworeasonswhyyouthinkitisimportanttostudyoralliteratureinschool.-teachingaboutculture-makingusgainsconfidenceinourculture


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-Teachculturalvaluesormorals-Teachinggoodneighbourliness-Provideheroesforustoemulate-Teachesabouthistoryofthepast-Teachesusabouttheworldofourancestors-Teachesusaboutourselves-Entertains-Sharpenswit/speech/creativity/listeningandlanguageskills.-Afterstatinganyofthepointsabove,youshouldofferashortexplanationforthepointssated.-Forinstance:-Oralliteratureteachesusaboutourculture.Bylisteningtonarrativeswegettoknowthedifferenteconomicactivitiespracticedbythecommunity.Someoftheculturalpracticesforinstanceweddingceremoniesandsomeofthevaluesthatthecommunitiesapprovedof.Alltheseareimportantaspectsofculturethatgetstousviathestudyoforalliterature.

Generaladvicetocandidates1.Pleasebeneat.Neatworksgivesagoodimpression.Untidyworkmay

easilyputofftheexaminer.Rememberyoursisnottheonlyscriptbeingmarked.

2.Planyouranswersbeforewritingthem down.Thisensuresthatyouarelogicalandthatyouwriteexactlywhatyouintendtosay.Donotbeinahurrytofinish.Usuallytherewillbeenoughtimeto finishthepaperatacomfortablepace.

3.Wherepossibleunderlinetheimportantpointsinyouanswer.Thiswillhelpindrawingtheattentionoftheexaminertotheanswerandmaysimplifyhiswork.

4.IfyoudonotimmediatelygettheanswerstoacertainquestionDON’TPANIC!Youarenottheonlyoneintheroom facedbytheproblem.InsteadofpanickingTHINKthrough theproblem itisbyfarthemostprofitablewayofgoingabouttheproblem.

5.Rememberthatinliterature,markslieinILLUSTRATION!Shouldyouforgeteverythingelseinthehandbook,keepthispointinmind.

ORALLITERATUREMODELPAPERSEXERCISEONEReadthefollowingnarrativeandthenanswerthequestionsthatfollow.THEFALLOFTHEDOGInthebeginning,thedogusedtobeoneofGod'sfavouritecreatures.Hewasnotcalled


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dogasheiscallednow,butwascalledLenanu,forhewasverymuchpampered.Andsinceheavenandearthwerenotasfarapartastheynoware,LenanuusedtopayfrequentvisitstoMan,afterwhichhewouldreturntoheavenwhereheresided.Oneday,GodcalledLenanutohimandsaid,"Myfavouriteone,youmaytalktoManasyouplease,butdon'tyouevertellhimofthegentle-one,forIdonotwanttopartwithher."Lenanusaid:"Verywell,Iwillnevertellhim."Butassoonashewasinthecompanyofhisfriend,Man,LenanucouldnotkeepGod'ssecret.Hesaidtohim,"Man,shallItellyousomething?Godhasonethingthathedidnotgiveyou,andwhichhecallsthegentle-one.Thiscreatureisveryfatandhumblebutifeveryoumanagetoprocureit,allyourproblemswillgoaway.Goandaskforit,forHewillnotdenyThereuponManwenttorequestGodforthegentle-one."OhGod,"hepleaded,"Ihavecometoaskyoutogivemethegentle-one."GodwasstartledbythisrequestandaskedMan,"Whotoldyouofthatgentlecreature?""ItisLenanuwhotoldme,"Mananswered.GodthensentMantogoandcallLenanu,andhespoketohimthus:"Lenanu,youhaveindeedletoutthesecretofmygentle-onewhichIbidyounevertotell!"Lenanukeptmumoutofshameasthoughhewasnottheonewhowasbeingspokento."Becauseofwhatyouhavedone,"Godcontinued,"Iwillmakeyouadog.Fromthisverydayyouwillnotresideinmyhome,butyouwillgotoearthandbe aservantto Man,and foryourfood youwillfeedonexcrement."Onhearingthis,Lenanuregrettedhisactionsverymuch,butwasitnottoolate?LenanuthensaidtoGod,"Ohfather,nowthatyouhaveindeedcursedme,Ihavefourthingstorequestofyou,sothatIcanatleastsurvive.Grantmeanosethatcanwithstandthedistastefulsmellofexcrementnowthatyoufateittobemyfoodgrantmeanosethatcandetectthescentoffoodfromlongdistances,sothatIdonotdiefromstarvationgrantme,too,hairsthatfaceonedirectionsothatifIamdelayedatthehuntIcanmaneuverthroughthethornfenceswithoutmyhairsgettingcaughtbetweenthorns,for,asyouknow,noonewishestoletservantsinatnight.AndthelastthingthatIshallaskofyouisanagileandlightbodythatcangoacrosswatersandsqueezethroughnarrowspacesnowthatyouhavedisownedme."Godthensaidtodog,"Ihavegrantedyouallthatyouhaveaskedfor,butblamenoone,foryouhaveremovedyourselffrom ahousethatwasalreadybuilt."ThatwashowLenanafelloutoffavourwithGodandearnedthename'dog',andwasthrowndowntoearthtoserveMan."Thereasonwhythedogateexcrementisnotforlackofsoundadvice,itisbecauseheatethedeafear."ThiswasalsothetimewhenManprocuredthegentle-one,whichhelaterrenamed'sheep'.

Questions1.HowwastherelationshipbetweenGodandMan,andbetweenGod?andLenanu?2.Whatstylisticdevicehastheauthorused?3.Howhasthewriterusedpersonification?4.HowwouldyoudescribeLeannescharacter?5.Whatdoyouthinkthewritermeantwhenheusedthefollowing


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Sentences:(i) "Youremovedyourselffromahousethatwasalreadybuilt'(ii) "Thereasonwhythedogateexcrementisnotforlack ofsoundadvice,itisbecauseheatethedeafear"Thefollowingsentencesinthenarrativeareindirectspeech.Changethemintoindirectspeech.a) Mansaid,"Ihavecometoaskyoutogivemethegentle-one'b)"Lenana,youhaveindeedletoutthesecretofmygentle-onewhichIbidyounevertotell!"Godsaid.c)"Becauseofwhatyouhavedone,"Godcontinued,"Iwillmakeyouadog.-"d)Lenanusaid,"Nowthatyouhaveindeedcursedme,Ihavefourthingstorequestofyou,sothatIcanatleastsurvive."c)Goddeclared,"Fromthisverydayyouwillnotresideinmyhome,butyouwillgotoearthandbeservanttoman."Givethemeaningofthefollowingwordsandphrasesasusedinthenarrative'pampered keptmum bid renamedreside manoeuvre procure agilestartled felloutoffavour1.TherelationshipbetweenGodandmanwasnotveryfirmbecausethereisasecretGoddidnotwantmantoknowButtherelationshipbetweenGodandLenanuwasintimateforLenanuwasGod'sfavouritecreaturetowhomHetoldeverything.

2.ThefollowingareexamplesofstylisticdevicesusedbythewriterUseofdirectspeech,e.g.,"Verywell,Iwillnevertellhim."Useoffigurativelanguage,e.g.,"...ahousethatwasalreadybuilt.""...heatethedeafear".Useofpersonification,e.g.,ThedogpaysvisitsandtalkslikeamanUseoffantasy,e.g.,Lenanupaysvisittomanonearthandreturnstoheaven.

3Thewriterhasusedpersonificationbygivingthedoghumanqualities.e.g.,ThedogcantalktomanandGod.

4.-Lenanuwasfriendly;heusedtovisitmanfrequently-Hewasaliar,hecheatedGodthathewouldkeeptheirsecret.-Hewasunfaithful;herevealedGod'ssecretdespitethepromisehehadmadenottodoso.-Hewasremorseful/repentant;heregrettedandwasashamedofhisactions-Hewaspolite;hepleadedwithGodandrequestedHimtogranthimafewthingsinordertosurvive.

5."Youhaveremovedyourselffromahousethatwasalreadybuilt.".ThissentenceisusedtoshowLenanuhisfoolishactionforheusedtoliveincomfortinGod'shousewherehewasthefavouritecreature.Hisactionshavecausedhimproblemsforhewould,fromthenon,fendforhimselfandserveman.


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"Thereasonwhythedogateexcrementisnotforlackofsoundadvice,itisbecauseheatethedeafear."ThissentencemeansthatthedogsufferedforhedidnotheedGod'sadvice.

6.a)MansaidthathehadgonetoaskHimtogivehim(man)thegentle-one.b)GodtoldLenanuthathehadindeedletoutthesecretofHisgentle-onewhichHebidnevertotell.c)Godcontinuedandsaidthatbecauseofwhathe(Lenanu)haddone,Hewouldmakehimadog.d)LenanusaidthatnowHe(God)hadindeedcursedhim,he(Lenanu)hadfourthingstorequestofHimsothathecouldatleastsurvive.e)Goddeclaredthatfromthatveryday,he(Lenanu)wouldnotresideinHishomebuthewouldgotoearthandbeservanttoman.7.pampered- overprotected/spoiltbycuddlingreside - liveprocure - obtain/acquirestartled - surprisedreprimandedrebukedsharplyKeptmumkeptquietWithstandresistManeuvermoveskilfullyagilenimble/active/quickfelloutoffavournolongertreatedwithpartiality/nolongerfriends.

EXERCISE2Lookatthefollowingproverbsfromvariouslanguagecommunitiesandwritedowntheirapplication.Forexample:

1.Guthimbalikuura(Gikuyu)HavingcloudsisnotthesameashavingrainApplication:Thisproverbisusedtowarnpeopleagainstmakingmajorplansforthingsthathavenothappened.TheEnglishequivalentofthisproverbis"Don'tcountyourchickensbeforetheyhatch.”

2.Wekseiurwomboket(Nandi)Whatyoudotometodaymightbedonetoyoutomorrow.Application:Thisproverbisusedtoadvisepeopletotreatotherswell.ABiblicalequivalentofthisproverbis"Dountoothersasyou


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wouldwantthemtodountoyou"3 MurnerataOlaiyioniootamenve.(Maasai)Aboyisneverreallycircumcisedwhilehisfatherisstillalive.4 Meetaemotonyinerneiroekenyua.(Maasai)Thereisnobirdthatdoesnottalkatdawn.5.Medung'unoyuen'uditioitoi.(Maasai)Onedoesnotmakeawalkingstickwhileontheway.6.Unyinyinotaunmu(Gikuyu)Youthislikefoolishness.7Hatirikiegakiurnagahega.(Gikuyu)Nothinggoodcomeseasily.8.Rurigirwetagiririamukwa.(Gikuyu)Astringcoulddowhileyouwaitfortherope9.Bintombiamochikare.(Gusii)Thingsareforthosewholivelong.10.Mwanaabandemaniriamakendu.(Gusii)Anotherperson'schildiscoldmucus.11.Nyumbanjemasimlango.(Kiswahili)Agoodhousecannotbejudgedbyitsdoor.12.UmqjaniNguvu.(Kiswahili)Unityisstrength.13.Chemachajiuza,kibayachajitembeza.(Kiswahili)Agoodthingsellsitself,abadthingpersuadespeopletobuyit14.Nandaulilakalikushilaekombe.(Luhya)Onewhodoesnotlistenwillhavehisearsopenedintheafterworld.15.Nandakaywayatsianakoebukhwe.(Luhya)Hewhocannotbeadvisedwillgovisitinghisin-lawsinamess.16.Nzuyukhaneyayiaameno.(Luhya)Hewhohurriesup.getshisteethburned.17.Kwamwikathiikuyaangunguni.(Kamba)Youcannotmissliceinthehouseofabraggart.8.Ndukatumiemwanautemusyaengoi.(Kamba)Donotmakeababy-carrierbeforethebabyisborn.19.Syalisyaitinaitileaunywamuluu(Kamba)Thelastonesareboundtodrinkthemuddywater.20.Choseitanyagobokelyenang'wan.(Nandi)Toerrishuman.21.Makibelchindoskorokonaeng.(Nandi)Noonecanservetwomastersatatime.22.Kirigikirinjagagitiagagagiakwooga.(Meru)Aropelyingoutsidemaybeuseful.23.Nzorukaremazwanipebeze.(Giriama)Anelephantalwayscarriesitstusks.24.MviIwanjenaoniomonimfwanya.(Taita)


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Theoneyouarebornwithistheoneyoudiewith.25.Lookingataking'smouth,onewouldthinkheneversuckedathis'mother'sbreast.(Ibo)26.Thosewhosepalm-kernelswerecracked/orthem byabenevolentspiritshouldnotforgettobehumble.(Ibo)27.Abirdinhandisworthtwointhebush.(English)28.Astitchintimesavesnine.(English)c) Lookfortenmoreproverbsfromvariouslanguagecommunities.GivetheirdirecttranslationintoEnglishandtheirapplications

Answers1.Thisproverbisusedtoemphasizetheauthorityoftheeldersinthecommunity.Italsowarnsagainstconflictbetweenoldpeopleandtheyouth..2.Thisproverbcautionspeoplewhospeaktoomuchbutinactualfactsaynothingworthwhile.Itisusedtodiscourageidletalk.3.Properarrangementsforatripshouldbemadebeforeonestartsoffbutnotontheway.Theproverbisusedtoencouragepeopletoplanthingsbeforedoingthem.4.Thisproverbisusedtoshowthelittlewisdom theyouthhaveintheeyes oftheelders.Mostofthethingsthattheyouthdoaredonefrom lackof wisdom.Youthereforecannotpunishapersonfordoingsomethingoutoffoolishness/ignorance.5.Thisproverbadvisespeopletoworkhardforunlessoneisreadytoworkhardanddirtyhishands,hewillnotacquirewhathedesiresinlife.6. Thisproverbmeansthatyoushouldutilizethelittlehelpthatyougetand;thatyoushouldnotrejecthelpevenwhenitseemstobeinsignificant.7.Thisproverbisusedtoemphasizeandencouragethequalityofpatience.Peoplewithpatiencealwaysbenefitintheend.8.Thisproverbisusedtoshowthatyoucannottreatanotherperson'schildexactlyasyourown.Itremindspeoplenthatitisnaturaltoconsiderone'schildfirst.9.Thisproverbisusedtowarnpeoplenottojudgeothersorthingsmerelybytheiroutwardappearance.Whatmightlookgoodorattractiveontheoutsidemightnotbethesameontheinside.10.Thisproverb isused toadvisepeopleto beunited in orderto overcomeproblems.Whenpeopleareunited,itbecomesdifficulttodestroythem.11.Thisproverbcautionspeopleagainsttalkingtoomuchaboutthemselves.Agoodpersonwillbejudgedfromhisorhergoodactionsandbehaviour.12.Inthisproverb,oneisadvisedtolistentoadviceorelseitwillbeveryembarrassingwhenhefindshimselfinasituationthatrequireshimtobehaveinaspecialway.13.Thisproverbtoowarnsapersonagainstdisobedience.Ifonedoesnotlistentoadvice,hewilldiscoverthetruthwhenheisinatotalmess.14.Thisproverbcautionsonetodothingsslowlybutcarefullyinordertodothemwell..Workdoneinahurryendsupbeingshoddy.15.Theproverbisusedtocautionpeopleagainstpraisingthemselvesfortheyhave


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weaknesseswhichtheydonotpointout.16.Theproverbcautionspeopleaboutmakingtooelaboratepreparationsinregardtoananticipatedhappening.Thisistoavoidembarrassmentincasethereisfailure.17.Thisproverb isusedtocautionpeopleagainstarrivinglate atafunctionorappointment.Suchpeopleshouldnotcomplainiftheymissthefunctionoriftheygetthedregs/leftovers.18.Thisproverbmaybeusedtoconsolesomeonewhohasdonesomethingwrongunintentionally.Itmayalsobeusedtocautionthosewholaughatothers'mistakes.19.Theproverbisusedtoadvisepeopletodoonethingatatimeinordertosucceed.20.Peopleusethisproverbtoadvisepeoplenottodiscardthingsthattheyarenotusingforsuch thingsmaybehandyinfuture.Italsoemphasizestheimportanceofeachmemberofthefamilyregardlessofhisage,sexorsize.21.Theproverbisusedtoencourageotherstoacceptwhatmayhappentothem.Itisalsousedtomencouragepeopletodotheirworkwellnomatterhowhardthejobmightbe22.ThisproverbisusedtoremindpeoplethatpeoplewithbloodrelationsarecloseandwillalwayssidewitheachotherAnEnglishequivalentofthisproverbis,"Bloodisthickerthanwater".23.Thisproverbisusedtoencouragepeopletoworkhardinordertorisefrompoverty.Thisproverbisusedinasocietywhereeveryindividualisgivenachancetobecomeimportantthroughhardwork24 Thisproverbcautionsthosethatareluckyandhavebecomerichnottolookdownuponthepoorpeople.Thepoorpeoplearejustunfortunate25 Thisproverbisusedtoadvisepeopletomakeuseofwhattheyhave,nomatterhowlittle,andnottostayidlewaitingforbetterthingsthatmightnevercomeatall.26.Theproverbisusedtocautionpeopleagainstleavingthingsundone:itadvisespeopletocorrecterrorswhentheyhappen.Thisisbecauseifworkisleftundoneforlong,itwillbedifficulttodo.Again,ifanerrorisnotcorrectedwhenithappens,itwillgrowoutofhandtherebymakingitmoredifficulttocorrect.

EXERCISE3Readthenarrativebelowandthenanswerthequestionsthatfollow.KONYEKIANDHISFATHEROnceuponatimetherewasanogrewhousedtoturnhimselfintoahandsomeyoungman.Onedayheattendedatraditionaldanceinaneighbouringvillage.Hewassmartlydressedandhedancedsowellthathebecamethecentreofattractionformostofthe girls present.One girlwas soattracted tohim thatshedancedwith himthroughout.Sheevenbecamefuriousifheapproachedanothergirlforadance.Whentheyweredancingthelastdance,he requested herto accompany him to hishousetoseehishouseandgreethismother,withapromisethathewouldtakeherbackhomeafterthevisit.Theogrewassocourteousthatthegirlbelievedhim.Apartfromthis,hewassoattractivethathehadconqueredherheart.Afterthelastdance,theysetofftowardstheogre'shome.Theywalkedandwalkedpa...pa...pa...kilometreafterkilometre,acrossrivers,hillsandvalleys.Thegirlwasgettingtiredandshestoppedandaskedhim howfarhishousewasfromwhereshestood.Hetold herthathishomewasashortdistanceaway.Itwastrue


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becauseafterashortdistance,shesawalonelyhouseinthemiddleofaforest.Hepointedatthehouseandtoldherthatthatwashishome.Thehousewaslockedfromtheoutsideandtherewasnosignoflife.Hesaidthathismotherhadlockedthehouseandgonetothefarm.Heaskedhertowaitoutsideandexcusedhimself.Hewentintothehouse,sayingthathewasgoingtowarm thehouseforher.Shewaitedoutsideandatthetimeshebegantoshiver.Somethinginsidehertoldherallwasnotwellandshebecamesuspiciousoftheyoungman.Hecameoutofthehouseandinvitedherinside.Whenshewassettled,heexcusedhimselftogooutformorefirewoodfortheroom wasstillcold.Hemadesurehelockedthehousefromoutside.Afterheleft,thegirlgotcurious and started looking around.To herhorror,shefoundhuman skullsandlimbstuckedunderthebed.Shebecamesoscaredthatshefainted.Whenshecameto,shefoundherselfonabed.Theogrehadremovedtheartificialhairhehadputonduringthedance,therebyexposinghisothermouthatthebackofhishead.Shestartedcryingandsayingtoherselfthatshewishedshehadheededhermother'sadviceandthatallthatglittersisnotgold.Itwastoolatenowandtherewasnopointcryingoversplitmilk.Shestoppedcryingandpleadedwiththeogrenottoharmherandtolethergohome.Theogretoldhertosavehertearsforshewashiswifefrom thenon.Shecouldnotleavebecausehethreatened tokillherandherfamilyifsheranawayfromhimShedreadedherstaytheredaybydaybutshehadnoalternativebuttostay.Shestayedintheogre'shouseandaftersometime,shegavebirthtoababyboywhom shecalledKonyekiWhenKonyekigrew up,hetookafterthefather.Hehadhisfather'scharacteristicsbutwasmuchmoreinquisitiveandgreedy.Heandhisfatherusedtogototheforesttohuntforallsortsofcreatureswhichtheyusedtobringhomeforthemothertocook.Themotherdetestedthethingstheyateandshenevertasted any ofthem Sheusedtocookherownfoodm Oneday,Konyeki'smaternalauntcametovisithersisterafteralongsearchforherShemetKonyeki'smotheroutsidethehousedryingsomeanimalskins.Whentheymet,theycriedon each other's shoulderswith happiness.Afterexchanging greetings andenquiringabouttheothermembersofthefamily,Konyeki'smothertoldherhowshecametotheogre'shouseandhowshehadanotheryoungerogre,worsethanthefather.TheystayedhappilytogetheruntillateafternoonwhenKonyeki'smothertoldhersistertoleavefortheogreswereabouttoreturnhome.Shetoldthesistertoresthalf-waythejourneyonathicktreeandwaitthereuntiltheogreshadpassed.Shetoldherthatsometimestheyusedtorestunderthetree.Incasetheydid,shewasnottomaketheslightestnoiseunderanycircumstancesheaskedherwhetherthatwasclearandthesisternoddedherheadinagreement.Shethenlefthersister,Konyeki'smother,withtearsinhereyes.Whenshereachedthethicktree,shedecidedtorestasshewasaskedtodobyhersister.Sheclimbed thetreeandmadeherselfcomfortablebysitting on a thickbranch.Thetree'sthickfoliageconcealedherpresence.WhenKonyekiandhisfathercame,theydecidedtorestabitunderthetreewhenthewomansaw theiruglyfacialfeaturesandespeciallytheirmouths,shestarted


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urinatingandtheurinefellonKonyeki'shead.Hewonderedwhetherithadstartedraininghotrainandhelookedupthetree.Hesawalegdanglingupthetree.Hisfatherhadastiffneckandhethereforewasnotinterestedinlooking up.Hefeltexcruciatingpainanytime hemoveditKonyeki.Ignoring hisfather'sindifferenceclimbedthetree,aslow,shysmilecreepingaroundthecornersofhismouth.Thewomanheldtightly ontothetreetrunkbutKonyekiwascunning.Hewhisperedthatifshelethim eatherfingersonly,hewouldleaveheraloneandnottellthefatheraboutherpresencethere.Thewomangaveinandwhenherfingerswereeaten,shecouldnotholdontothetreeanylonger.Shewaspulleddownstillscreaming.Herstomachwasopenedand theyfoundtwinbabies.They wereboth boys andKonyekitookthemhometohismothertocookthem forhim.Whenhismothersawthetwobabies,sherealizedwhathadhappenedtohersister.Shetookthebabies,wrappedthem upandtookcareofthem.Inplaceofthem,shecaughttwomoles,cutofftheirtailsandcookedthem forKonyeki.Konyekiatethem althoughhecomplainedthathiskidneys(ashecalledthem)seemedtohaveshrivelledandthattheywerenottasty.Hismotherretortedthatshewouldnevereatthestrangethingsthattheyate.Herhusbandtrustedherandstopped Konyekifrom accusing hismother.Konyekiwasnotsatisfiedwiththeexplanationbuthekeptquiet.Days,monthsandyearspassedandtheboysgrewtallerandstronger.Theywerewellhiddenatnightbuttheywereallowedtogooutduringthedaywhentheogreswentouthunting.Onedayonarainyday,Konyekireturnedintheeveningfromtheirusualhuntingtripsandhefoundmanysmallfootprintsnearthedoorofthehouse.Hebecamesuspiciousandaskedhismotherwhohadmadesomanyfootprints.Hismothertoldhimthatthemarksweremadebyherasshewentouttogetwater,firewood,foodandwhenshedidotherhouseholdchores.Hesaidthefootprintsweretoosmalltobehers.Themotherthensaid theymustbehisfortherewasnootherchildintheirhome.ThefatherdidnotdoubthiswifeandtoldKonyekithefootprintswerehis(Konyeki's).Thechildren hadbeenwarned nevertomake noise andtheyobeyed.Theyalsonevercried.WhenKonyeki'smotherthoughttheboyswerebigenough,shecalledthemoutonemorningandtoldthemabouttheirmother;whoshewas,andthatherlifeandtheirswereindanger.Iftheythoughtofescaping,thentheyhadtopractisehow tofightsothattheycould killthe ogres.Theyagreed with theirauntand sheboughtthemswords,spears,bowsandarrows.Theyspentmostoftheirtimetraininghow tofighttheogres.Aftertheyweresureofthemselves,andconfidentthattheycouldkillthem,theyaskedtheiraunttoallowthemtogoaheadandkilltheogres.OnedaywhenKonyekiandhisfatherreturnedhomeexhausted,theywentstraighttosleepandafterafewminutestheyweresoundasleepandsnoringloudlyasusual.Thetwinscameoutoftheirhidingplaceandattackedtheogres.Konyekiwasthefirstonetowakeupanddefendhimself.Ashewasfightingback,heshoutedathisfather,blaminghim forignoringhiswarningwhen hereportedhe hadseen otherfootsteps.Hisheadwashackedoffand hedied instantly.Hisfatherwokeupwithastartandhetoogotafatalblowbeforehecoulddefendhimself.Thetwinsandtheiraunttookallthattheycouldcarry,burntdownthehouseinwhichthedeadogreswereandlefttheplacetogobacktotheirhome.


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Questions1.Whatisthethemeofthestory?2.Whydoyouthinkthetwinsarenecessarytotheplot?3. WhatqualitiesarebroughtoutinthesestoriesthatmakeKonyekiandhisfatherobjectsoffear?4.Whatmoralteachingdoyougetfromtheproverb,"Alltheglittersisnotgold?"5.Identityanidiophoneinthisnarrativeandsaywhyitisused.6.Whatdoyouunderstandbytheproverb,"Don'tcryoversplitmilk"7.Whattypeofstoryisthis?Answers1.Thethemeofthestoryisgreedandruthlessnessoftheogresthatdestroythemintheend.2.Twinsarenecessarytotheplotbecauseitisthroughtheiractionsthatthestoryends;theykilltheogresand,togetherwiththeirauntgobacktotheotherhumanbeings.3.QualitiesbroughtoutinthisnarrativethatmakeKonyekiandhisfatherobjectsoffearare:-theycanchangeintohumanbeingsandtrickrealhumanbeings;-theykillandeathumanbeings;-theyaregreedyandferocious;-theyareneitherhumansnoranimals;-theyarecunning4.Themoralteachingfromtheproverb"Allthatglittersisnotgold"isthatweshouldnotjudgepeoplebytheirlooksThegirlwentwithanogrethinkingthatitwasanattractiveyoungman.Thisbroughtherproblemslater.5.Theidiophoneispa..pa…pa…itisusedtoshowthesoundmadebythefeetastheywalked.6. Thisproverbmeansthatoneshouldnotblamehimself/herselfoveranactionthathappenswhenoneknowsthathe/shecannotreversethe action.Alloneshoulddoistrytodosomethingbetternexttime7.Thisisanogreormonsterstory.

EXERCISE 4READTHEORALNARRATIVEBELOW ANDANSWERTHEQUESTIONSTHATFOLLOW.HAWKANDHENAlongtimeagoHenandherfriendHawk.Thetwofriendsweregoodfriendsandlivedneareachother.Theysharedwhatevertheypossessedandthechildren


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tooweregoodfriends.Everymorningaftertheplantingseason,onecalledupontheothertogoouttothewoodsandtorubbishDumpstolookforwormsandothertypesoffood.Oneday,astheypreparedthemselvestogoouttolookforfood,Harecalledonthem and toldthem,“Myfriends,asyouknowafriendinneedisafriendindeed,I’vecalledyouthis morningto invite you to mydaughter’s wedding.Icannotforget,”shecontinued,“how you,especiallyyouHen,fedmychildrenwhenIwassickandbed-ridden.Please,comeandenjoywithus,”sheconcluded.HenandHawklookedateachother andnoddedtheirheads.TheypromisedHaretheywouldgo totheceremony.Haretthankedthemandranofftowardsherhome.AfterHarehadleft,theylookedateachotherandburstoutinlaughterAsfarastheywereconcerned,theydidnotconsiderHarearealfriendbutjustoneofthem.Theyhowever,decidedtoattendtheweddingpartyoutofcuriosityHawk’ssonhadmarriedaverybeautifulgirlthepreviousyearandtherewasalotofeatinganddrinking.HawkcouldremembervividlyhowHyenadrankanddrankbeeruntilhisfourlegscouldnotcarryhim.Hehadtobetakenhomecompletelyunaware of whatwas happening.Could Hare's party match hers? Hawkwondered.Shebecamecuriousandwantedtofindout.Onthe weddingday,HenandHawkdressedthemselvesintheirbestpartycostumes.Theywarnedtheirchildrennottoleavetheirhomecompoundsduringtheirmothers'absenceTheythen lefthomeandwalkedhappilytowardsHare'scompoundHaresawthem :nadistanceandhurriedtomeetthem"Oh!Howareyoumyfriends?Welcomehome.Thepartyisgoingtostartinanhour’stime'TheywenthomewhileHarewasholdingHen'shand.Hawknotedthis withdispleasurebutshesaidnothing.Whentheyreachedhome,Haresaid:"Sitdownandhaveadrinkwhile Ipreparemyself”Sheaskedoneheryoungsonstoservethem withdrinks.Whenthedrinkswerebrought,againHawknotedthatHenwasservedthedrinkinaglasshutHawkwasservedinacupwithcrackededges.ThiskilledHawk'sspirits.Shemaynothavebeen as beautifulas Hen but that was no reason whyshe should bediscriminatedagainst.Afterall,hadn'tshegoneoutofherwaytodressinherbestclothes,justforthepartyHawkthoughtbitterly.Afteranhour,Hareemerged from aninner room,dressed magnificentlywithmatchingshoesandnecklace.Theyallproceededtotheparty.Haremade sureshesatnexttoHenbutHawksatalittlebitfartheraway.ShewonderedwhatwashappeningHenseemedveryhappyduringthepartyandshelaughedallthetimewithHare,ignoringHawk'spresence.Hawkbecamemoodyanddecidednottotalktoanyofthem fromthenon.Afterthe partyasover,Harebidthetwogoodbyeandtheyleftforhome.Itwasgettingdarkastheywalkedhome.HentriedtoinvolveHawkinconversation"Howdidyoufindtheparty“Ithinkitwaswonderful“HawkdidnotanswerHenandshewonderedwhyHawkwasbehavinginthatmannerHenwantedtodiscussthematterbutHawksaidshewasnotinterestedtheywenthomewithouttalkingtoeachotheruntiltheyreachedtheirrespectivecompounds.Hen,asusualinherhighspiritsbidHawkgoodbyebutHawklookedathersneeringly,swungherhipsmore


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thanusualandshuthergatewithoutaword.Henclosedhergatetooandwenttocookforherchildren.VeryearlythefollowingmorningHawk’schildknockedatHen’sdoorandafterHenopenedthedoor,shesaid,“Mummysentmetoyoutotellyoutogivebackallthethingsthatbelongtous.Hereareallyourthingsthatwereinourhouse.”Henwasdumbfounded.ShecouldnotimagineendingthefriendshipwithHawk.Theyhadbeenfriendsforsuchalongtime.Nevertheless,shegavethechildallthethingsthatwerenotherstotaketohermother.Thechildleftbutafterashortwhileshereturned."Mummytoldmeyoudidnotgiveherallthethings.Sheneedsourhoeandpangawhichyouborrowedlastweektocultivateyourfarm.Shealsoneedstherazorwhichyouborrowedyesterdaytoshaveyourchildren."Henwentbacktothehouseandcameoutwiththepangaandthehoebutwithouttherazor.Shecouldnotfindtherazoratall.ShetoldHawk'schild,"GoandtellyourmotherthatIhavesearchedfortherazorbladeeverywherebutIcannotgetit.TellherIshalllookforitlateronandIwillsendoneofmychildrenwithit."Hencalledoutallherchildrentolookforthemissingrazorbladeandtheyscratchedallaroundtheircompoundwithoutanysuccess.Thatevening,Hensentoneofherchildrentoreportthattherazorbladewaslostandtheycouldnotgetit.Hen'schildknockedatHawk'sdoorandwhenthedoorwasopened,shewaspulledinbyHawkandkilled.HawkinsistedthatshehadtohavebackherrazorbladeandshesworetoeatallHen'schildrenunlessshegotitback.'Thefollowingmorning,HawkandherchildrenhoveredoverHen'scompoundtryingtogetachancetosnatchoneofHen'schildren.Hencluckedloudlycluck...cluck...runningalloverhercompoundfrightenedandfranticallycallingherchildrentocometoherforprotection.TheyallranHenwasdumbfounded.ShecouldnotimagineendingthefriendshipwithHawk.Theyhadbeenfriendsforsuchalongtime.Nevertheless,shegavethechildallthethingsthatwerenotherstotaketohermother.Thechildleftbutafterashortwhileshereturned."Mummytoldmeyoudidnotgiveherallthethings.Sheneedsourhoeandpangawhichyouborrowedlastweektocultivateyourfarm.Shealsoneedstherazorwhichyouborrowedyesterdaytoshaveyourchildren."Henwentbacktothehouseandcameoutwiththepangaandthehoebutwithouttherazor.Shecouldnotfindtherazoratall.ShetoldHawk'schild"GoandtellyourmotherthatIhavesearchedfortherazorbladeeverywherebutIcannotgetit.TellherIshalllookforitlateronandIwillsendoneofmychildrenwithit."Hencalledoutallherchildrentolookforthemissingrazorbladeandtheyscratchedallaroundtheircompoundwithoutanysuccess.Thatevening,Hensentoneofherchildrentoreportthattherazorbladewaslostandtheycouldnotgetit.Hen'schildknockedatHawk'sdoorandwhenthedoorwasopened,shewaspulledinbyHawkandkilled.HawkinsistedthatshehadtohavebackherrazorbladeandshesworetoeatallHen'schildrenunlessshegotitback.'Thefollowingmorning,HawkandherchildrenhoveredoverHen'scompoundtryingtogetachancetosnatchoneofHen'schildren.Hencluckedloudlycluck...cluck...runningalloverhercompoundfrightenedandfranticallycallingherchildrentocometoherforprotection.TheyallranHenwasdumbfounded.ShecouldnotimagineendingthefriendshipwithHawk.Theyhadbeen


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friendsforsuchalongtime.Nevertheless,shegavethechildallthethingsthatwerenotherstotaketohermother.Thechildleftbutafterashortwhileshereturned."Mummytoldmeyoudidnotgiveherallthethings.Sheneedsourhoeandpangawhichyouborrowedlastweektocultivateyourfarm.Shealsoneedstherazorwhichyouborrowedyesterdaytoshaveyourchildren."Henwentbacktothehouseandcameoutwiththepangaandthehoebutwithouttherazor.Shecouldnotfindtherazoratall.ShetoldHawk'schild,"GoandtellyourmotherthatIhavesearchedfortherazorbladeeverywherebutIcannotgetit.TellherIshalllookforitlateronandIwillsendoneofmychildrenwithit."Hencalledoutallherchildrentolookforthemissingrazorbladeandtheyscratchedallaroundtheircompoundwithoutanysuccess.Thatevening,Hensentoneofherchildrentoreportthattherazorbladewaslostandtheycouldnotgetit.Hen'schildknockedatHawk'sdoorandwhenthedoorwasopened,shewaspulledinbyHawkandkilled.HawkinsistedthatshehadtohavebackherrazorbladeandshesworetoeatallHen'schildrenunlessshegotitback.'Thefollowingmorning,HawkandherchildrenhoveredoverHen'scompoundtryingtogetachancetosnatchoneofHen'schildren.Hencluckedloudlycluck...cluck...runningalloverhercompoundfrightenedandfranticallycallingherchildrentocometoherforprotection.Theyallrantoherandsheprotectedthem,andHawkfledawaydisappointed.From thattimeuntiltoday,hensgetfrightenedandhidetheirchildrenanytimetheyseeHawknearby.HawkontheotherhandisstillangryandshelooksforHen'schildrentokill.Shesaidshewillneverstopuntilshegetsherrazorbladeback.HenstilllooksfortherazorbladeeverywhereandthatiswhyHensarealwaysseenscratchinghereandtherelookingforHawk'srazorblade.TheywonderwhethertheywilleverrestorepeacewithHawkandfamily.

QUESTIONS1.-Whatisthemainoccupationofthecharactersinthisnarrative?Supportyouranswerwithtwodifferentphrasesfromthenarrative.2.Whatdoyouunderstandbytheproverb:"Afriendinneedisafriendindeed'?3.HowdoyouthinkHenhidherchildrenfromHawk?4.Narrativesusuallyhavethreemainparts:abeginning,amiddleandanending.Writeoutthethreesentencesthatsignalthebeginningofeachsectioninthisnarrative.5.WhatincidentsforcedHawktobreakherfriendshipwithHen?6.Thewriterusesanidiophoneinthisnarrative.Identifyit.7.Identifyfivewordsthatshowthatthestorywasnarratedinamodernsetting.8.WhatHawk'scharacteraspectscanyouidentifyinthisnarrative?9.Inonesentence,summarizetheconflictinthisnarrative.10.Whatmainfeaturesandstyleoforalliteraturehasthewriterused?11.Thestoryendsinacertainmood.Whatmoodisthis?12.Whatdoyoucallthistypeofnarrative?


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ANSWERS1.Thecharactersinthisnarrativearefarmers.Theevidencefromthenarrativeis:ourhoeandpanga-tocultivateyourfarm-aftertheplantingseason.2."Afriendinneedisafriendindeed"-Yourrealfriendistheonewhocomestoyouraidwhenyouneeditmost.3.HenhidherchildrenfromHawkbycoveringthemwithherwings.4.Thethreemainpartsinthisnarrativearesignaledbythefollowingthreesentences.Beginning-"Alongtimeago,therelivedHenandherfriendHawk"Middle -"Veryearlythenextmorning,Hawk'schildknockedatHen'sdoor..."Ending-"Fromthattimeuntiltoday,Kensgetfrightenedandhidetheirchildren anytimetheyseehawksnearby."5.HawkbrokeherfriendshipwithHenbecauseshebecamejealouswhen:-HareheldHen'shandtowelcomethemtoherhouseandnotHawk'shand.-HawkwasservedadrinkinacupwithroughedgeswhileHenwasservedthedrinkinaglass.-Intheparty,HareandHenignoredHawkandleftheroutoftheirconversation..TheyevensatneareachotherwhileHawksatabitfarther.6.Theideophonethatthewriterusesis'cluck-cluck-cluck'todescribethesoundHenmade.7.Fivewordsthatshowthatthestorywasnarratedinamodernsettingare:cut,glass,party,dress,shoes,panga.8.Hawk'scharacteraspectsinthenarrativeare;jealous revengeful insistentadamant moody....... observantcurious untrustworthy Heartless/ruthless9.TheconflictinthenarrativeisbetweenHenandHawkwhoneedsbackherrazorbladewhichHenhaslost.10.Thewriterhasuseddialogue,narrativeisgivenbythe thirdperson,animalshavebeengivenhumancharacteristicsandthewriterhasusedsuspense.11.Themoodthestoryendsinisthatoffear,anger,vengeance,desperationandhopelessness.12.Thistypeofnarrativeiscalledexplanatoryoraetiological.


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EXERCISE5Readthefollowingoralnarrativeandanswerthequestionsthatfollow.LWANDAMAGEREMagerewaslikeamystery,forhewasimmenselystrongandinarmedcombatquiteinvincible.Thushewasaheroamonghispeople.OftenundercoverofnighttheLang'omadecattleraidsintoLuoterritory;butwheneverMagereappeared,theysufferedheavylossesandthoseabletoescapealivesoonshowedacleanpairofheels. Then,afterMagerehadwoncountlessbattlesagainstthem,theLang'oeldersassembledtodiscusswaysofendingthegloriouscareerofthisall-'conqueringhero."Howbestcanwedestroyhim?"theyaskedthemselves"HowisitthatMagereseemstohaveabodyofstonewhen,liketherestofus,hehasawifeandchildren?Surelyhehasbloodsomewhere."Theydebatedtheproblematlength,untiltheydecidedtogiveMagereaLang'ogirlwhomightdiscoverthesecretofhisstrength.AndsowordwentoutthatthemostbeautifulgirlknownamongtheLang'oshouldbefoundandsenttotheelders'assembly.Agirlwasfound,alovelymaidenasbrownasaripeosayefruit:noothergirlcouldmatchherforgraceandbeauty.TheysenthertoMagereandhefellinlovewithheratonce.WhenMagere'smikayi,orfirstwife,sawthathewasabouttomarryastranger,sheupbraidedhim."Husband,"shesaid,"Idon'tlikeyoumarryingthisdaughteroftheLang'o.Whydidn'tyoufindabeautifulLuogirlinsteadofthisjambetrewhohasbeensenttospyonyou?"Magererefusedtolisten.Women,hethought,arethesametheworldover:spitefulandfullof-jealousy.Magerelivedhappilywithhisnewwife.Timewentbyandthoughshewenttoreporttoherpeoplemoonaftermoon,shehadnonewsforthem..Oneday,however,Magerefellillwhilehisfirstwifewasoutworkinginhergarden.Itwascustomarythenforthefirstwifetodothefarmingoratleasttosowtheseedsfortheharvest.ThusthejuniorwifenursedMagere.Nextdayhisillnesswasworseandinthelatemorning,whenthesunreacheditsheightandpeopleinthegardenshadtoleavetheirworktoshelterfromitsheat,Mageretoldhisyoungwifetobringabladecuthisbodywithit,andthenrubsomepotentashintothewounds.Themedicinewasmadefmm burntherbswhichhehadstuffedintodriedsealedreeds.Hehadstoreditinaskinbaginhisownduolawayfromtheeyesofhiswives.Magereaskedhisyoungwiretomaketheincisions.Shereplied,"Husband.whydoyoudemandtheimpossible'Athinbladecannotcutthroughrockandyou'reallrock"ThenMagerepointedtohisshadow."Cutthere,'heordered.Now.shewenthalf-heartedlytoMagere'sshadow,andwiththebladecutthepanofhisshadowcastbyhisforehead.Inthe samewayshemadeanotherthreecutsonthe cheeksandthenappliedthemedicine.Asshewatchedthebladesinkintotheshadowitseemedtohertimeitwassinkingintotheearth.Shewasastonished,therefore,tolookupandseebloodtricklingfromthe'rock'Thedeeperthebladesank,themoretorrentiallythebloodflowed.SheknewnowthatMagere'sstrengthlayinhisshadow,andnotinhisbody.Hertreacherousheartwaswarmedbyitall.Besidesnursing Magere,she hadtofetchvegetablesfrom the fieldsandwaterfrom theriver.So,shortlyafterherdiscovery,shetoldMageretositintheshadowofhisduolwhileshewenttoperformthese


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tasks.Meanwhile,ofcourse,shewenttoherhouse,packedherbelongings,andfledtoherpeople.WhenMikayiarrivedfromthefields,sheaskedhowMagerewasfeelingHesaidhisillnesshadadvancedsofarthathehadaskedhisLang'owife tocuthimandapplysomemedicine."Oh,my husband,"shecried,'"you'vesteppedonhotash!You'vesteppedonhotash with both feet!Whereisthis girl?"Shesearchedeverywherebutwithoutsuccess.Awareofwhatthediscoverymeant,shenowbeggedherhusbandnottogotowaragain.ButMagerereplied,"IwasbornaheroandI'lldieahero!I'llneverhesitatetodefendmypeople!"Theyoung wifesoonarrivedin thelang'o heartland.WordquicklyspreadtoallpartsofthecountrythatshehadreturnedwithexcitingnewsfromLuoland.Theleadersgatheredatonce.Some,whohaddoubtedthewisdomoftheplanasked,"Hasshereallycomeback?"andthereply,"Yes!!"wasgivensofirmlythatitpiercedtheinnermostdepthoftheirears.Peoplepouredinfromthecountryside.Questionandanswerwereconstantlyrepeatedamongswellingcrowds.Soon,withthehometightlypacked,thegirlrosetospeak,andtoldthestoryofMagere'ssickness."Ifyouwanttokillhim,"sheannounced,"lookforhisshadowandaim atitwithwhateverweaponyou'recarrying.Shootnowhereelse,fortheuprightpartsofhisbodyaresolidrockthatwillblunt,curl,orbreakallyourspearsandarrows."Herwordssankintotheirears.Theyroseandreturnedtotheirhomes.Theelders,however,nowplannedaseriesofbattlesagainstLuo,battlesthatwouldbeginatnightandlastuntilwellafterdawnonthemorrow.Afewdayslater,therefore,theylaunchedafiercenightattackontheLuoandthebattlecontinueduntilwellintothefollowing daywith manylivesloston both sides.Seeing thatthe struggle was dragging onunnecessarily,thesickMagere,whonormallyenteredthefieldonlywhenhisjuniorwarriorsseemedespeciallyhardpressed,nowcalmlyhandedhistobaccopipetohismisumba."Preparemyarms!"heordered.Norwouldhelistentohiswife,whobeggedhimceaselesslynottojointhebattle."I'mgoingtodefendmypeople.Onedeadherodoesnotpreventtheworldfrombearingmore."Soherushedintothefield,andallafternoonvictoryhunginthebalance.Withhisclubsandspears,withhisbows,arrows,andshield,Magere hurled himself againstthefoe,takingthem unawaresandslaughteringcountlessnumbersofthem.Thelightlyinjuredfled;thegravelywoundedlaybleedingbeneaththesun.Stillclingingtolifetheysweatedintheheatwithoutwatertoquenchtheirthirst.Theysawdeathapproachinglikeanarrowshotfromthebow,wingingitswaytohittheeyeofitstarget?TheLang'oresistedstubbornly.TheystrovetostemMagere'sattack,buthedispersedthehardcoreoftheirtroopsanddrovethemintothehills.Racingalonginpursuit,heslaughteredeveryonewithinreach.Then,feelingweary,hedecidedtobreakoffabattlethatwaswonalready.HeaskedhispeopletolettheLang'oescape.Cowards,theysay,areheroesonceawarisover,perpetuallyboastingoftheirscars.TheLang'owhoescapednodoubtboastedoftheirwounds,andtheLuo,victorious,wouldretellahundredtimesthestoryoftheirbrilliantstrategy.Thegloryduetoasingleherowouldbesharedbyall.


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Andnow,returningfrom battle,theLuochantedwarsongs.Warriorspraisedtheirfellows,slam orliving,andtheairwasfilledwiththeblaringofhorns,theboomingofdrums,andtheclangingofspearsandgain.AfterhishardfightMagerewasweakandhecamedownslowlyfromthemountainswherehehaddriventheLang'o. It waslateevening,whenthelongshadowsannouncedthatsoonthesun.mustfallbehindthemountains.Magere,unabletoam,waspickinghiswayalongthehomewardpath.Andatthistime,too,aLang'owarriorrememberedtheadviceofthegirl.Heupbraidedhiscomrades,'"Arewegoingtoletthismanescape,"heasked,"'afterkillingsomanyofourbrothersandsonsCome.,let'sfindhim.Todayhemustdie."With the cunning ofwinch hispeople werefamous,theLang'owarriorsetofftosearchforMagere.Likeasnake,heslidfrom,bushtobush,carefullyconcealedfromtheeyesofthereturningLuoWhen,finally,hecaughtupwithMagere,hedodgedabout,thiswayandthat;andthenwithamightythrust,hedrovehisspeardeepintoMagere'sshadow.ThelastgreatherooftheLuocrasheddeadtotheearth.Lang'owarriorswhosawhimfallshriekedatthetopoftheirvoices.Agreatsigalagalawentup."Theirheroisdead!Theirheroisdead!"But,wonderofwonders,whenMagerefellbeforetheLang'o,hebecameamightyrockand,awe-stuckbyhismysteriousdisappearance,theLang'otrembledwithfear,thinkingthattheLuoherohadassumedanotherbodyandwasabouttoriseagainandslaythem.Now,unliketheLang'o,whowereashappyasswallowscatchingworms,orfliesblownfar,theKanopeople(Luo)wentweepinghomewards.Forthosewhoknew thatmightywarrior,thiswasthesaddestdayoftheirlives.Thisandmanydaysthatfollowed weregreyand gloomy.To makematters worse,theLang'o,stilldoubtfulwhethertheyhadkilled Magere,launchedthreemoreheavyattacksontheLuotomakesure.TheysweptthroughLuovillages,wreakingslaughteronevenside.ButnomanlikeMagereappearedandtheywenthomeconvincedhewasdead.Fromthatdaytothis,allwhosharpentheirweaponsonMagere'srockbeforesettingofftogohuntingneverfailtokillorcapturetheirquarry.Evenwhentheirspearonlylightlyscratchesthebeast,itsinkstothegroundinitsdeaththroes.TohonourMagereasagreatdefenderofhispeople,hismemoryisenshrinedforeverinoneofourmostpopularsayings.Whenamanexceedsanotherincrueltyheisasked,proverbially."AreyouLwandaMagerethatcan'tbetrifledwith''ThoughMagerehasnowbeenlongdead,theLuohaveneverforgottenhim:heispartandparceloftheirhistoryWhentheylovesomeonedearly.theLuocomposesongsofpraiseabouthim,and thistheyhavedoneforLwandaMagere.

QUESTIONSI Whattypeoforalnarrativeisthis'?2.Quoteonephrasethatshowsthatthenarrativeistoldinamodernsettingj.Whatdoyouunderstandbythefollowingproverbasitisusedinthenarrative:"Cowardsareheroesonceawarisover,perpetuallyboastingoftheirscars.”?Explainyouranswerwithanexamplefromthenarrative.4.WhatfourcharacteraspectsofLwandaMagerecanyougetfromthisnarrative?5.WhattypeofcommunitiesweretheLuoandtheLang'ointhisnarrative?


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6.Identifythreesentenceswheresimileisused.ANSWERS1 Thisoralnarrativeisa'legend',2.Thefollowingphraseshowsthatthenarrativeistoldinamodem setting:'thegloriouscareerofthisallconqueringhero'.3 Theproverbmeansthatpeoplewhohavenotachievedmuchkeeponboastingwiththelittletheyhavedone.Forexample,LwandaMagerewhowasaherodidnotboastofallthebattleshehadwonunliketheotherwarriorswhokeptonre-tellingoftheirvictories.4. AnyofthefollowingcharacteristicaspectsofLwandaMagerecanbegiven:hewasbrave,humble,patriotic,tootrusting/unsuspecting,adamant,stubborn,commanding.5.Theywerewarringcommunities.6.a)Magerewaslikeamystery.b)Theysawdeathapproachinglikeanarrow.c) ...whowereashappyasswallows.

EXERCISE6ReadthefollowingoralnarrativeandanswerthequestionsthatfollowWHYTHEDOGISTHEFRIENDOFMANLong,longagothejackalandthedogwerebrothersandlivedtogetherinthewildbush.Eachdaytheywouldgohuntingtogether,andwheneveningfelltheywouldreturntothevalleywhichwastheironlyhome,andsharetheirfood.Onenighttheybothcameback empty-handed andravenouslyhungry,and tomakemattersworse,acoldwindwasblowingacrossthebushandtheanimalscouldnotfindanyprotectionfromthegale,"Alas'"said the dog."Itisaverybadthingtofeelhungry,hutmuchworsetofeelhungryandcoldatmesametime.""Liedownandgotosleep,"suggestedthejackal"Thenwhenthemorningcomeswecangohuntingagainandperhapscatchthatyoungdeerwesonearlycaughttoday."'"Jackal'"heexclaimed."Whatisthatlightoverthere'?""'That'savillage,andtheredisaman'sfire,"explainedthejackal."Fire iswarm,"'saidthedoglongingly"Won’tyou goandfetchmesomefire,Jackal.YouarebraverthanI.""Certainlynot!"growledthejackal,"Youfetchityourselfifyouwantit.Itwasyouridea."Butthedogwasafraidofmanandhecurledupevensmalleronthebaregroundtotrytokeephimselfwarm.Ashelaythere,hethoughtthatperhapsthepeopleinthevillagewereeating and hewonderedwhethertheymightleavesomeboneslying on thegroundaftertheirmeal,whichhecouldcreepinandsteal.Thethoughtmadehim hungrierandhungrier,sothatpresentlyheforgothisfearandsaidboldlytothejackal:"Ican'tstayhereinthecoldanylonger.Iamgoingtothevillageandwilltrytogetsomefire.PerhapsImayevenbringbacksomebonesforyoutoo.IfIdon'tgetbacksoon,callme,incaseIcannotfindmywaytoyou."Sooffranthedogtowardstheredglowinthevillage,andwhenhewasnearlytherehesloweddownandcreptinonhisstomach,hopingthatnoonewouldhearhim.Nearerandnearerhegottothefire,sniffingeagerlyashesmelttheodourofapastmealstilllingeringintheair.Justashe


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reachedthedyingembersofthefireoutsidethedoorofahut,somefowlsroostinginanearbytreegavethealarm.Amanrushedoutandcaughthim,liftinghighhisspearandsaying:"Whatareyoudoinginmycompound?""Oh,pleasedon'tkillme,"beggedthedog."Ihavenotcometoharm anybodyhere,butonlytogetalittlewarmthfromyourdyingfire.Ibegyou,letmeliedownhereandrestandwarmmyself,andlaterIwillgobacktothebushandnevertroubleyouagain."Thedoglookedsocoldandmiserablethattheman,whowaskindatheart,feltsorryforhim.Heputdownhisspearandsaid:"Verywell.Ifyoupromisenottoharmanyoneinthisvillageyoumayliedownbythefire.Butwhenyouarewarm,youmustgobacktothebushagain."Thedogthankedhimprofuselyandlaydownbesidethefire,onwhichthemanpiledsomemoresticksandblewthemintoablaze.Nowthedogwashappyindeed,forunderhisverynoselayabone,whichsomeonehadthrowndownattheendoftheirmeal.Hegnawedawayhappilyforsometime,whiletheheatfromthefirewarmedhisshiveringlimbs.Neverhadhebeensocontentedorsocomfortable.Suddenlythemancalledfrominsidehishut:"Aren'tyouwarmyet?""Notquite,"answeredthedog,whohadjustseenanotherbonenearbythathewantedtochew."Well,I'llgiveyoualittlelonger,"saidtheman,andallwasquietagainexceptforthecrackingofbonesunderthedog'sstrongteeth."Aren'tyou warm yet?"asked theman presently.Butthedog thoughtunhappilyofthecoldwindblowingacrossthebush,andcreepingevenclosertothefirehebegged:"Letmestayalittlelonger'Itwassometimebeforethemancalledoutagain,forbothheandthedogathisdoorhadbeenfastasleep'Youmusthavefinishedwarningyourselfbynow,"saidtheman,risingtohisfeetandcomingoutofhishut.Thedog,decidingthathonestywasthebestpolicy,lookedintotheman'seyesandpleaded:'YesIamwarm,butIdonotwanttogobacktothebushwhereIamsooftencoldandhungrywillyounotletmestayinthehousewithyou''Iwillhelpyouhuntthebirdsthatflyintheforest.IwillteachyouthecunningwaysofthewildanimalssothatyoucankillthemforfoodandIpromiseyouthatunlikemybrotherthejackalIwillneverrobyouofourgoatsandchickens.AllIaskinreturnisaplacebyyourfireandtheremainsofyourmeals.Themannowlookedcloselyintothedog'seyesandsawthathewasspeakingthetruth."Verywell,"hereplied."IfyoupromisetoserveandobeymeIwillgiveyouwarmthandfood."Eversincethatday,thedoghaslivedwithman.Butwhenatnightyouhearthejackalcalling'Bo-aa!'fromthebushyouwillknowthatheiscallingforhisbrotherthedogtoreturntohimwiththefireandthebonesthathewenttofetch.Butthedogneveranswersthecallandthejackalwandersthebushesalone

Questions1.Theplotofthenarrativehasthethreemainpartsofanarrative.Statewhatthesethreepartsareandgiveasentencefromthenarrativethatstartseachpart.2.Throughwhatactionsdoesthedogtrytosolvehisproblem?


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3.Whydidthedogdeserthisbrotherthejackal?4.Statethreecharacteraspectsofthedogaspresentedinthenarrative.5.Givethethemeofthisnarrative-6.Whattypeofstoryisthis?Explainbriefly.7.Thewriterusesdirectspeechinthisnarrative.Changethefollowing conversationbetweenthejackalandthedogfromdirectspeechtoreportedspeech.“Fireiswarm,”saidthedoglongingly.“Won’tyougoandfetchmesomefirejackal?YouarebraverthanI.”“Certainly!”growledthejackal.“Youfetchityourselfifyouwantit.Itwasyouidea.”

ANSWERS1.Thethreemainpartsofthenarrativeareabeginning,amiddleandanending.- abeginning:"Long,longagothejackalandthedogwerebrothersandlivedtogetherinthewildbush."- Middle:"Sooffranthedogtowardstheredglowinthevillage,andwhenhewasnearlytherehesloweddownandcreptinonhisstomach,hopingthatnoonewouldhearhim.”- Andending:"Eversincethatday,thedoghaslivedwithMan."2.Thedogtriedtosolvehisproblemsby:- goingtoMan'scompoundtowarmhimself- requestingMantolethimstayawhiletowarmhimself- eatingtheleftoverbonesthatManhadthrownaway-prolonginghisstaybythefiresidebysayingthathewasnotyetwarm- requestingMantolethimstayforgoodtoservehim3. ThedogdesertedhisbrotherthejackalbecauseitwastoocoldintheforestandhefoundwarmthandsatisfactionbystayingwithManinthevillage.4.ThefollowingarecharacteraspectsofthedogthatonecanchooseThedogisgreedy,acoward,unreliable,determined,polite,cunning,andselfish.5. Thethemeofthenarrativeisthedog'sselfishnessandhisdesertionofhisbrotherthejackal.6. Thisisanaetiologicalorexplanatorynarrative.Itexplainswhythedogbecameadomesticanimal.7.- ThedogsaidthatfirewaswarmandrequestedJackaltogethimsomebecauseJackalwasbraverthanhim.- Growlingly,Jackalsaidhecertainlycouldnotandaskedthedogtofetchithimselfifhewanteditbecauseitwashisidea.


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EXERCISE7Readthefollowingoralsongandanswerthequestionsthatfollow.I myhusbandrejectsmeBecausehesaysThatIamamerepaganAndIbelieveinthedevil.HesaysIdonotknowTherulesofhealth,AndImixupMattersofhealthandsuperstitionOcoltroublesmyhead.10HetalkstoomuchAndheheapsinsultsonmeAswellasmyrelatives.Butmostofhiswordsaresenseless,Theyarelikethesongs. 15Ofchildren'splays.AndhetreatshisclansmenAsiftheyareenemies.OcolbehavesAsifheisawitch! 20IV ItistrueWhiteman'smedicinesarestrong,ButAcolimedicinesArealsostrong.V ThesickgetcuredBecausehistimehasnotyetcome:ButwhenthedayhasdawnedForthejourneytoPagakNoonecanstopyouWhiteman'smedicines 30AcolimedicinesCrucifixes,rosaries,Toesofediblerats,ThehornoftherhinocerosNoneofthemcanblockthepath35ThatgoestoPagak!VI WhendeathcomesTofetchyouShecomesunannounced,Shecomessuddenly 40Likethevomitofdogs,AndwhenshecomesThewindkeepsblowing


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ThebirdsgoonsingingAndtheflowers 45DonothangtheirheadsTheagoyabirdissilentTheagoyacomesafterwards,Hesingstotell,Thatdeathhasbeenthatway!50VIIWhenMotherDeathcomesShewhispersCome,AndyoustandupAndfollowYougetupimmediately,AndyoustartwalkingWithoutbrushingthedustOnyourbuttocks.68VIIIYoumaybebehind60Anewbuffalo-hideshield,Andatthemock-fightOrinbattleYoumaybematchlessIX YoumaybehidingIntheholeOfthesmallestblackinsect,OrinthedarkestplaceWhereratsbreast-feedtheirpuppies,OrbehindtheAgorohills.OkothP’BitekQuestions1.WhydoesOcolrejectLawino?Giveexamples.2.GivereasonswhyLawinoblamesOcol.3.Whatdoyouunderstandbythisline:"ForthejourneytoPagak"?(line28)4.Whatthingsdopeopleusetowardoffdeath?Arethesethingseffective?5.Whatdoyouunderstandbythefollowinglines:"ThewindkeepsblowingThebirdsgoonsingingAndtheflowersDonothangtheirheads."?(lines43to46)6.Thewriterstartswithonethemewhichleadstoanother.Whatarethetwothemes?7.


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Intwosentences,statewhatthewritersaysaboutdeath.ANSWERS1.OcolrejectsLawinobecausehesaysthatsheissuperstitious Forexample,inhisopinion,sheisapagan,andsheisnotclean.2.LawinoblamesOcolbecause:hetalkstoomuchheabusesLawinoandherrelativeshemistreatshisclansmenhebehaveslikeawitch3.Pagakmeansthelandofnoreturn.Therefore,thelinesmeanwhenonedies.4. Peopleusemodernandtraditionalmedicines,crucifixes,rosaries,toesofedibleratsandthehornoftherhinocerosascharmstowardoffdeath.Noneofthesethingsiseffective.5.Thelinesmeanthatevenwhendeathcomestosome,lifestillgoeson.6.Thetwothemesare:superstitiousbeliefsdeath7. Thewritersaysthatwhendeathstrikes,thereisnothingonecandoaboutit.Nomatterwhereyouhideorthemedicinesyoutakeorthecharmsyouuse,deathwillstillcome.

EXERCISE8Readthefollowingnarrativeandanswerthequestionsthatfollow.ORIGINOFTHEAGIKUYUAtthebeginningofcreation,MweneNyaga,Ngai,thecreatorandproviderforallmankind,calledonhisservantGikuyu.Hesaidtohim,"MysonGikuyu,Iamgoingtogiveyouyourshareofland.ThelandIamgoingtogiveyouisfoilofravines,rivers,valleys,forestsandplentyofgameforyoutohuntforyourfood.Thelandisfertileandyourchildrenandyourchildren'schildrenwillnevergohungryifyoutillitwell."GikuyustoodstillwithdisbeliefMweneNyagasawGikuyu'shesitation.Hetookhim tohisresidenceontopofthemountainofmystery,"Kirinyaga",whereHeresided.From here,HecommandedagoodviewofallHislands.HethereforewantedGikuyutoseeforhimselfallthelandhehadbeengiven.Heshowedhimallthelandanditsbeauty.Hesaid,"Myson,allthisisyours."ThenHesatbackandwatchedGikuyu'shappinessashemovedfromplacetoplace,tryingtolocatetheboundariestohisland.Butnomatterhow hardhelooked,hislandseemedtorollformilesandmiles.Havinginspectedthepanoramaofhisland,hequicklycomposedhimselfandrantoMweneNyaga'sfeetandcriedwithhappinessthankingHimforthegreatgift.Hewassurethathewouldbehappyeverafter.Butthen,hefeltakindoflonelinessandhishappinesssubsided.Whatwouldhedowithallthatlandallbyhimself?MweneNyagaknewwhatwasgoingoninGikuyu'smind.Ashewasleaving,MweneNyaga


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calledhimbackandpointedtohimaspotfaroffinthemiddleofthecountry,whereafigtree,Mnkuyu,grew.He ordered Gikuyu to settle there and callthis place"MukurwewaNyagathanga."WheneverGikuyuwasinneedofMweneNyaga'shelpinwhateverway,heshouldofferasacrificetoHimatthefigtree.Heshould raisehishandstowardsKirinyaga,MweneNyaga'sresidence,and stateallhisproblems.MweneNyagawoulddefinitelyseehimandcometohisrescue.HealsotoldhimthatHehadgivenhimapresent,themostpreciouspresentinhislife,andthathewouldgetthepresentonhisarrivalathisnewhome.Gikuyu thanked MweneNyaga and,beingunableto contain hiscuriosityanylonger,hehurried straighttoMukurwewaNyagathanga.Tohissurprise,seatedtherewasayoungbeautifulwomanwhom hecalledMumbi(moulderorcreator).Theylivedtogetherasmanandwifeandwereblessedwithninedaughtersbutno sons.ThedaughterswereWachera,Wanjiku,Wairimu,Wambui,Wangari,Wanjiru,Wangui,Mwithaga and Waithera.Gikuyunneededanheir,and nothavingason disturbedhim.HethenrememberedMweneNyaga'sadvice,"I'llcometoyourrescue."oHeorganizedasacrificeattheMukuyutree.Heslaughteredaramandakidfromhisflockandpouredtheirbloodandfatonthetrunkofthesacredtree.HewenttohishouseandcalledMumbiandtheirdaughters.TheyroastedsomemeatandofferedittoMweneNyaga.TheyraisedtheirhandstowardsKirinyagaandprayed,"ThaaithathaiyaNgaithaai,.".Helater leftandwenthome.Mwene Nyaga quickly answered Gikuyu's prayers.On the following morning,Gikuyuwenttothesacredtreeandhecouldn'tbelievehiseyeswhenhefound,seatednearthetree,ninestrongyoungmen.HewasovercomewithjoyandhelookeduptothemountainandthankedMweneNyaga,hisbenefactor.Hewelcomedthenineyoungmenandtookthemtohishomewhereheintroducedthemtohiswifeanddaughters.Foodwascookedforthemandafterbathingandeating,theywenttosleep.Thenextmorning,theninemenwokeupearlyinthemorning,havinghadagoodnight'ssleep.Afterthemorningmeal,Gikuyucalledthemoutsidetodiscussmarriage.Hetoldthemtheywouldmarryhisdaughtersononecondition;theyhadtolivewiththemonhisland.Bythistime,themenhadalreadymadetheirchoices.Theywere so fascinated by thedaughters'beautyand thefather'skindnessthattheyagreed to hisproposal.GikuyuandMumbiwereoverjoyedfortheynowhadsonstoinherittheirvastlands.Thedaughtersontheotherhandhadalreadystartedtoshowtheirpreferenceofthemen.Theywerealsohappywhenthemenagreedtotheirfather'swishfortheyknewtheynowhadmentoprotectthemandgivethemcompany.Gikuyudidnotwaitlongbeforemakingarrangementsforhisdaughters'weddingsaccordingtotheGikuyucustomarylaws.Hedidnotaskforbridewealthfromtheyoungmenforheknewtheydidnothaveanyandinactualfacttheywereablessingtohim.Thedaughtersgotmarriedtotheyoungmenandtheystartedninedifferentfamilies.Theywere,however,unitedunderonename,'MbariyaMumbi',whichmeans'Mumbi'sfamilygroup'.ThiswasinhonouroftheirmotherMumbi.GikuyuandMumbiweretheheadsof'MbariyaMumbi'andtheninefamiliesremainedunderthem.TheyarethemotherandfatheroftheGikuyupeople.Astheyearspassed,GikuyuandMumbibecameolderandolderandeventuallytheydied.Beforetheydied,Gikuyucalledhisdaughtersandtheirhusbands.Hetoldthem,"Mychildren,asyoucanseeyourmotherandIareabouttoleaveyoubutbeforewego,wewouldliketoleaveyouwiththesewords.Allthelandandwhateverelsewe


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possessisyours.Divideitequallyamongyourselves.Rememberthatonefingercannotkillalouse."Withthesewords,GikuyuandMumbibreathedtheirlastbreath.Theninefamiliescontinuedtolivetogetherandthenumberoftheirchildrenandgrandchildrenwasincreasing.They became somanythatitwasimpossibleforthefamiliestolivetogetheranymore.Theycalledameetingwheretheyresolvedthateachfamilyshouldtakeallitschildrenandgrandchildrenandlivetogetherasoneclan,Muhiriga.TheclansweretobecalledaftertheninedaughtersofGikuyuandMumbi.ThisdecisionisthebasisofthenineprincipalGikuyuclans.TheyareAcheera,Agachiko,Airimo(orAgathigia),Ambui,Angari,Anjiru,Angui,EthagaandAitherando.ThenineclanslivedinGikuyu'slandandoccupieddifferentpartsofit.

Questions1.Whatdoyoucallthistypeofstory?2. ThecreatorwantedGikuyutotakeupakindofoccupation.Whatisit?Supportyouranswerwithasentencefromthenarrative.3.WhyisthefigtreesignificantinGikuyu'slife?4. Whatdoyouunderstandbythefollowingproverb:"Onefingercannotkillalouse."?GiveoneEnglishproverbequivalenttothisone.5.BrieflyexplainhowthenineGikuyuclanswerestarted.6.Whodoyouthinkaretoldthistypeofstoryandwhy

ANSWERS1.Thistypeofstoryiscalledamyth.2.ThecreatorwantedGikuyutobeafarmer/hunter. ‘Thelandisfertile"(farmer)"Yourchildren'schildrenwillnevergohungryifyoutillitwell."(farmer)"Plentyofgameforyoutohuntforyourfood."(hunter)3.ItisunderthefigtreethatGikuyupraystoGodandofferssacrifices,itisunderthesametreethathisprayersareanswered.E.g.,Mumbiandthenineyoungmenwerefoundatthefigtree.'4. "Onefingercannotkillalouse"meansthatyouneedcooperationfromotherpeopleforyoutoperformcertaintaskssuccessfully."Unityisstrength."5.ThenineGikuyuclanswerestartedaftertheninefamiliesincreasedinnumberinawaythattheycouldnotlivetogetherunderoneroofanymore.Thefamiliesdividedandeachfamilytookthenameofthemotherofthefamilytostartaclan.6.Thistypeofstoryistoldtotheyoungpeopletoteachthem abouttheoriginoftheirethnicgroup.Italsoservestoperpetuatethecultureofaparticulargroupofpeople.


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EXERCISE9Readthefollowingnarrativeandanswerthequestionsthatfollow.HAREANDANTELOPEThereoncelivedaHarewho,oneday,asshewassaunteringaboutinthebush,foundanarrowwhichshepickedup.Onherwaybackhome,shecameuponagroupofhunterswhowereskinningananimaltheyhadkilled,andshesaidtothem:"Ifyougivemeafatpieceofmeat,Iwillgiveyousomethingniceinexchange."Thehuntersasked:"Andwhatcouldthatbe?"Harereplied:"Itisanarrowheadgiventomebygod."Harewasgivenafatpieceofmeatinexchangeforthearrowhead.Shebidthehuntersgoodbyeandwentonherway.Nextshecameuponwarriorswhowereapplyingochretotheirbodies,andrealisingtheyhadnofat,shesaidtothem:"Heyyouwarriors,ifyougivemeanecklace,Iwillgiveyouafatpieceofmeatthatyoucoulduseasfat."Thewarriorsconsentedandgaveheranecklaceinexchangeforthefatpieceofmeat.Whentheexchangewasfinalised,Haretookleaveofthewarriorsandcontinuedonherway.NextshecameuponAntelopetowhom shesaid:"Lookatmynecklace."Onenquiringwhereshehadgotit,Harereplied:"Itismyfriendsthewarriorswhogaveittome,thewarriorstowhomIgavemymeat,themeatthatthehuntersgaveme,thehunterstowhom Igavemyarrow,myarrowwhichmygodgaveme."AntelopelookedatHare'snecklaceadmiringly,andsaidtoher:"MayIpleasetryiton?"OnwearingthenecklaceAntelopesoughttheopinionofherfriendbyasking:"Doesitsuitme?"TothisHareinnocentlyreplied."Itsuits youperfectlywell."ThereuponAnteloperanasfastasherlegscouldcarryher,runningawaywithHare'sbeads.AftertryingtopursueAntelope,Haresoonrealisedthatshewouldnevercatchupwithher,andsogaveupthechase.Walkingawaysorrowfully,Haresooncameuponanothergroupofhuntersandsaidtothem:"Heyyouhunters,pleaseshootthatantelopeforme."Tothisthehuntersasked:"Whatissheguiltyof?"Harereplied:"Shetookawaymynecklace,mynecklacethatthewarriorsgaveme,thewarriorstowhomIgavemymeat,mymeatthatthehuntersgaveme,thehunterstowhom Igavemyarrow,myarrowthatmygodgaveme."AfterhearingofHare'scomplaint,thehuntersdeclinedtoshootAntelope.Takingleaveofthehunters,Harecameacrossaburningfire,towhomshesaid:"Heyyoufire,couldyoupleaseeatthosehunters?"Fireasked,"Whathave theydone?"Harereplied."Theyrefused toshootAntelope,Antelopewhotookmynecklace,mynecklacethatthewarriorsgaveme,thewarriorstowhomIgavemymeat,mymeatthatthehuntersgaveme,thehunterstowhomIgavemyarrow,myarrowthatmygodgaveme."Again,onhearingHare'scomplaint,Firetoosaid:"Iwillnoteatthehunters."HarenextcameuponWaterandsaidtoit:"Heyyouwater,couldyoupleaseputoutthatfire?"Waterasked,"WhathasFiredone"HarerepeatedtoWaterallthatshehadtoldFire.WateronlisteningtoHare'scomplaintdeclinedtodoasshewasbid.HareleftWater,feelingdisappointed.Soonshefoundaherdofelephants,towhomshespokethus:"Heyyouelephants,couldyoupleasedrinkthatwater."OnenquiringwhyWaterhadtobedrunk,Harereplied:


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"WaterrefusedtoputoutFire,Firewhorefusedtoeatthehunters,thehuntersthatdeclinedtoshootAntelope,Antelopewhotookawaymynecklace,mynecklacethatthewarriorsgaveme,thewarriorstowhomIgavemymeat,mymeatthatthehuntersgaveme,thehunterstowhomIgavemyarrow,myarrowthatmygodgaveme."OnhearingHare'sstorytheelephants,too,declinedtocarryoutHare'srequestasalltheothershaddone.Undauntedbyherinabilitytoconvinceanyonetotakeactiononherbehalfsofar,Haremovedon,nextcomingupontreestowhomshespokesaying:"Heyyoutrees,couldyoupleasefallonthoseelephants?”Onenquiringthe wrongcommittedbytheelephants,Harereplied:"TheyrefusedtodrinkWater,WaterthatrefusedtoputoutFire,Firethatrefusedtoeatthehunters,thehuntersthatdeclinedtoshootAntelope,Antelopewhotookawaymynecklace,mynecklacethatthewarriorsgaveme,thewarriorstowhomIgavemymeat,mymeatthatthehuntersgaveme,thehunterstowhomIgavemyarrow,myarrowthatmygodgaveme."WhenthetreeshadheardHare'sstory,theytoosaid,"Wewillnotfallontheelephants/'Harethenleftthetreesandcameupontermiteswhomsheaskedtofellthetrees.Thetermitesdemandedtoknowthewrongcommittedbythetrees.Haretoldtermitesofhowthetreeshadrefusedtofallontheelephantsandwentonenumeratingwhateveryoneelsehaddoneorrefusedtodointhesamewayshehadtoldtheothers.TherefusalbybtermitestofellthetreesupsetHare,butshewasbynomeansdaunted.Movingonwithpersistence,Haresooncameuponsomedonkeyswhomsheaskedtotrampleonthetermites.Onhearingwhatthetermiteshaddone,thedonkeystoodeclinedtotrampleonthem.BythistimeHarewasbeginningtofeelexasperatedandweary,havingwalkedalldaywithnosuccess.Itwasnotlongbeforeshecameuponagroupofhyenas,towhomshesaid:"Heyyouhyenas,couldyoupleaseeatthosedonkeys?"Thehyenasasked:"Whathavethedonkeysdone?"Harereplied,"Theyrefusedtotrampleonthetermites,thetermiteswhichrefusedtofellthetrees,thetreesthatrefusedtofallontheelephants,elephantswhorefusedtodrinkWater,WaterwhorefusedtoputoutFire,Firewhorefusedtoeatthehunters,thehuntersthatdeclinedtoshootAntelope,Antelopewhotookawaymynecklace,mynecklacethatthewarriorsgaveme,thewarriorstowhomIgavemymeat,mymeatthatthehuntersgaveme,thehunterstowhomIgavemyarrow,myarrowthatmygodgaveme."AgreeingtocarryoutHare'srequest,thehyenassaid:"Verywell,wewilleatthedonkeys."Ontherealisationthattheywereabouttobeeaten,thedonkeyssaid:"Wewilltrampleonthetermites.Thetermitessaid:"Wewillfellthetrees."Thetreessaid:"Wewillfallontheelephants."Theelephantssaid:"WewilldrinkWater."Watersaid:"IwillputoutFire."Firesaid:"Iwilleatthehunters."Thehunterssaid:WewillshootAntelope."Antelopesaid:"IwillreturnHare'snecklace."SoHarewasgivenbackhernecklaceandshewasveryhappy.

Questions1.Givetwoexamplesofpersonificationusedbythenarrator.


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2."TothisHareinnocentlyreplied."Whydoesthenarratorusethewordinnocentlyhere!3.Whatisthemoodinthisnarrative?4.Give,withillustrations,threecharacteraspectsofHare.5. 'Hyena'spresenceinthisnarrativeinindispensable."Brieflystatehow" trueorfalsethisstatementis.6.Whatmajornarrativetechniquedoesthenarratoruseinthisstory?Whateffectdoesthishaveonthedevelopmentofthestory?7.Whattypeofnarrativeisthis?Supportyouranswer.7475ANSWERS1.Examplesofpersonificationare:- Hareisreferredtoas"she"/"her".- "Antelope""Hare""Fire""Water"beginwithcapitallettersasiftheyarepersonalnouns.Theyalsotalklikehumans.- Antelopewearsanecklacelikeahumanbeing.- Fireisreferredtoas"whom",arelativepronounthatisusedwithhumansonly.2.Thenarratorusestheword"innocently"becauseHaredidnotknowthatAntelopeadmiredhernecklaceandshewouldrunawaywithitafterbeingtoldbyHarethatitsuitedherwell.3.Themoodinthisnarrativeisoneofdisappointment,sadnessandanger.4.ExamplesofHare'scharacterare:- Sheispolite(sheusestheword'please').- Sheispersistent(shedoesn'tgiveupeasilyevenafterbeingturneddown).- Sheisoptimistic(shehopestogetsomejustice).- Sheispersuasive(sherepeatsthechainofeventsthatleadtothelossofhernecklace).Sherequeststobegotbackhernecklace.!- Sheisvengeful(shewantsthosewhorefusetohelptobepunished).5.Itistruethat"Hyena'spresenceinthisnarrativeisindispensable"becauseheistheonlyonewhoacceptstohelpHaretherebyseeingjusticeattained.6. Thenarratorusesrepetitionasamajornarrativetechniquetocreateachainofeventswhichmakesthenarratinginteresting.7.Thisisatricksterstory.AntelopetricksHaretobegivenHare'snecklacetotryon,whichshelaterrunsawaywith.


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EXERCISE12Readthefollowingoralnarrativeandthenanswerthequestionsthatfollow.THEWICKEDCHIEFThereoncelivedawickedchief.Nobodylikedhimbecauseofhiswickedness.Hewaswickedtooldmenandwomen.Bypretendingtobekind,hetriedtobepopularwithalltheyoungmenwholivedinthatcountry.Whenthechiefwonovertheyoungmen,theyalllikedhim.Oneday,thechiefcalledalltheyoungmenandtoldthem:"Myfriends,don'tyousee?"Theyasked,"What?""Youshouldkillallofthem.Everybodyshouldkillhisfather"Ah!(Thattheyshouldkilltheirfathers!)Asaresult,everybodywhosefatherwasoldbroughthimtobekilled.Thisonewentandbroughthimtobekilled,theotherwentandbroughthisfathertobekilled.Theykilledalltheoldmen,leavingonlyone.Hewasthefatherofamanwhosaid"No.WhyshouldthechiefkillalltheoldmenandwhyshouldIsendmyoldfathertobekilled?"Hegotdownandwentanddugalargeholeandconcealeditnicely.Hesenthisfatherthere,wherehehaddug.Hefetchedwoodandputitacrossandcovereditwithsoil,makingasmallholeforairtopassthrough.Atthattime,theyhadfinishedkillingalltheoldmen.Whenthechieffinishedexecutingthem,hethencalledalltheyoungmen."Myfriends,wehavenowfinishedkillingallouroldmen.ThisisacowIamgivingtoyou.Iamsohappywehavegotridofallouroldmen,sogoandkillthecow.Whenyouhavekilledthecow,cutthebestpartofitsmeatandbringittome.Ifyoudon'tbringit,youyourselvesarenotsafe."(Thatisallright!)Eh!Theyoungmenrushedoutandslaughteredthecow.Whichisthebestpartofthemeatofacow?Theywereworried.Theywentandcuttheliverandsentittohim.Heaskedwhetherornotthatwasthebestpartofthemeat.Theyanswered"yes".Theyaddedpartofthebile.Hesaidthatwasn'tthebestpartofthemeatandthattheyshouldgoandfinditquickly.Thepeoplebecamemoreworried.Everynighttheyoungmansecretlytookfoodtohisfather.Onedayhetookfoodtohisfather,whoaskedaboutthenewsofthetown.Hesaid:"Myfather,nowwearesuffering.Whenwekilledalltheoldmen,thechiefgaveusacowtogoandkill.Whenwekilledthecow,hesaidwemustfindboththesweetestandbitterestpartofthemeatandbringthemtohim.Theifwedonotbringthem,wearenotsafeourselves.Thisiswhatisworryingus."Theoldmanlaughed,butagainaskedifhedidnotknowthesweetestpartofthemeat.Hesaid,"No".Heagainaskedifhedidnotknowthebitterestpart.Hesaid"No"."Thenthesweetestandbitterestpartisthetongue.Whenyougo,cutthetongueandsendittohimandsaythatthesweetestpartofthemeatisalsothebitterest."Themanrushedhomewhileallthepeoplesatdown,undecidedaboutwhattodo.Ifsomethinghadnothappenedtheymighthavethrownthewholemeatawayandrunaway.Whentheboyarrived,hesaid:"Myfriends,takethetongueofthecowin."Theycutthetongueforhim,andhetookittothechiefspalace.Hewentandthrew itdownandsaid,"Chief,seethesweetestpartofthemeatandthebitterestpartalso."Thechiefsatdownquietlyandfinallysaid:"Youdidnotkillyourfather.Speakthetruth.Youhavenotkilledyourfather."Hesaid:"Itisthetruth,Ididn'tkillhim.Whenallthe


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otheryoungmenwerekillingtheirfathersIwentandhidmine."Thechiefsaid:"Youarethesonofawiseoldman.ThesweetestandbitterestpartofmeatisthetongueAsforthat,alltheseyoungmenarebigfools.Whyshouldsomeonesendhisfathertobekilled?Butifyouwantthesweetestpartofthemeat,findthetongue.Wereitnotforthetongue,youwouldnothaveanenemy;anditisalsobecauseofyourtonguethatyouwillnothaveafriend."

Questions1.Whattypeofstoryisthis?Supportyouranswer2.Howwouldyoudescribetheyoungmanwhodidnotkillhisfather?3.Statethreecharacteraspectsofthechief4.Whatmorallessondoyoulearnfromthisnarrative?5. Nametwothingsthatarecharacteristictooralnarrativesthatappearin-thisnarrative.6. Explainwhatyouunderstandbythefollowingstatement."Thesweetestandbitterestpartofthemeatisthetongue."ANSWERS1. Thisisatricksterstory.Theyoungmenaretrickedbythechieftokilltheirfathersandtheydoit.2.Theyoungmanissensible,cunningandoutspoken.3.Anyofthefollowingcharacteristicsofthechiefareacceptable:- Pretender- Persuasive- Wicked/ruthless- Clever/wise4. Peopleshouldthinktwicebeforetheymakemajordecisions.Theyshouldalsonotdoanythingtheyaretoldwithoutquestions,especiallyifsuchactsaffectthempersonally.5.Anyofthefollowingcharacteristicsoforalnarrativesarecorrect.- Thebeginningofthestorye.g.,"Therelived..."- Useofpastsimple.-Repetitionofsentencesorphrases.- Useofthethirdperson.6.Thetongueiscapableofpleasingbyutteringpraisesandisalsocapableofcausingangerbyutteringabusesandcurses.EXERCISE15HAREANDANTELOPEThereoncelivedaHarewho,oneday,asshewassaunteringaboutinthebush,foundanarrowwhichshepickedup.Onherwaybackhome,shecameuponagroupofhunterswhowereskinningananimaltheyhadkilled,andshesaidtothem:"Ifyougivemeafatpieceofmeat,Iwillgiveyousomethingniceinexchange."Thehuntersasked:"Andwhatcouldthatbe?"Harereplied:"Itisanarrowheadgiventomebygod."Hare


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wasgivenafatpieceofmeatinexchangeforthearrowhead.Shebidthehuntersgoodbyeandwentonherway.Nextshecameuponwarriorswhowereapplyingochretotheirbodies,andrealisingtheyhadnofat,shesaidtothem:"Heyyouwarriors,ifyougivemeanecklace,Iwillgiveyouafatpieceofmeatthatyoucoulduseasfat."Thewarriorsconsentedandgaveheranecklaceinexchangeforthefatpieceofmeat.Whentheexchangewasfinalised,Haretookleaveofthewarriorsandcontinuedonherway.NextshecameuponAntelopetowhomshesaid:"Lookatmynecklace."Onenquiringwhereshehadgotit,Harereplied:"Itismyfriendsthewarriorswhogaveittome,thewarriorstowhomIgavemymeat,themeatthatthehuntersgaveme,thehunterstowhomIgavemyarrow,myarrowwhichmygodgaveme."AntelopelookedatHare'snecklaceadmiringly,andsaidtoher:"MayIpleasetryiton?"OnwearingthenecklaceAntelopesoughttheopinionofherfriendbyasking:"Doesitsuitme?"TothisHareinnocentlyreplied:"Itsuitsyouperfectlywell."ThereuponAnteloperanasfastasherlegscouldcarryher,runningawaywithHare'sbeads.AftertryingtopursueAntelope,Haresoonrealisedthatshewouldnevercatchupwithher,andsogaveupthechase.Walkingawaysorrowfully,Haresooncameuponanothergroupofhuntersandsaidtothem:"Heyyouhunters,pleaseshootthatantelopeforme."Tothisthehuntersasked:"Whatis she guilty of?"Harereplied:"Shetookaway mynecklace,mynecklacethatthewarriorsgaveme,thewarriorstowhomIgavemymeat,mymeatthatthehuntersgaveme,thehunterstowhomIgavemyarrow,myarrowthatmygodgaveme."AfterhearingofHare'scomplaint,thehuntersdeclinedtoshootAntelope.Takingleaveofthehunters,Harecameacrossaburningfire,towhom shesaid:"Heyyoufire,couldyoupleaseeatthosehunters?"Fireasked,"Whathavetheydone"Harereplied:"TheyrefusedtoshootAntelope,Antelopewhotookmynecklace,mynecklacethatthewarriorsgaveme,thewarriorstowhomIgavemymeat,mymeatthatthehuntersgaveme,thehunterstowhomIgavemyarrow,myarrowthatmygodgaveme."Again,onhearingHare'scomplaint,Firetoosaid:"Iwillnoteatthehunters."HarenextcameuponWaterandsaidtoit:"Heyyouwater,couldyoupleaseputoutthatfire?"Waterasked,"WhathasFiredone"HarerepeatedtoWaterallthatshehadtoldFire.-WateronlisteningtoHare'scomplaintdeclinedtodoasshewasbid.HareleftWater,feelingdisappointed.Soonshefoundaherdofelephants,towhomshespokethus:"Heyyouelephants,couldyoupleasedrinkthatwater."OnenquiringwhyWaterhadtobedrunk,Harereplied:"WaterrefusedtoputoutFire,Firewhorefusedtoeatthehunters,thehuntersthatdeclinedtoshootAntelope,Antelopewhotookawaymynecklace,mynecklacethatthewarriorsgaveme,thewarriorstowhomIgavemymeat,mymeatthatthehuntersgaveme,thehunterstowhom Igavemyarrow,myarrowthatmygodgaveme."OnhearingHare'sstorytheelephants,too,declinedtocarryoutHare'srequestasalltheothershaddone.Undauntedbyherinabilitytoconvinceanyonetotakeactiononherbehalfsofar,Haremovedon,nextcomingupontreestowhom shespokesaying:"Heyyoutrees,couldyoupleasefallonthoseelephants?"Onenquiringthewrongcommittedbytheelephants,Harereplied:"TheyrefusedtodrinkWater,WaterthatrefusedtoputoutFire,Firethatrefusedtoeatthehunters,thehuntersthatdeclinedtoshootAntelope,Antelopewhotookawaymynecklace,mynecklacethatthewarriorsgaveme,thewarriorstowhomIgavemymeat,


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mymeatthatthehuntersgaveme,thehunterstowhomIgavemyarrow,myarrowthatmygodgaveme."WhenthetreeshadmheardHare'sstory,theytoosaid,Wewillnotfallontheelephants."Harethenleftthetreesandcameupon“termiteswhomsheaskedtofellthetrees.Thetermitesdemandedtoknowthewrongcommittedbythetrees.Haretoldtermitesofhow thetreeshadrefusedtofallontheelephantsandwentonenumeratingwhateveryoneelsehaddoneorrefusedtodointhesamewayshehadtoldtheothers.TherefusalbytermitestofellthetreesupsetHare,butshewasbynomeansdaunted.Movingonwithpersistence,Haresooncameuponsomedonkeyswhomsheaskedtotrampleonthetermites.Onhearingwhatthetermiteshaddone,thedonkeystoodeclinedtotrampleonthem.BythistimeHarewasbeginningtofeelexasperatedandweary,havingwalkedalldaywithnosuccess.Itwasnotlongbeforeshecameuponagroupofhyenas,towhomshesaid:"Heyyouhyenas,couldyoupleaseeatthosedonkeys?"Thehyenasasked:"Whathavethedonkeysdone?"Harereplied,"Theyrefusedtotrampleonthetermites,thetermiteswhichrefusedtofellthetrees,thetreesthatrefusedtofallontheelephants,elephantswhorefusedtodrinkWater,WaterwhorefusedtoputoutFire,Firewhorefusedtoeatthehunters,thehuntersthatdeclinedtoshootAntelope,Antelopewhotookawaymynecklace,mynecklacethatthewarriorsgaveme,thewarriorstowhom Igavemymeat,mymeatthatthehuntersgaveme,thehunterstowhom Igavemyarrow,myarrowthatmygodgaveme."AgreeingtocarryoutHare'srequest,thehyenassaid:"Verywell,wewilleatthedonkeys."Ontherealisationthattheywereabouttobeeaten,thedonkeyssaid:"Wewilltrampleonthetermites."Thetermitessaid:"Wewillfellthetrees."Thetreessaid:"Wewillfallontheelephants."Theelephantssaid:"WewilldrinkWater."Watersaid:"IwillputoutFire."Firesaid:"Iwilleatthehunters."Thehunterssaid:WewillshootAntelope."Antelopesaid:"IwillreturnHare'snecklace."SoHarewasgivenbackhernecklaceandshewasveryhappy.

Questions1.Givetwoexamplesofpersonificationusedbythenarrator.2."TothisHareinnocentlyreplied."Whydoesthenarratorusethewordinnocentlyhere?3.Whatisthemoodinthisnarrative?4.Give,withillustrations,threecharacteraspectsofHare.5. 'Hyena'spresenceinthisnarrativeinindispensable."Brieflystatehowtrueorfalsethisstatementis.6.Whatmajornarrativetechniquedoesthenarratoruseinthisstory?Whateffectdoesthishaveonthedevelopmentofthestory?7.Whattypeofnarrativeisthis?Supportyouranswer.

ANSWERS1.Examplesofpersonificationare:- Hareisreferredtoas"she"/"her"


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-"Antelope""Hare""Fire""Water"beginwithcapitallettersasiftheyarepersonalnouns.Theyalsotalklikehumans.- Antelopewearsanecklacelikeahumanbeing.- Fireisreferredtoas"whom",arelativepronounthatisusedwithhumansonly.2. Thenarratorusestheword"innocently"becauseHaredidnotknowthatAntelopeadmiredhernecklaceandshewouldrunawaywithitafterbeingtoldbyHarethatitsuitedherwell.3.Themoodinthisnarrativeisoneofdisappointment,sadnessandanger4.ExamplesofHare’scharacterare:- Sheispolite(sheusesthewordplease).- Sheispersistent(shedoesn'tgiveupeasilyevenafterbeingturneddown).- Sheisoptimistic(shehopestogetsomejustice).- Sheispersuasive(sherepeatsthechainofeventsthatleadtothelossofhernecklace).Sherequeststobegotbackhernecklace.- Sheisvengeful(shewantsthosewhorefusetohelptobepunished).5.Itistruethat"Hyena'spresenceinthisnarrativeisindispensable"becauseheistheonlyonewhoacceptstohelpHaretherebyseeingjusticeattained.6. Thenarratorusesrepetitionasamajornarrativetechniquetocreateachainofeventswhichmakesthenarratinginteresting.7.Thisisatricksterstory.AntelopetricksHaretobegivenHare'snecklacetotryon,whichshelaterrunsawaywith.EXERCISE16ReadthefollowingOralsongandanswerthequestionswhichfollow.Sleep,sleepSweet,gentleonesleepYourmotheriscoming,sleepSleep,sleep,gentleonesleep.Sleep,sleepSweetgentleonesleepYourguardiscomingsleepSleep,sleepgentleonesleepSleep,sleepSweet,gentleonesleepYourheartiscoming,sleepSleep,sleepgentleonesleepSleep,sleepSweet,gentleonesleepTheselfishoneiscomingsleepSleep,gentleonesleep.


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Questionsa)Usingthreeillustrationsfromthesongclassifyit-b)Whatisthesinger'sattitudetowardsthesubjectofthesong"c)Comparethetoneinthefirstthreestanzasandtheoneinthelaststanzaofthesongd)Whattwoaspectsofstylearecommonlyusedinthissonge)Whatisthecharactertraitofthepersonbeingdescribedinthesongf)WhatistherelationshipbetweenthesingerandthepersonbeingdescribedWhatisthemorallessoninthissong?SAMPLEANSWERa)Thisisalullaby,duetoi)Repetitionofwardslike'sleep,sleep"ii)Mentionofmotheriscomingiii)Mentionofguard;scoming.b)Thesingeriscontemptuousofthebaby'smothershesays:"Theselfishoneiscoming"c)Thetoneishappyatfirstthenchangestoabitterone.nthelaststanza."Youriscoming/Theselfishoneiscoming.”d)Theaspectsofstyleusedinthesongare:i)Repetition-sleep/sleepii)Satire-thebaby'smotherarrivalissatirized.Thespeakerknowsherarrivalisofnousetoher-shesays,"theselfishoneiscoming”iii)Irony-thearrivalofthebabyisablessingtothespeakere)Thepersonbeingdescribedisselfish.f)Thesingerisanursewhilethepersonbeingdescribedisamother.Thebaby'smotherisselfishtothesingerandthatiswhythesingerexpressesthisinasong.Theselfishoneiscoming.g)Themorallessonisthatnursesneedtobetreatedfairlyinorderforthem tonursebabieswithdevotionandwithoutfear.


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ORAL LITERATURE NOTES Visit elimupedia.com for more

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