Department of Literary Studies

Female Characters Contesting Maasai Traditional Cultural Practices And Materialism In H.R. Ole Kulet’s Blossoms Of The Savannah And Daughter Of Maa

Mon, 01 Jan 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Female Characters Contesting Maasai Traditional Cultural Practices And Materialism In H.R. Ole Kulet’s Blossoms Of The Savannah And Daughter Of Maa Paul Khaemba Wanyonyi, Jane Bwonya, Kitche Magak, John Mugubi, Katheu Mbithi : This paper examines how the Kenyan writer H.R. Ole Kulet portrays female characters vis-à-vis Maasai traditional practices in Blossoms of the Savannah and Daughter of Maa. It proceeds from the premise that characterization plays a pivotal role in depicting the place and role of particular characters in a work of art. For instance, the roles assigned to certain characters in the work of art reflect on their cultural position in the society. It is in this way, the paper examines female characters in the two texts aiming to show how the author portrays cultural conflicts in regard to their positions and roles in the society. From a close reading of the text, it is evident that these characters help to bring out cultural conflicts in the Maasai community. Some of them are either rebelling against traditional cultural practices as they embrace modernity while others are defending the traditional cultural practices as they oppose modernity. This paper contributes useful data on the role of literature in inspiring social consciousness on gender and development issues www.eajournals.org

POTRAITURE OF FEMININITY IN GUSII ORAL POETRY

Tue, 01 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMT

POTRAITURE OF FEMININITY IN GUSII ORAL POETRY Nyambane Fredrick Monanti, Kitche Magak, Jane Bwonya – Human communities are largely socialized through art to operate within the limits of ideologies. The form of art Abagusii have for eons used to socialize their populace into subjects of different ideologies is oral poetry hence, the perfect choice by this study to investigate femininity as one of the ideologies in the Abagusii cosmos. Th e choice of oral poetry as a vehicle for studying femininity among the Gusii is informed by the fact that this genre is that it is the oldest and most versatile genres of orature and one which has had a long and intimate relationship with human communities globally. This paper thus examines the Gusii oral poems as a semiotic system with encoded signs which embody the Gusii feminine ideology. The objective of the paper is to establish the construction and nature of the Gusii feminine ideology and its efficacy in shaping social relationships within Abagusii as a social entity. In the analysis of the sampled oral poems, this paper uses a conceptual framework developed from the Chandler (1995) strands of semiotics in which he argues that a culture produces signs and attributes meanings to them. The tenets of semiosis are then linked to the sociological literary theory strands by Rosenblatt (1978) in which he argues that literature mirrors protocols of the society which produces it and serves given social purposes. Finally, strands from the two literary theories of semiotics and sociological theories are further interlinked with the Althusserian (1989) and Eagleton (1976)’s tenets of Marxism in which they argue that art is a product of a specific historical epoch and its purpose is to be an Ideological State Apparatuses which interpellates people into becoming subjects of given ideologies. This paper has adopted the analytical study design. Secondary data was obtained from the review of published works and primary data was the textual analysis of Gusii oral poems collected from the Abagusii resource persons and libraries. The sampling of data and resource persons was both purposive and through snowballing. The study is significant in the sense that it contributes towards celebrating the role of oral poetry as a vehicle for enabling humans to perceive themselves, their environment and their world in ways unique to themselves and enhancing of intercultural relations as well as forms a basis for related studies www.ijmsssr.org

Construction of Feminine Ideology in Gusii Oral Poetry

Tue, 01 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Construction of Feminine Ideology in Gusii Oral Poetry Nyambane Fredrick Monanti Prof Kitche Magak, Jane Bwonya Abagusii females of the Kisii community of Western Kenya are largely socialized through the community’s oral poetry to operate within the limits of a feminine ideology. The choice of Gusii oral poetry as a vehicle for studying feminine ideology of Abagusii is informed by the fact that this genre of Gusii verbal arts is the oldest and most versatile genres of Gusii orature. Equally, it has had a long and intimate relationship with human communities globally. This paper thus examines the Gusii oral poems as a semiotic system with encoded signs which embody the Gusii feminine ideology. The objective of the paper is to establish the construction and nature of the Gusii feminine ideology and its efficacy in shaping social relationships within Abagusii as a social entity. In the analysis of the purposively sampled oral poems, this paper uses a conceptual framework developed from the Chandler (1995) strands of semiotics in which he argues that a culture produces signs and attributes meanings to them. The tenets of semiosis are then linked to the sociological literary theory strands of Rosenblatt (1978) in which he argues that literature mirrors protocols of the society which produces it and serves given social purposes. Finally, strands from the two literary theories of semiotics and sociological are further interlinked with the Althusserian (1989) and Eagleton (1976)’s tenets of Marxism in which they argue that art is a product of a specific historical epoch and its purpose is to be an Ideological State Apparatuses which interpellates people into becoming subjects of specific ideologies. This paper has adopted the analytical study design. Secondary data was obtained from a review of published works and primary data was the textual analysis of Gusii oral poems collected from the Abagusii resource persons, copyrighted music stores and libraries. The sampling of data and resource persons was both purposive and through snowballing. The study is significant in the sense that it contributes towards celebrating the role of oral poetry as a vehicle for enabling humans to perceive themselves, their environment and their world in ways unique to them and enhancing of intercultural relations as well as forms a basis for related studies.; Abagusii females of the Kisii community of Western Kenya are largely socialized through the community’s oral poetry to operate within the limits of a feminine ideology. The choice of Gusii oral poetry as a vehicle for studying feminine ideology of Abagusii is informed by the fact that this genre of Gusii verbal arts is the oldest and most versatile genres of Gusii orature. Equally, it has had a long and intimate relationship with human communities globally. This paper thus examines the Gusii oral poems as a semiotic system with encoded signs which embody the Gusii feminine ideology. The objective of the paper is to establish the construction and nature of the Gusii feminine ideology and its efficacy in shaping social relationships within Abagusii as a social entity. In the analysis of the purposively sampled oral poems, this paper uses a conceptual framework developed from the Chandler (1995) strands of semiotics in which he argues that a culture produces signs and attributes meanings to them. The tenets of semiosis are then linked to the sociological literary theory strands of Rosenblatt (1978) in which he argues that literature mirrors protocols of the society which produces it and serves given social purposes. Finally, strands from the two literary theories of semiotics and sociological are further interlinked with the Althusserian (1989) and Eagleton (1976)’s tenets of Marxism in which they argue that art is a product of a specific historical epoch and its purpose is to be an Ideological State Apparatuses which interpellates people into becoming subjects of specific ideologies. This paper has adopted the analytical study design. Secondary data was obtained from a review of published works and primary data was the textual analysis of Gusii oral poems collected from the Abagusii resource persons, copyrighted music stores and libraries. The sampling of data and resource persons was both purposive and through snowballing. The study is significant in the sense that it contributes towards celebrating the role of oral poetry as a vehicle for enabling humans to perceive themselves, their environment and their world in ways unique to them and enhancing of intercultural relations as well as forms a basis for related studies. https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/234686394.pdf; https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/234686394.pdf

Construction of Feminine Ideology in Gusii Oral Poetry

Tue, 01 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMT

The Politics of Pulpit Religiosity in the Era of Covid-19 in Kenya

Fri, 01 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT

The Politics of Pulpit Religiosity in the Era of Covid-19 in Kenya Susan Mbula Kilonzo, Bryson Otieno Omwalo This essay centres on the role of religion in the era of Covid-19. We juxtapose social media and religious practices in a way that challenges the conventional religion of the pulpit to deconstruct the myths and misconceptions around spirituality in the era of Covid-19. We show the transformation of worship from physical worship places, particularly churches, to virtual engagements through social media. Through observation, close relations' accounts, personal experiences and media perspectives, we analyze the politics that surrounded religious observances in the first 7 months of Covid-19 pandemic in Kenya. We make a case that, discoveries made in these seven and other months to come, will most likely influenced the myths and misconceptions about religion and religious practices in the Country. From these accounts, we project a future that is likely to reap from the benefits of technology, and especially social media, which has revolutionized exchange of ideas, sermons, prayers and music. We challenge the very notion of pulpit religiosity, and the myths and misconceptions that religion cannot be without physical fellowships.

Relationship Between Personality Types and Career Choice Among Undergraduate Students of Maseno University, Kenya

Wed, 01 Jan 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Relationship Between Personality Types and Career Choice Among Undergraduate Students of Maseno University, Kenya Richard Juma Atela, John.O. Agak, Lucas Othuon Training institutions in most parts of the world place high premium on those who excel in examinations based on scholastic intelligence. In Kenya, students are admitted into available undergraduate degree programmes in public universities based on their performance in Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE). Yet, the Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) degree programmes offered in the School of Education at Maseno University have a strong bearing on personality types and not all the students admitted can fit in them. Academic qualification remains a challenge to a majority of students (79.4%) in choosing a career; hence a significant number (94%) of students end up settling for what is available rather than their choice. Apparently, limited attention has been given to exploring the relationship between students’ unique personality-occupational interests hence the current low (7%) college career satisfaction level. The purpose of the study therefore, was to establish the types of personality and their relationship with career choice among first-year B.Ed students of Maseno University, Kenya. The objectives of the study was to establish Holland personality types across gender; to determine the level of relationship between personality types and career choice in the B.Ed programmmes of Maseno University The study was guided by the Holland Code Theory (1997). Correlation and descriptive survey designs were adopted for the study. The target population consisted of the 490 first-year B.Ed students admitted in the Academic year 2011/2012 in the School of Education. The study sample consisted of 220 first-years B.Ed students drawn using proportionate stratified sampling. Data was collected by use of Questionnaire and document analysis guides. The questionnaire was piloted using 10% (n = 49) of the study population Pearson Product Moment correlation was used to determine reliability at alpha level 0.05. The questionnaire had an acceptable reliability index of 0.84. Quantitative data was coded and analyzed using descriptive statistics such as mode, frequency counts and percentages. Gender difference in personality types was examined using percentages and mean gender differences across personality types. Further, the degree of relationship between personality types and career choice was established using cross tabulation with chi-square test and Likelihood Ratio test. Qualitative data was transcribed into text form of emerging themes and reported. Gender was found to be strongly correlated to personality types (X = 34.962, df= 5, p= .000) with more males classified as realistic and investigative and more females as social type. The results of the of the chi square test likelihood ratio test show very high (p<.000) level of relationship between personality types and career choice. The study concludes that students at Maseno University can be classified into the six Holland personality types which correlate significantly with gender. The study further concludes that there is also a significant relationship (p<.000) between personality types and career choice. The study recommended that the need to investigate factors at the university environment which influences the development of personality types among female and male students. Significantly, the study provides a useful guide to students, education policymakers and university staff for career choice, training and retention efforts and placement.

Organizational Characteristics that are Antecedents to Organizational Learning: A Case of Maseno University, Kenya

Wed, 01 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Organizational Characteristics that are Antecedents to Organizational Learning: A Case of Maseno University, Kenya O Ochieng', P B Ojera ,J Wanjare, S J Ntongai, K I Naibei This paper sought to establish the existing Organizational characteristics that are antecedent to organizational learning in public Universities, a case of Maseno University, Kenya. The study adopted a survey design. The population of study comprised 384 employees of the university. A sample of 70 respondents was selected using stratified sampling technique. Data was collected through self-administered questionnaires and analyzed by descriptive statistics. The study findings revealed that organizational characteristics are indicated by leadership commitment, an incentive system and staff interaction and that the persisting organizational characteristics do not generally lend themselves to supporting organizational learning. Indeed, those that are typically antecedent to organizational learning are lacking. The study recommends that Universities needs to deliberately create and install characteristics that support organizational learning with a special emphasis on leadership commitment. These results will make a small contribution of information to support managerial decisions pertaining to the level of attention to pay to organizational learning activities, given its potential outcomes, and also, as general reference to academicians pursuing the subject of organizational learning.

A Portrait Subverting the Normative Gender Identity

Mon, 01 Jan 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A Portrait Subverting the Normative Gender Identity Pamela Ngonga Odhacha, Kepha Kitche Magak, Muhoma Akinyi Catherine Autobiographical discourses written by women globally in their perceptions indicate that women are struggling to be given an equal playing field in academia and politics. The paper looks at a portrait of the Legacy of subversion of gender identity in Wangari Maathai’s Unbowed, sampled purposively. Tenets of New Historicism and Gender theory are used in analysing data. Qualitative analytical research design with data collected through textual reading and analyzed by content, are used. Findings indicate that Wangari defines herself as a political, feminist, and human rights activist; as well as an environmentalist and a literary artist in Kenya. She narrates how she helps shape up and transforms Kenya’s government into a democracy in which she later serves. Her fearless strength in adversity, her creative approach to building a peaceful, healthy planet; her hard work inspiring and empowering women are accolades that culminate into her being crowned a Nobel Peace laureate

Concretizing the Emerging Subverted Normative Portraiture in the Metaphor ‘Unbowed’

Mon, 01 Jan 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Concretizing the Emerging Subverted Normative Portraiture in the Metaphor ‘Unbowed’ Pamela Ngonga Odhacha Kepha Kitche Magak, Muhoma Akinyi Catherine Autobiographical discourses written by women globally in their perceptions indicate that women are struggling to dismantle patriarchal structures, seeking to deter them from mainstreaming gender. The paper looks at a subverted portrait from the normative gender identity in Wangari Maathai’s Unbowed, sampled purposively. Tenets of New Historicism and Gender theory are used in analysing data. Analytical research design with data collected through textual reading and analyzed by content, are used. Findings indicate that Wangari defines herself as ‘Unbowed’ to imply defiance and resilience. She seeks to be viewed differently from how the society has viewed women in the past. She narrates how she helps shape up and transforms Kenya’s government into a democracy in which she later serves. Wangari’s fearless strength in adversity, creative approach to building a peaceful, healthy planet; hard work inspiring and empowering women are accolades that culminate into her being crowned a Nobel Peace laureate.

Socio-cultural Dynamics of Displacement in Adichie’s Novels

Mon, 01 Jan 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Socio-cultural Dynamics of Displacement in Adichie’s Novels Ouno Victor Onyango, Kitche Magak, Muhoma Catherine Displacement is an all-embracing experience that has attracted global interest. Post-colonial countries in Africa and beyond are grappling with this experience. Literary discourse is alive to the socio-cultural dimensions that it exhibits and a number of literary writers have invested their artistic energies in exploring these trajectories. This study focuses on Adichie’s novels as literary platforms upon which the socio-cultural trajectories have been ventilated upon. Using a multi-dimensional construct of critical hybridity as a theoretical prism, the experiences of specific characters have been analysed to depict the dynamics of displacement from a fictional point of view. This study concludes that displacement is a multi-layered phenomenon, arising from several factors and Adichie explores a number of socio-cultural trajectories in her two novels, Purple Hibiscus and Half of a Yellow Sun. In both novels, the main characters, Kambili and Olanna assume dislocated states of existence and detached consciousness which reflects the indeterminate unfolding of events shaped around their senseless cognitive meandering within the novel.