Oralliteratureisone of theareastestedinLiterature inEnglishoftheKenya Certificateof SecondaryEducationExaminations.TheotherareasinthispaperincludeTheNovel, Drama,PoetryandtheShortStory . WhatisOralliterature? Haveyou ever imagined what lifewaslike inthe days ofour great great grandfathers?Howdidtheyspend theirleisuretime?Certainlytheydid notspend theirfree time reading the works oftheirgreatwriters.This is simply because they could not read.The civilization of reading andwriting was stillat its rudimentarystagesand in somepartsoftheworld thiscivilization wasunheard of.Booksasweknowthem todayareamuchrecentinvention. Butarewe suggestingthatsimplybecause therewere no novelsorshortstories asweknow them today,therewereno storiesorpoemsorotherartisticforms?Far from it!From timeimmemorial,man has always told stories.He has always recited poems.Thesestoriesand poemsareareflection ofhumanityatvarious stages on development.Itis through stories and poems thatpeople define themselves:whotheyare;whattheybelieve in;whattheyvalue;theiroccupations; whattheyeatetc. Sincetheartofwritingwasnotaswidespreadasitistoday,howwerethese stories, poemsand songspreservedand transmitted?They werepreserved inpeoples memoryand transmittedbywordofmouth.InadditionAfrican societiesforin stance,theextended familywould gatheratthehearth(fireplace)in theeveningaftersupperandspend timetellingstoriesandposingriddles. Childrenwould memoriesthesestories andriddlesandwouldsoonstartretelling them andwhentheygrew up,theywouldhandthem down totheirchildrenandthe cyclewouldcontinue. Thissituationstill obtains inmanysocieties today.This especially thecaseinmanyruralareaswhereoneislikelytofindcommunitiesthose arelargelyhomogenous.Inthesecommunitiesoralliteratureisverymuchalive A mentioned above,oralliterature is transmitted by word ofmouth.Forthis reasonitiscalledoral. As you revise oral literature,therefore,you should bear in mind that Oral Literatureis spoken,generallyperformedand oftendramatizedby a skilled performer.That meansthatifyou are reading a narrative forinstance,youhave to bearin mind thatthenarrativewasactuallyperformedtoaliveaudienceasopposedtoanovelor a shortstorywhoseoriginalformatwasthewritten form.Youshould alsoco nsiderthatthetargetaudienceforaparticularpieceoforalsharesa common social, culturalandhistoricalbackground.Theycould,forinstancebemembersofa particularethniccommunityorevenmembersofthesamevillageorclan. Oralliterature:Amisnomer? Much ofthe confusion surrounding the studyoforalliteraturestems from the verynatureofthenameofthesubject:Oralliterature.Oxford Advanced Learner s Dictionary defines the wordoralas spoken;notwritten:anoralexamination, storiespassedonbyoraltradition(i.e.fromonegenerationtothenextwithout beingwritten) The same dictionary defines the wordliteratureaswritingsthatarevaluedas worksofartespeciallyfiction,drama,andpoetry.

From thetwodefinitionsabovewearequicktonotethattheterm oralliterature generatesanobviouscontradiction.Thatwhichisoralcannotalsobewritten atthesame time.Itis becauseofthe contradiction by this term that many scholars have suggested alternative terms to describe thesubject.These include verbalart,orature,performedartetc.Ifyouwereaskedtosuggestamoresuitable term torefertothesamesubject,whatwouldyouuse?

FeaturesoforalLiterature These are features thatdistinguishoralliterature from otherforms ofliterature suchastheNovelandtheShortStory.

Thespokenword Asopposed to theNovel,and theShortStorywhoserawmaterialsisthewritten word, OralLiteraturereliesonthespokenword. Narratives and songs are passed down from onegeneration tothenextthrough the spokenwordpreserved inin peoplesmemoryasopposedtothewrittenword preservedin books.Itis onlyaftertheinventionofwriting thatmostoftheoral literaturepieceshavebeen written down so thattheycan bereadilyavailableto peopleforstudyandanalysis. Occasion As opposedto the writtenformsofliterature,someoftheoralliterature pieces callfor Specificoccasionsto beperformed.Forinstancetherewillbesongsperformed during marriageceremonies,funerals,whilesoothingthebaby tosleep, whenworking, beforegoing to waretc.Inotherformsliteratureforinstancethenovel,theshortstoryordrama, theaspectofoccasionisnotimportant.Forinstanceonecanreadanovelanytime.

Performance Oralliterature lives inperformance One cannotforinstance, fully appreciate a weddingsongunlessitisperformedinordertounderstandandenjoy.Whenoral literaturepiecesarewrittendown,theaspectsofperformancearelost.

Reasonsforstudyingoralliteratureinschool/importanceoforalliterature Oralliterature forms an importantpartofinformaleducation byteaching people to improvetheirSelfexpression,Powersofobservationandmemory.Italsosharpenstheir WitsandImagination,Itteaches peopleSocialvaluesBehaviourandHow torelateto theworldandtoothersItalsoinformspeopleontheircollectivehistoryandculture,It isalsoarichsourceofentertainment,Ithelpsusappreciatethecultureofotherco mmunities in our country leading toabetterunderstanding ofthese cultures, whichcouldleadto socialcohesion(unityindiversity).

Some forms oforalliterature could be used to mobilize the masses toward a certain goal.ThefightagainstHIV/AIDShasbeenlargelyconductedthroughsongs.

Typesoforalliterature Thesearealso calledgenres orformsorevenclassificationsoforalliterature.They include: 1.Oralnarratives 2.Songs/oralpoetry 3.TheShortForms. )a)Proverbs b)Tonguetwisters c)Riddles

CHAPTER TWO

ORALNARRATIVES Thesearefurthercategorized/classified a.Myths b.Legends c.Etiological/explanatorynarratives d.Tricksternarratives e.Monsternarratives F Humannarratives MYTHS a.A mythisastorythatattempttoexplaintheoriginsofaparticularphenomenon. b.Itcouldaccountfortheoriginsofacommunity,orothernaturalphenomena. A mythinvolvesgodsandothersupernaturalbeingsintheirstructure. Communitiestreasurethem becauseoftheirreligiousvalueandastheirofficial accounthowtheycameintobeing.

ExampleofaMyth THEORIGINOFDEATH(Kalenjin) AccordingtotheKalenjin,thenumberofhunters intheirland hadincreasedsomuch thatthe wildanimalsWere beenwipedout.These huntersdecided tohuntallthe animalsoftheplain.Onedayoneofthehuntersstoppedtodrinkfrom apool.Ashe wasdrinkingfrom thepool,henoticedareflectioninthewater.Thereflectionwasver ybeautiful.Itwasabirdthatlookedlikeacock.Thefeatherswereverybeautifulbut insteadofhavingtwo legs thisbird had four.Theheadwaslargeandhadablue comb. Thehunter wonderedwhatthisbirdwas.Hehadneverseensuchacreaturein allhis life.Hethoughthewasdreaming.He finished drinking waterand rosetogo, butthenherealizedthatthecreaturewasareality.Thecreaturemovedandwatched thehunter.Thehunter in turnwatchedthecreature.Certainly the creature was strange.The hunter decided to aim an arrow at it.Perhapsthemeatofthe unknowncreaturewasverysweet,hethoughtashereleasedthearrow. Afterthestrangecreaturefelldead,therefollowedrain thatwasheavierthathad ever beenknownbefore.Therainwasfullofthunderandlightning.Nobodyknowswhere the hunterwent.Allthatisknown isthathe neverreturned tohisfamily.Andfrom thatdayofheavyrain,peoplebegantosleepforever. AstheKalenjinsay,thundergotveryangryattheshootingofhisinnocentson, and so he sentheavyrainanddeathas punishmentto people.Beforetheheavy rain,peoplehadsleptandwokenupasusual.Thusthelongsleepknownasdeathwas causedbythehunterscuriousity. Note Thisstoryattemptsto explain the origin ofdeath,an importantphenomenon.It isdeliveredinaserioustoneandinvolvespowerfulsupernaturalbeing,thunder.

LEGENDS Thesearenarrativesaboutmemorablehistoricaleventsand people.Eventshere may includeinterethnicwars,famines,migrationofpeopleand soon.Some of the historically significantpeople who feature in legends include warriors andgreat chiefssuch asLwanda Magere(Luo),WangombeWaihura (Gikuyu),Gor Mahia (LUO)etc. In theprocessofbeing passed on from onegeneration to another,legend may acquire elements offantasy as exaggerations are added, perhaps as a way ofemp hasizingthe mightofthesubjectofthelegend.Agoodexampleoftheseelements offantasyisto befoundinthestoryofLwandaMagerewhoissaidtohave hadabodysohardthat spearsbouncedoffhisbody!

Exampleoflegend THEARINKON(Maasai) Therewereonceapeopleknown astheilarinkonwho wereownersoftheland thatthe Maasaioccupied aftertheirascentfrom the Kerio escarpment.These people had a leaderwho was amighty giant.Sincehe wasvery much feared,it wasdeemed wisetoavoid him forfearthat uponthe slightest provocation;he mightdecidetowipeoutthewholeMaasaipopulation.ButtheArinkonremained resentful of the Maasai occupation, spreading over their land. They sent messagestellingthem toleave. Butthe Maasaiwere unwilling to leave the richly endowed country,having just recovered from theformidableascentoftheescarpment.Atthesametime,they were reluctant to fight peoplewhose might they were unsure of,especially havingobservedsignsofgreatphysicalmightintheirleader.Theyinsteadplayed tricksonthem.Theystartedbybribingthem withgiftsofcattle,sheep and various otheritems,with the hope ofbeing permitted to stay on.Butthese people developed a habitofpestering theMaasaiwith theintention ofgetting them fed up,hopingtomakethem leave,eithertowherevertheyhadcomefrom orelsewhere. Oneday,theArinkonchiefsentamessagetotheMaasaisaying,Wewillletyo ustayifyoubringwarm frothingmilk. The Maasaisaid:Verywell,give useightdaysand we willbring it,Since the Maasailivedalongwayoff,themilkwouldwithoutdoubthavecooledbeforethey gottotheArinkon chief.Assoonas theygothome,theMaasaicalled a meeting. Closebythemeetingplace,therewasalittleboywhowasherdingcalves.Heheard whattheelderswerediscussingandsaidtothem:Fathers,donotworryyourselves,go and driveawaythatcowwhosecalveisdeadand when theenemieshaveassemb led,milkquicklyandtakethemilkwhileitisstillfrothing. The Maasaiwaited untilthe enemy had assembled,waiting to killthem, not expecting them toproduce the milk.They milked the cow and quickly took the milk. The Arinkon were staggeredwithshock.Theyimmediately knew thatthey musthavebeentricked.Therulersaid:Verywell,theyhavebeatenusonthisone. He then told them to go and return on a certain day.On thearrangedday,they returnedtotheArinkon. WhentheMaasaireturnedtheArinkonrulersaidtothem,Inow wantyoutobring measandalwithhaironbothsides. TheMaasaiwerein a fix,forwho had everseen ahidewhich ishairyon both sides?Asthensayinggoes,Abilitiesanddeterminationarenoequal.TheMaasaisaid, Verywell. Backatthesamemeetingplace,theyoungboywasbriefedonwhathadtransp ired.Hesaidquickly:Itisasimplematter,go andfindadonkeyandcutoffoneear, makeasandalandtakeittohim. The elders replied:He has spoken the truth.The Arinkon rulerreceived the sandalwithgreatconsternationforhehadnotexpectedtheMaasaitoobtainitatall. TherulersaidtotheMaasai,YoumaynowgobackandwhenIneedsomethingelse Ishallsendforyou. Assoon astheMaasaideparted theArinkon held counselto figureoutthemost difficultitem torequesttheMaasai,sothatfailureto procureitwould lead to a fight.WhentheArinkonchiefnextsentfortheMaasai,hesaidtothem:Goandfill upaguardandbringthem tomewhentheyarestillhoppingabout. Theelders wentback to the clever boy,who had,by then been nicknamed `cleveroneandinformedhim ofwhattheyhadbeentold.Whenheheardit,hesaid: Oh!Fathers, thisisdifficult,but itiseasyatthesame time, butdo notworry yourselvesforwewillfindthem fleas.Takeholdofadonkeyandcutoffsomehair sfrom themaneandcrush in abuffalo horn containerand putthem in a gourd. When you hand the Arinkon the gourd you must make sure you face thewindwardside. Theeldersdidastheyweredirected andsoondeliveredthe`fleas.As theywere handingoverthegourd,theytilteditsothatthehairswereblownaboutby thewind, creatinganimpressionthatthefleasweredashingabout.Theregetholdofthem! theArinkonshouted.Butcouldtheygetholdofthem whentheyhadalreadydispersed? TheArinkonhadneverbeforebeensoflabbergasted!Anotherday passed, and still theArinkon did notknow whatto do with a peoplethatwereprovingtoo smart forthem.Theyagainheld counselandwhenthey nextsummonedtheMalaysia,their leadersaid to them:I wantyou to bring meonlytwomorethings.Bring me a metaltoothbrushand find meawaythatleads to heaven.TheMaasaidrewtheir handsto theirmouthsin amazement.They requested him to give them three months to find those items.When theyreturned home,theyheldameetingthat lastedthewholeday.Whenthecleverboywasinformed ofwhathad beenrequested, he said: Go and bringmea clubandIwill show youhow tomakeametal toothbrush.Theywentinsearchofit. Severalclubsweretakentotheboy,buteachtimehetriedtouseoneitwouldbreak. Manyclubsgotbroken.Eventually,he said to the elders:Go to a place called Oletukatandgetmeaclubfrom theologol-timtree,whosestem hadbeenbittenoff bytherhinocerosandthewaterhasgonedown to the roots.Afteralong search, thetree was found,uprootedand taken totheboy.Whenhe tried it,itdid not break.Hesaid.Now letusgo to theArinkon whereIwilltellyou ofthemetal toothbrush. Atthefirstflickerofdawn,thepeoplestartedofftotheenemycountry.Theboy wasamong therestwith his club tucked underhis armpit. They found the Ar inkonhavinggatheredto receivewhatwasbrought.Themeetingwasopenedwith theexchangeofnews.Whattheboywasgoingtodo wasbynow obvioustothe Maasai.Thefatherofthecleverboystoodup andsaid:Thereheis inacrouching positionwiththenotoriousone**whoseshaft isblackand whose organsofsight detectus.Ifyou arefortheaffirmativeconfirm so wecan fold theknee***and approach abovethe organs thatis bent** **so thatthe brain may pop outthro ughthenostrils.Ifyouareforthenegativeconfirm sothatwebeataretreat. The Arinkon did not understand what was said, and started asking themselves:Whatare thesepeoplesaying?The elderanswered:We have simply said thatwe have broughtthe metaltoothbrushtheboy stood upas though hewasgoingtohandoverthetoothbrush.HehittheArinkonchiefandtheeyes popped outand thebrainoozed outthrough thenostrils.Whiletheywerebeing beaten, theArinkon werebeing told Arinkon,here,havewhatyou havealwayssought. ThatwaswhentheArinkonracehasalwayssoughtoriginated. **Thespear***Oneoftenhalfkneelsdowninpreparationtospearanobject.** **Theear. Examplesofthesenarrativesinclude: 1.Howthezebraacquireditsstripes. 2.Whyhensscratchtheground. 3.Whytheostrichsneckislong Asopposedtomyths -Aetiologicalnarrativesdonotinvolvegodsandthesupernaturalworld. -Theydealwithlessimportantissues. -Aregenerallytoldtochildreninanefforttoquenchtheircuriousity. Examplesofexplanatorynarratives Whycatsliketostaybythefireplace(Bukusu) The catwasformallyawildanimalandlivedin the forest.Theforestwastoo dangerousforthecat so,seeking protection,it attached itself to an elephant (whom itthoughtwas the mostpowerfulanimal).A lion came along and killed the elephant.The catthe thoughtthatthe lionwas afterall,the mostpowerful animal.Foritsdefence,ithadtomakefriendswiththelion. Then the huntercamealong with hisbow and arrowsand spear.He killed the lion,which hadattempted to attack him.On his way home the hunterwas fo followed bythecat.Whileatthehuntershomethecatremained llowed hidinguntilanopportunityshowedupthecatsdesireforthehuntersfriendship. Oneevening,aratwhichwasdiscoveredeatingthehuntersmeatwaschasedpast wherethecatwashiding.Thecat,havinganaturalhatredforrats,joinedthechase and killed it.The hunterhad nochoice butto persuade the cattoremain in his houseandkillrats,whichwereathreattohisfood.Thisisnottheendofthestory.One coldevening,thehunterwentroundtoafireplacewhosemanagerwashiswife. Alltheordersatthefireplaceweregivenbythehunterswifeandthehunterhad to obey.Thecat,watching thisrelationship,wasquickto noticethatthehunters wife was stronger than thehunter himself:she orderedhim about.Sothecat decided to stayaround the fireplaceundertheprotectionofthehunterswife.And uptothisday,catsliketostaybythefireplace. THEVULTUREANDTHEHEN Long ago the hen and thevulture used to live on excellentterms,helping each otheratanytimetheyneededahandtoprocuretheirdomesticnecessities. One day,the hen thoughtofborrowing a razorfrom the vulture to shave their little ones.Theshaving was already much overdue,butitcouldntbe helped, because she had no razor. Andwas depending on the kindness of her neighbours.Sothehenwenttoseevultureandsaid, Dearvulture,Ishould like to borrow yourrazor;mine was lostmonthsago.My little ones arelookingvery ugly,andalso veryuntidy,withtheirlong,unkempt,o vergrownhair. Thevulturelistened tothehen with greatconcern,afterashortsilence,said,Dear hen Icannotrefuse you thisfavour.Tomorrow perhapsImightneed yourhelp aswell,and wemusthelpeachother.However,you mustrememberone thing. Youknow whattherazormeanstome.Ihavenoother incomeexcepttherent ofthatrazor;thatistosaytherazorismyfield,whence Igetmydailyfood.IdonotintendtoaskyouanyfeeasIdowithothers;butplease becarefultoreturnittomeassoonasyouarefinishedwithyourshaving. Thank you,brothervulture,Iquite understands whatyou say,and Iam very gratefultoyou.Illbringitbacktoyou. The hen was very gad ofthe favourand as soonas shearrived home,made arrangements to beshaved by another woman.The following morning she shavedherlittleones,sothatthewholefamilywasnowshininglikethemoon.The workover,sheputitinaleatherpurse,whichwashanginginacornerofthehut. Thedayspassed and passed awaylikethewaterunderabridge,butthen hen neverthoughtagain ofreturningtherazortothe vulture.Sheforgotitcompletely. The vulturegrew impatient,and deeply resented in his heartthe unkindness,nay theingratitudeofthehen.Pressed bynecessity,hedecidedtopersonallygotothe henanddemandhisrazor. Ohdearvulture,saidthenhenwithconfusionandgreatregret,Forgiveme;Iam so sorryformynegligencereallyintendto returnyourrazorverysoon,butIputit my leatherpurse andforgotaboutitcompletely.Letmegoand bringit;youw3ill haveitinaminute. Yes,Iknow youareaforgetfulcreature;butlookatthedamageyouhaveme. You havedeprived meofmysustenance formanydays.Mindyou,ifyou have lostit,youwillpayforitandverydearly,saidthevulture.Thehenrushedintothe housetofetchtherazor.Sheplungedherhand into the leatherbag,butalas!It wasempty;therewasnorazorinit.Shewasveryshockedattheunpleasantdisco very.Shestartedsearchingonthefloortosee ifbyanychanceithaddroppedfrom thebag,buttherewasno finding it.Shelookedunderthechildrensbed,rearthefir e-stones,inthestore;buttherewasnosignofit.Have mercy onme!Iwillsearch better;Iam readytodemolish myhutaltogether,andarch foritdiligentlyuntilI finditandreturnittoyou. Itoldyoutobecareful,andIrepeatitagain;Iwantmyrazorback!Butmindyou, IwanttheveryrazorIgaveyou,andsosubstitute. The poor hen spentalldaysearching and searching,butnothing came to.She demolished herhut,andstartedsearchingin the roofgrass,among therubble of thewalls,betweenthepoles,intheashesandevenintherubbishpit;butnothingwas found. The following day the vulture came to see the results ofthe searching.He found thehen stillscratching theground among theheap ofdrygrassand ox dung;butno razorwas yetdiscovered.Iam very sorry dearhen,said the vulture,butnow Icannotwaitanylongerwithoutcompensation formyrazor.For todayyoumustgivemeachick.TomorrowIwillreturnandseewhathashappenedin themeantime. So the vulture flewawaywith a chickgripped within itstalons underits breast. The followingday he returned to the hen.She was stillscratching the ground; butshecouldntseetherazor. Anotherchick wentaway with the vulture.And the samething happened in the followingdaysuntiltoday.Thatis the reason why the hen is always scratching the ground,and the vultureswoopingon chicks even inourdays.Thehen is alwayssearchingfortherazor,andthevulturecompensatinghimselfforitsloss. TRICKSTERNARRATIVES 1.These are narratives thatusuallyfeature a character(animalorhuman)that practicesdeceitonothers. 2.Thesestoriesoreoftenthannotareaimedatprovingthatbrainismightierthan brawn. 3.Thisisbecausetheweakercharacter(forinstancethehare)managestotricka biggeranimal(forinstancetheelephant)andget5soutoftrouble. Exampleofatricksternarrative Themonkeyandthecrocodile(Meruversion) Onceupon atimethemonkeyand the crocodile were goodfriends.The crocodile usedtocometotheriverwhilethemonkeysatonthebranchesoftreesonthebanks oftheriver,andtherethetwofriendswouldspendthewholedaychatting.Thecroco dilewouldtakelong hourstellingthemonkeyinteresting storiesabouttheworld of water,andtheanimalsthatlivedin theriver.Themonkeywould in turntellthecroco dilestoriesabouttheanimalsthatlivedonthedryland.Thefriendshipcontinuedfora longtime.However,onedaytheostrichwarnedthemonkeythatthecrocodilewasa cunning,dangerousanimal.You waitandsee.Itwillnotbelongbeforethecrocodile wantstoeatyou,theostrichtoldthe monkeyashewentonhisway.Thoughthe monkeybegantobe carefulwiththecrocodiletheirfriendshipcontinued.Soon after the crocodile told his friend thathis wife had a new born baby.And the cro codilewentontotellthe monkey:My wife and Iwouldbe very happy ifyou would visitusandseeournew-bornbaby.Themonkeywithoutasecondthought, agreedto visitthecrocodileandhiswifethenextday.Itwas arrangedthatthe crocodile would meetthemonkeythenextafternoon,andcarry him onhisbackto theislandonwhichthecrocodileshomewas.Onthenextdaythemonkey,fullof excitement,wentto meethisfriend.And he found thecrocodile waiting forhim atthe bank ofthe river.Afterexchanging greetings the monkeyjumped onthe crocodilesbackandthecrocodilebegantoswim ontothedeepwaters.Theywerein the middle of the river when the crocodile began to laugh loudly: Haahaaa..haaa...The monkey was surprised forhe could notunderstand whyhisfriendwaslaughing.Whyareyoulaughing?heasked. Inawarningvoicethecrocodilesaid,AtlastIhavecaughtyou!FormonthsIhave longedtotasteyourheartandIwilldosotoday. Themonkeywasworried and hebeganto thinkhow hewould escape.Aftera short while themonkey toldthe crocodile:Why didnt you tellme that you wanted to eatmyheart?Iwouldhavegiven itto you,butyou areunfortunate becausemyheartisathome.And themonkeywenton to explain tothecroco dile thatwhen monkeys go on a journeytheyleave theirheartswith theirgrand mothers so that grandmothers spice and flavour the hearts.The monkey persuaded thecrocodilethatifhereallywanted to eathisheart,heshould take him backtotheshoresoftheriver.Takemebacktothebanksoftheriverand Iwillask my grandmothertogiveyou my heart...Themonkeypleadedwiththe crocodile.The crocodile,withoutthinking,headed back to the banks ofthe river. He swam fastforhebelievedthatthemonkey wouldgivehim his heart.Withinno timetheywereatthebankoftheriver.Themonkeyjumpedfrom thecrocodilesback ontoatreeandhe begantojump from onetree to the other.When the monkey waswellseatedonabranchonabigtree,hespatatthecrocodileandcursed, Mayyou and yourwifeand children perish!And asformyheart,youwillnever taste it.And so saying the monkey threw a dead branch atthe crocodile, whichswam backintothedeepwaters.Andthatishowtheirfriendshipended.

DILEMMA NARRATIVE These are stories which show a characterorgroup faced with two ormore choices, usuallyofmoralnature,noneofwhichiseasierto make.Suchastoryismeant to initiatecriticaljudgmentanddebateamongtheaudience. A classic example in Africa is the story ofa greatdroughtupon which the o racle ordainshumansacrificebemade.Thevictim isusuallythemostbeautifulgirlinthe village.Herfamilyistornbetweenheedingtheoracleswordanddeclining,which would mean thatthe societyperishes.There is a conflictbetween the love of the parentsfortheirdaughterandloyaltytothesociety. MONSTER/OGRENARRATIVES Thesearestoriesthatfeaturemafantastic,grotesquecreaturethatisusually representativeofevil.Monstersusuallymasqueradeasbeautifulwomenorhandso me men and use theirphysicalattractivenesstoluretheirunsuspectingpreysinto marriage. Their preys sofullofthemselvesarenotabletoseethroughtheogresattractive faade. Usuallyitaperson looked down uponbythecommunitythatmanagestonotice the evil natureoftheogre.Theogreisusuallykilledandallthepeopleandpropertythat it had consumedrecovered.Most ogre narratives teach the audience not to underestimate the abilitiesofthosewethink lessendowedthanweare.Theyteach ustolookbeyondtheapparent;notallthatglittersisgold.

Exampleofamonsternarrative THEGIRLANDHERMOTHER NarratedbyWambuiwaWaambugu Alongtimeago,therewasagirlandhermother.Themotherofthisgirlhadbeensick foralongtime.Whentheoldmenwenttoadivinerto getadiagnosis,theywouldco mebackandsaythattheyhadbeentoldto haveagoatslaughtered.Theywould slaughterthegoat,eatitbutthemother wouldnothaveherwoundhealed.They would go,again and return to reportthatthegoatshould be slaughtered.They wouldslaughterthegoat,eatitbutthemotherwouldnotgetherwoundhealed. Onetime,thegirlfollowed them and hid herself.She,thereforeheard thather motherwouldonlybe healed bythe woolthatis found between ogres,i.e,their woolthatgetsblownbythewind. Now,shesaidIwillgo.Ihad betterdieand have mymotherhealed.Thegirl thentraveledand traveled and climbed up amugumo tree.When sheclimbed the mugumo tree,she climbedhigherandhigheruntilshe gotto thetopmostpart.She thengotthewoolthatwasontheogresmugumotree. When shegotit,theogreheard thegirlclimbing down thetree.Hetold her:I willcutyoungwengweandcutyouagainngwengwe.Itistheogrenowtellingthe girl.Andthegirlstarted singingasfollows:Kamau,ourKamau,meetme,meetme.I am comingfrom gettingthewool,yesthewoolBetweentheogres,betweentheogres Andthemono-eyedogreisstillbehindmeHesayshewillbiteme. Nowthegirlinonlyracing.Andthesmallogrecalledmono-eyedwasbehindhersaying: Iwillcutyoungwengwe Andcutyoungwengwe Theogrewouldthem throw hisknife. Theknifewouldcutofftreebranchesbecausethegirlis stillracing.Thegirlwouldthensing. Kamau,ourKamaumeetme,meetme Iam comingfrom gettingthewool,yesthewool Betweentheogres,betweentheogres Andthemono-eyedogreisstillbehindme Hesayshewillbiteme. Thegirlisstillrunningandsmallogreisstillfollowinghersaying: Iwillcutyoungwengwe Andagaincutyoungwengwe. Nowitwouldthrowtheknife.Theknifewouldcutoffbranchesfrom atree.Theogre wantedtoslashthegirl.Andthegirlwouldsing: Kamau,ourKamaumeetmeetme,meetme Iam comingfrom gettingthewool,betweentheogres Andthemono-eyedogreisstillbehindme Hesayshewillbiteme. Theogrewouldthensing: Iwillcutyoungwengwe Andagaincutyoungwengwe Thegirlran.Shegotnearherhome,Kamaubeganhearingechoes: Kamau,ourKamau,meet,meetme,andmeetme Iam comingfrom gettingthewool,yesthewool Betweentheogres,betweentheogres Andthemono-eyedogreisstillbehindme Hesayshewillbiteme. Theogrewouldthensing: Iwillcut,cutyoungwengwe Andcutyouagainngwengwe When Kamau heard,heran and climbed up atree.Now when theogrerunning afterthegirlpassedthrough,Kamauspeareditfrom upthetree.Theogrewouldpu llthespearoutandthrowitaway.Thegirlsbrotherwouldgetholdofthespearand speartheogreagain.Whentheogrewasspearedand slashedwith a sworditdied. Thegirlwenthomeandfoundhermother.She putwoolin the fire.The mother gained herconsciousness and asked forwatertodrink.The girlthen putsome ofthewoolinthewoundandithealed.Sothemotherrecoveredandtheogredied. Thegirlstayedwithhermother.Themotherdidnotdieandthegirldidnotdietoo. CHAPTERTHREE SONGS/ORALPOETRY InAfricansocietiesalmostallcommunalactivities areaccompanied bysong and dance.Inmostsocietiesthere aresongsforeeverystage andoccasion ofaper sons life,from thecradle tothegrave.There are songs atbirth,naming cer emonies,songs,and lullabies,singing games,songsin stories,initiation songs, marriage songs,work songs,war songs,praise songs,worship ordivination songs,andlastlyfuneralsongs. As opposedto narratives,which areprose,songand recitation are verse.They demand thatthecomposershould arrange his words in such a way thatthey should sound perfectespecially interms ofrhythm and melody.Thesetogether withthemeaningofthewordsenablethepoetorthesingertoexpresshisfeelings withthestrongestimpactpossible. We distinguish between recitation and song mainly on the basis ofmusical complexity. Normally,musicalfeatureswillbemorepronouncedinsongthaninrecitation.

CLASSIFICATIONOFSONGS/POETRY Theclassificationusedinthishandbookisbasedonthefunctionsservedbysongs inquestion RELIGIOUSPOETRY Thesearesongsand poemsperformed during religiousoccasion orforspiritual purposes(prayer,incantations,andinvocations.)

Example PrayerbyaMulembwewomanafterachildsbirth,recordedinCongo Godalmightycreator, GodMbuuwaMukunguaKinyama, Createdtrees,createdpeople,createdallcountries, CreatedtheBeenEkiiyeofKalanda,createdtheBeenaandBaaMilembe, Createdthewhitewithwhitish, CreatedtheLomami,createdtheLuambaKasseya(tworivers), Createdthelandwherethesunrises, CreatedthefishatMaengye, Createdtheeldestandtheyoungestofthetwin, Createdthequidewholeads(childthatopensthewomb), Createdtheeatableandtheuneatableants. God,thouarttheLord, Whocomethintheroarofthewhirlwind, Outofyourdwellingplacefrom wherethesunrises. Godcreator,thouartfatherandthoughartmother. OhGodIshouldntoffendyouasifyouwereman; ThereisnogratitudeforwhatGodbestowsuponthee Althoughhegivesyouawifewhogrindsmaize,awomanisabasket (I.e.sheleavesherfamilyinmarriage), Amanisarefuge,whenrain fallsImay enter(i.e.amanremainsinthe villageand may beaconsolationforhisparents). Godifhehasntgivenyougift,Hellrememberwhenyoupraisehim, HonourHim andyouarriveatMusengyeoftheMulobwe. Everyoneisntawelcomeguest,onlyachildisastrangerwhocomesquitenew in our midst. Oheldestandyoungestofatwin,onlyachildiswelcomeasastranger. Friendgoodday,friendgoodday!

DIRGES These are songs sung during funeralceremonies.They are sung during the actualburialandduring remembrances orotherpost-burialceremonies.Dirges revealthe communitys attitudetowards death.They also serve to console the bereaved,sing praises to the deceased and as alamentationtowardsdeathfor takingawaylovedones. Example1 Prayerbeforethedeadbody Thegatesoftheunderworldareclosed. Closedarethegates. Thespiritsofthedeadarethrongingtogether Likeswarmingmosquitoesintheevening, Likeswarmingmosquitoes. Likeswarmsofmosquitoesdancingintheevening, Whenthenighthasturnedblack,entirelyblack, Whenthesunhassunk,hassunkbelow, Whenthenighthasturnedblack Themosquitoesareswarming Likewhirlingleaves Deadleavesinthewind. Deadleavesinthewind, Theywaitforhim whowillcome Forhim whowillcomeandwillsay: Cometotheoneandgototheother AndGodwillbewithhischildren. AndGodwillbewithhischildren. (Namibia) (Source: UlliBeier(Ed). Africapoetry ,Universitypress:Cambridge,1966) Thereisnoneedlewithoutpiecingpoint. Thereisnorazorwithouttrenchantblade. Deathcomestousinmanyforms. Withourfeetwewalkthegoatsearth. WithourhandswetouchGodssky. Somefuturedayintheheatofnoon, Ishallbecarriedshoulderhigh. Throughthevillageofthedead, WhenIdie,dontburryunderforesttrees, Ifearthorns. Burymeunderthegreatshadetreeinthemarket, Iwanttohearthedrumsbeating Iwanttofeelthedancersfeet. (Anonymous) (Source:UlliBeirer(Ed),AfricanPoetry,Universitypress:Cambridge,1966).

WARPOETRY Therearepoemsperformedbywarriorsduringawarevent.Thiscouldbesung asa preparationtowar,inordertoboostthemoraleofthewarriors.Theycouldalsobe sungafterabattleasthewarriorscomebackhomevictorious.Warsongscould also be sung in theabsence ofwarinorderto reinforcethemilitary mightofa particularcommunity.Warpoemsalsoexpressthegeneralvaluesrelatingtowar. Example: Fightnow!Comeandfightnow! Slaythem!Wellbrandishspears! Straightforthdothspeedyourarrow Tremble!Yes!Theytremble! Whenwedrawnear, Andfartheyllfleeasweapproachthem! Sharpenkeenyoyoarrows! Braveheadsupraisedandshouting Loudlyyourdefiance Alltheyopposeus. Quicklyourspears Shallpiercetheirbreasts.Theywillbescattered Example: Poundingsong AtKitilisthereareherdsmen,bothboysandgirls, Therearegoatsandlambsandcattle: Mwesya,doInotcallyouinmypoverty? Ihavenofamily,Ihavenomother, Ihavenorelativestocallupon. Death,Iwillnotgivehim foodorwater Seeinghehasdeniedmemyfatherandmyfamily. E!Grinding! Musyoka, Ihavenofamily,Ihavenomother, ThemotherofmysisterVika,LonzaandLinda; HowforlornIam!DidIcallyou? IdonotsharethesleepingmatwithLonza. HowforlornIam,Ihavenothingofmyown!

(source:Jack MapanjeandLandeg White.OralpoetryfromAfrica,Longman:New York,1983.)

LOVEPOETRY Thesearepoems addressedtoabeloved manorwomaninthe hopeofmarriage. Theycould alsobepoemsonfrustratedlove,orsongsinpraiseofalovedone.

Example Whencouldthypraisesbesung,Oloiltibili? Forthisscorchingsummerheatpreventsit They7cannotbesunga5tmidday Forthesunweakensthecattle. Theycannotbesungatsunset O,whenthesungetstothatpoint (Pointingtothepotionofthesunabout9a.m) Praisesofhewiththescarletonewillbesung. Idevelopedadmirationforhim Notatthedrinkinghall. Ihavestoredtheloveofmylove SinceIwasjustalittlegirl. Ihavestoreditatthegallbladder Tonurtureitdaybyday. Idarednotstorethispreciousloveofmylove Atthehead,forthemindaboundswithchanges. Ithasedgedbetweenthefingersandthepalm Aswellasthespleenandtheliver. Theloveofmylovehasgonedown Towheretheinfantslie. Istoreitwheretheinfantsarecarried Tokeepitgrowingdaybydaybyday. Hethatdetestsmylovingthewarriors Findonetoughloathingtodo. Scrapetheroadwithyourbuttocks UntilyouhavereachedNairobi. Putthehyenaatthesheeppen Aswellastheslim beast(cheetah) Ifbymorningthesheeparesafe IwillgiveupthebrotherofTalash Thenyoucanbleedthewhitenosedone(donkey) Topurgemefrom thelonghairedone. (Kenya) (Source:Naomi Kupury,OralliteratureoftheMaasai,EastAfrican Education Publishers:Nairobi,1983)

LULLABIES Thesearesongssungprincipallytoputthebabytosleep .Theyaresunginthesofttune Thatenhances their soporific effect.They employ simple language;one that childrencan easily identify with.Lullabies may also employ onomatopoeicwordsespecially designedat ensuringrhythm.At time nurses may sing lullabies expressing their attitude towards to themotherofthechildrentheyhave been leftinchargeof(seeexample below) Bunyorolullaby Ha!Thatmotherwhotakesherfoodalone Ha!Thatmotherbeforeshehaseaten Ha!Thatmothershesays,Lullthebabyforme. Ha!Thatmother,whenshehasfinishedeating, Ha!Thatmothershesays,Givethechildtome! HUNTINGPOETRY Thesearesongssungbyhuntersontheirwaytoorfrom hunting.Theycouldalsobe sungto express disappointment at having failed to catch any game .Below is an exampleofa huntingsongperformedafterahippopotamushasbeenkilled: Chopit,chopit, Dotakeitandchopit; Dotakeitandchopityourself. Chipishya,bringtheboat. Haveyoukilledithunter? Chishyabringtheboat, Chipishyabringtheboat, Haveyoukilledithunter? CHAIN SONGS Inchainsongseverysuccessivelineisderivedfrom theformer. Example Oharcher OhArcher,OhArcher, Letsshootateachother,letsshootateachother Andifyoushootmeandifyoushootme; Iwillhaveagoatslaughteredforyou.Iwillhaveagoatslaughteredforyou. Andthemeatandthemeat, Willbegiventotheblacksmith,willbegiventotheblacksmith, Andtheblacksmithandtheblacksmith, Willhavekniveswillhaveknives. Andtheknivesandtheknives, Willpiercetheheavenswillpiercetheheavens. Andtheheavenandtheheavens, Willsenddownrainwillsenddownrains. Andtherainsandtherains, Willmakethegrassgrowwillmakethegrassgrow. Andthegrassandthegrass. Willfattentheheiferwillfattentheheifer, Andtheheiferandtheheifer, Willbuyawifewillbuyawife, Andthewifeandthewife, Willpreparegruelwillpreparegruel Andthegruelandthegruel, Wewillgulpitwewillgulpit WEDDINGSONGS Though many wedding songs capture the joy associated with wedding ceremo nies,manysongs express sorrow atthe thoughtofleaving the familiarhome foranuncertainfuture. Otherweddingsongssingpraisestothebride,thegroom andtheirparents. Example Weddingsong(from IisukaofwesternKenya) Itishard, Aloo, Itshardtoleaveyourhome Togotoanother. Itshardtocallanother Yourmother. Fatherwaseducated,atKorotis Andisaclerk Ihaveseentheclerk. Ihaveseentheclerk, MamawaseducatedatChipyesi)(GBS:GirlsBoardingSchool) Andisanurse, MamawantedMamawantedherchildtobea Nurse Weedthegardenoffruits Weedmamasgardenoffruits Thattheycontinuetoyield. Aloo! Haa!Haa! CHILDRENSPLAYSONGS Thesearesongsperformed by childrenatplay.Thefollowing songis sungbytwo groupsof children (marked A and B respectively)in turns.The children join theirhandsto form the circleandswingtheirhandsastheysing. A:Watatawatiririourhouseisexcellent B:Watatawatiririitcannotbetbetterthanours A:WatatawaTiririWhatisyoursmadeof? B:Watatawatiririoursismadeofstone AWatatawatiririoursismadeoftimber B:Watatawatiririgiveusoneperson A:Watatawatiririwhom doyouliketohave? B:WatatawatiririwewouldlikeKariuki A:WatatawatiririKariukiwhydontyougo? Atthis pointthe boynamed Kariukimoves from his group and joins the other group theotherteam beginsthesong again and bytheend ofthesession the twogroupswouldhaveexchangedmanyoftheirmembers.

SATIRICALSONGS Thesearesongsthatcriticizehumanfolly.Theyaim atcastigatingthosewhodonot liveup totheexpectationsofthesocietyand also todiscouragetherestfrom engaging in similaractivities or behaviour. In most cases such songs make use of hyperboleaimedatemphasizingonthewrongdone.

Example1 Me-mrundeeehshestole Shestoleahen,shereallystoleeeh.

Refrain Shestoleasheep,nodoubtshestole Shestoleawalkingstick,nodoubtshestole Shestoleapot,nodoubtshestole. Me-mrundeeeh,shereallystoleeeh Shestoleclothes,shereallystoleeeh.

Refrain Me-mrunde,shereallystoleeeh. Shestoleacat,shereallystoleeeh. Example2 THELAZYMAN Whenthecockcrows, Thelazymansmackshislipsandsays: Soitisdaylightagain,isit? Andbeforeheevenstretcheshimself, Beforeheevenyawns Thefarmershasreachedthefarm, Thewatercarriershavearrivedattheriver, Thespinnersarespinningtheircotton, Theweaverworksonhiscloth Andthefireblazesintheblacksmithshut Thelazyoneknowswherethesoupissweet Hegoesfrom housetohouse. Ifthereisnosacrificetoday, Hisbreastbonewillstickout! Butwhenheseestheyam, Hestartstounbuttonhisshirt, Hemovesclosetothecelebrant. Yethistroublesarenotfew. Whenhiswivesreachpuberty, Richmenwillhelphim marrythem. (Nigeria)(Source:UlliBeier(ed).Africanpoetry,CambridgeUniversityPress,1966)

INITIATION/CIRCUMCISIONSONGS Thesearesungduringcircumcisionorotherritesofpassage. AKipsigisinitiationsong Wetellyouwearegoing, Wemendontmockuswomen. Wetellyoucircumcisionispainful Butyoucantdie. Wetellyousteponthegrass Whileitfallsdown. Sowetellyouchildren ThosegoforcircumcisionlikeEuropeans Whogotothe3irweddingcalmlyprepared. Wetellyou Stayfirm likeastone Weshallbehappyafteryourcircumcision Eventhosewho,arepassing,even Brothers. Wetellyou Isaythanksuntilwemeet. Seeyoufather,seeyoumotherand Relative Tillwemeet.

PANEGYRICPOETRY Thesearealso referredtom aspraisesongs/poetry.They are sungto0praise a personaclan,oracommunity.Praise poetry makes use ofimagery such as similes,metaphors,andsymbolism.Hyperboleisalsooftenemployed.

Example Theboastofthegoodfarmer IhaveploughedandIhavesweated, AndnowIam enjoyingmycrops,myfriends, Likethebushbuckwhichusesitstailtopushrice-plantsintoitsmouth Asasignofitscontentment. Godfarmingwinsrespect,myfriends. WhereIdrinkbeernow Idrinktomyheartscontent: WhenIeatmyfood Ieatwithasettledhearts, Likeourlittlefriendthefish Thismakeswhitesoupforus, Whichplaysinitspoolallday Withoutanythingtotroubleitsheart. Afarmerisaking: Eventhewizardpayshomagetoyou. Farmingbringshonourmyfriends: Youneednottoilyourfeettobegatthehomesofjuniormen. Youseemeinmyprosperitytoday BecauseduringtherainsIam thefriendofthemud: Rather,Iattackthesoilwithmyspecialfriend,thehoe. Fancynotcultivating! Fancynothoeing! Fancynotcultivating! Takethelittlehoeandbreakthesoil! ThedaywhenIkilledthepartridge, Whenthechildsmotherhadgonetothefield, Theporridgeranintomymouthlikelightning, Takethelittlehoe,weedthesoil! (Zimbabwe)(Source:Jack Mapanje and Landeg White,OralPoetryfrom Africa, Longman:New York,1983)

POLITICALSONGS Oralliteratureplaysasignificant6rolein raising politicalawarenessofpeople.It also actsas avehicle forsocialprotest.This isdone especially through songs. Politicalsongscanbedividedinto: (a)Songsofsocialprotest. (b)Songsforcreatingpoliticalawareness Songsforcreatingpoliticalconformity.

Example SerikaliyaNyanyo Niyamaendeleo FuataNyayomwenzangu, Hatutakimatata Kamawewewataka KuletamatataKenya, TafutaKenyayako Hatutakiporojo Raisamesema Atawalindawatoto, Jiungenasiiwenzangu Hatutakiporojo! CHAPTERFOUR SHORTFORMS These are genres oforalliteraturecharacterized by theirbrevity and theirco mpactness.The areuttered in one breath as opposed to narratives,songs or recitation,whichmaytakeseveralminutestoperform. Shortformsinclude: (a)Proverbs (b)riddles Tonguetwisters

Characteristicsoftheshortforms These are characteristics thatdistinguish shortforms from oralliterature.They includethefollowing: (a) Invariability:Theyappear inthefixedpatternandthereisverylittlescopefor improvisation. (b)Compactness:Theyarebriefandcompressed. (c) Word play;they heavily depend on word arrangement and word play, includinguseoffigurativelanguageincludingmetaphors,similespersonificationand otherimages. (d)Informality:unlikenarrativesand songs,whichcallforparticularformalsetting fortheirrealization, the short forms (except riddles) are most frequently incorporatedinto ordinaryconversationandperformedinintimateandinformalsituations. PROVERBS Whatisaproverb? Aproverbcanbedefinedasaterse,pitystatementcontainingfolkwisdom

Proverbsareconsidered to bethemarkofadultwisdom and experienceitisno wonder thatthemost profound discussions and pieces of advice in many communitiesareconductedanddeliveredinproverbs. In mosttraditionalsocieties,disputes and judicialdecisions were carried outin proverbs. Proverbs areaproductoftheexperiences ofthe people,experiences some of which have beenlearned the hard way.Proverbs therefore revealwhatpeople adore,and whattheydespise.Astudyoftheproverbsofacertaincommunitywill thereforehelpusappreciatethecommunitysbeliefs,attitudesandpointsofview.

Characteristicsofproverbs (a)Proverbsareshortandtothepoint

(b)Proverbsrevealapeopleswisdom,andphilosophyof life.Proverbscallour attentiontothegeneralrealityaroundus.Themessageorwisdom oftheproverb isthecollective propertyofthesocietyin which itisused.Itisrareto know themakerofa particularproverb.Proverbsonlymakesensewhentheydirectlyappliedtospecific situationsorproblems.Thevalueofaproverb thereforeliesin itsapplicabilityto a concrete situation,how itassesses itand possiblysuggests a solution to it. Often we findproverbs thatca beappliedto differentsituations with different interpretations.This mayexplain the existence ofproverbswhichatfirst,appearto contradicteachother. E.g.Bellshouldbemanytomakeasound&Ahoardofratsdoesnotdigitselfahole. Proverbsshould therefore be interpreted incontext.A scholarwho deals with proverbsoutofcontextshould always try as a partofhis interpretation,to r econstructthe situation inwhichtheproverbwouldbe applied.A proverb is a kind of conversation shorthand.The meaning of a proverb is usuallyHiddenand alwayshastobeworkedout.

(c)Proverbsappearinfixedpatternsnearlyallthetimeandthereislimitedscope onthepartoftheperformer.

(d)Proverbsaresayingsthathavebeenacceptedbyandthereforepartofthesociety.

(e)Proverbs draw theirmaterialand images from a particularenvironmentor society.Henceproverbsfrom the maasaiforexample,willdifferin theiruse of images from thoseoftheLuhyaeventhoughthe maybecommunicatingthesame message.

Classificationofproverbs Proverbsmaybeclassifiedintothefollowingcategories: Proverbsonfate. Cautionaryproverbs Proverbsongreedandselfishness Proverbswarningonprideandarrogance Proverbsoncommunallife Proverbsasembellishmenttospeech/communication Proverbsonauthority Proverbsoncooperation Narrativeproverbs:thosethatthatservetoreinforcewhatthethecommunity considerstobedesirablepatternofbehaviour. Reflectiveproverbs:thosethatmirrorthecommunitysattitudes,thought processesandworld-view. Summativeproverbs:thosethatarelongerdrawanalogiesbetweenphenomena andconsistoftwoparts. FUNCTIONSOFPROVERBS Achebein ThingsfallApartsaysProverbsarethepalm winewithwhichwordsareeaten.The Yorubahave ametaphorto the effectthat proverbs are the horses of communication.Thesetwosayingspointoutthoseproverbsarefacilitatorsofver balcommunication.Proverbsserveseveralsocialfunctions.Theseinclude:

Reflectiveproverbs Theseareproverbsthatexpresstestedtruths.Thesetruthshavebeenarrived at through reflectionsofmansthoughts. Dherariembawuongonyiedhotangiyooko(Luo) Thecustodianofaloanedcow milksitwhilelookingout. Eiuoltunganiosuujnaaolanya(Maasai) Amanssonmaybeacowardbutheisstillhisson. Ogwangthonewadgi(luo) Amongoosediesinsteadofhisbrother. Achiefislikedustheapwhereeveryonecomeswithrubbish. Wealthisdew.Heisripeinsidelikeawatermelon.

Caution Thingociimatu (Gikuyu) Wallshaveears Vutulevumanyimwamidave (Luhya) Slipperinessknowsnoking Ahuruokkoudheiro (Luo) Thedoveisneverbackbitteninsmoke. Mpandangaziushuka (Kiswahili) Hewhogoesuptheladdereventuallycomesdown.

Counsel Ifyouarepatientyouwillseetheeyesofthesnail. Eitomisimisiiropetailoweni (Maasai) Corruptgiftsdarkenthehandsofthewise. Ngirepelakwarotwakechengjiket (Nandi) Ifyoutakeaknifefrom achild,givehim aspieceofstickinstead. Kipodinepikikiyanynyang! Donotabusethecrocodilewhileyouarestillinwater. Warning Muginimutaare Heiswisewhohaslistenedtoadvice(neversayyouwerenotwarned). Asiyefunzwanamamayeufunzwanaulimwengu Hewhodoesnotheedhismotherscounselwillbetaughtbytheworld(thehardway) Onewhoexcretesontheroadwillfindflieswhenhecomesback.(Everyactio nhas consequences) Consolation Guturimuthenyaukiaganaungi Nodaydawnswithanother;everydayhasitsjoysandpains. Baadadhikifaraja Aftersorrowthereisjoy.

Normativeproverbs Theseareproverbsthatprescribethemodeofbehaviourexpected ofa person inaparticularsociety. -Thesatisfiedchildhasburnedthegranary. -Kinshipiskinship.

Summativeproverbs Theseareproverbsthatareused to summarizeasituation.Whilegiving advice, insteadof telling a person thatifhecontinuesin hisbelligerencehemightend up being hurt.Onecan simplyusetheproverb: Astrongmansheadisfullofscars.Tosummarizethelesson.

Proverbsusedasembellishmenttospeech Oftentimesproverbsareusedtomaketheartofconversationmorebeautiful.

STYLEINPROVERBS Proverbslikeotherformsoforalliteraturecanbeanalysedintermsofstyle.

Alliteration Jaberjaulo Allthatglittersisnotgold. Hasirahasara Angerbringsloss Liandikwalondiloliwalo Whatiswrittencannotbechanged. Chemachajiuza,kibayachajitembeza . Goodqualitygoodsneednoadvertising,badmerchandisedoes.

Assonance Kurriukuuutatumwatawanyungu Therearethingslikeearthenpotwhichifbrokencannotberepaired. Alidhaniyeamesimamaaangalieasianguke Hewhothinksishighupshouldbecarefullesthefallsover. Idiophone Bandubanduhuishagogo Chipchip!Finishesthelog. Churururu-sindo!ndo!ndo! Agushisnotthesameasadrip. Constantdippingwillemptyagourdofhoney.

Allusion Ciakorewacumugunda (ThefoodfoundWacuinthegarden. TheproverballudestoastoryattributedtotheoraltraditionoftheAgikuyuinwhich wefind acharactercalled Wacu.Wac.,isdespised by herhusband .Once,sheis sentto theshambasothatthehusband couldholdafeastforhisfavouredwifeat home.Thechoicemeatbeing roastedbythehusband issnatched bya hawk.The hawkcoincidentalydropsthemeatinWacusgrden.Wacubenefitsfrom whatwas deniedher.Thisproverbisusedtoencouragehardwork. The meat didnotfind her athomebut in the shamba.It alsowarnsagainst mistreatingothersasgodhasawayoftakingcareofthem.

Metaphor Wealthisdew. Kukamwonikura Tobepraisedisto belost.(Onemightallow thepraisestogetintohisheadandmight eventually turnoutworse) MugeniniRuwi Aguestisariver.(Weshouldbehospitabletoguestssincetheywillbewithusforonly awhile). Simile Heisripeinsidelikea watermelon.(A water-melon looksraw from theoutside butripefrom theinside.Attimesjustlikewater-melon,itisdifficultto tellwhatisinthemindofa person. Afoolislikeabeehive.(Potentialfordanger) Personification Kanuaweiire! Mouthyouateyourself! Theworm inthecattleKraalsays:Iam anox. Themouththatatethegrainisthesameonethatasks,Whatshallweeat? Enekethebirdsays,Sincemenhavelearnedtoshootwithoutmissingtheirtarget, Ihave learnedtoflywithoutperchingonatwig

Hyperbole -Youwillnotseetheelephantmovingon yourownheadonlythelousemoving on anothers. -Hewhowaitstoseeacrabblinkwillwaitlongalongtheshore.(Yoruba) -Ifyouarepatientyouwillseetheeyesofasnail.

Humour UthuriwaGitongandununganga -Thefartofarichmandoesnotstink. Nyathimioroemachiethneduong . -Itisthechildthatrunserrandsthathasbiggerexcrement. -Apersonwhoneversaw themotherinheryouthmightsay the fatherwastedhis dowry. Examplesofproverbs Luoproverbs 1.Theharemightbesmallbutitbegetstwins 2.Itiswith alightbasketthattheownerelidestherain.(You areto blamefor selfimposedburdens). 3.Thedrum isheavieronthereturnjourney. 4.Nowyouareoil-shinny;mayyouonedaybedry! 5.Even Fulu sendTilapia.(Fulu isa type offish smallerthan tilapia.Theproverb stressesthenecessityofco-existencebetweenthemightyandthelessmighty). 6.Amightymanisnevergreeted.(Hemayunderstandthegreetingtobeaninvasion) 7.itsonlyamadmanwhoshaveshisownhair. 8.Thedetractorhas holesinthebuttocks.(Thereference to buttockshereisnot literal.Ratheritreferstotrousers.Thedetractorsspendlonghourssittingtodefame hisvictims.Thisoversettingleavesitsmarksonthebuttocksandthetrousers.) 9.Thebeautifulonesgardenissmall. 10.Themediatorhastwomouths. 11.Thegossipneverages. 12.Donotabusethecrocodilewhilestillinwater. 13Theelephantisbackbittenonceithasturneditsback. 14Theflythatlovesyouistheonethatperchesonyou. 15Itishewhoeatswithablindmanthatknowsthedelicacyofthefat 16.Hewhohasachilddoesnotsleepinthewilderness. 17.Sleepissostrongthatitevenovercomesthelunatic. 18Tyhesatisfiedchildhasburnedthegranary. 19.Thesameplateyouhaveservedinisthesameplatethatwillbeusedtoserveyou. 20.Thebeastsstaysinthesugarplantation butdoesnotknowthesweetnessofthe sugarcane 21.Eventhoughtheantistinyitcannotberobbedofitstermites. Gikuyuproverbs 1.Amanispoornotbecausehescornspossessionsbutbecausehepossesses no thing 2. Eatingtoomuchleavesyouwithaswollenstomach. 3. Aslaughterhouseisnotwithoutalittleblood. 4. Onthewaytoonesbelovedtherearenohills. 5. Aparentdoesnotmindherchildsmucous 6. Thescentofroastedmeatbrokethehyenasleg. 7. Hewhostealswithaboywillliveinfearuntiltheboyiscircumcised. 8. Hewhostealswithawomanwillliveinfearuntilthewomandies. 9. Thewomanwhohasasoredancesontheoutskirts. 10. Bothhethatchasesandhethatischasedbecometired. 11. Youdonotseekinformationfrom ahungryman. 12. Anothermansornamenttirestheneck. 13. From thesamewombcomeathiefandawitch. 14. Onewhocannotjumpclaimsthatthefieldisstony 15. Thetoothlaughsatthesightofaspear. 16. Onewhonevertravelsthinksthatitisonlyhismotherwhoisagoodcook. 17. Thereisnodifferencebetweengrowingoldandliving. 18. Thepottermayusepiecesofapotforhercooking. 19. Therestlessmongoosemissestheslaughteringceremony 20. Afoolsstaffisusedbythewisemantosupporthisownwalk. 21.Thewarriormaybetrippedbyamaizecomb. 22.Adisunitedbattalionisbeatenwithoneclub. 23.Heiscleverwhohaslistenedtoadvice. 24.Toomuchsharpnesscutsthesharpener. 25. Nobarbershaveshimself . Yorubaproverbs 1.Onewhowantstodrinkporridgewillplaywiththechildwhosemotherispreparing it. 2.Thestrongmansheadisfullofscars. 3.Letmetaste,letmetastefinishestheseeds. 4.Notalleggslaidinthedryseasonhatchesout. 5.Themonkeylaughsatthelongtailoftheoneinfrontofit. 6.Thesweetnessofstolenthingsshouts. 7.Hewhocomeslastdrinksmuddywater. 8.Hewhohasdiarrheaknowsthedirectionofthedoorwithoutbeingtold. 9.Bystumblingonit,thestumphaspushedforwardtherunner. 10.Aratbitesandsoothsyouatthesametime.

Kalenjinproverbs 1.Whilewaitingtoeattheheadofabull,wecontinueeatingtheheadofagrasshopper . 2.Wedonotlookafteroutcropsuntiltheyhavebeeneatenbymonkeys. 3.Ahyenacannotsmellitsownstench. 4.Anelephantisbigyetitdoesnotgivebirthtotwins 5.Weblindfoldacowwhenmilkingit. 6.Acowshornsdonotkillitcalf. 7.Wedonotannoythemidwiveswhenwearestillbearingchildren. 8.Nobodycanuseanothersteethtosmile.

Luhyiaproverbs 1.Whereyouareguest,breakfastisnotright. 2.Whateveratethedogsatethebelltoo. 3.Whateveryoudenyandoldmanhemaywellhaveeatenitbefore. 4.Whateveryoudenyachildhemaygrowtoeatit. 5.Whatyouhide,youmayeatwithrats. 6.Apersonwhoisfeelingcolddoesnotneedtobeshownthefire. 7.Thatwhichrunsaloneclaimstobeagoodrunner. 8.Thehenthatscratchesthegroundmayfindsomethingtoeat. 9.Ifyoueatmushrooms,youaresureto,eatmaggots. 10.When a clean person breaksthewind,peopleoften blamethedirtyperson. Intheir midst. 11.Hewhowaitsforhisdishtocoolsharesitwithvisitors. 12.Abrideseyespretendnottohaveseen. 13.Thepersonwhocannotclimbatreeeatstherawfruitsnearertheground. Additionalproverbs 1.Wealthisdew. 2.Kingshipisdew. 3.Tomarryistoputasnakeintooneshandbag. 4.Familynamesarelikeflowers:theyblossom inclusters. 5.A wifeislikea blanket;when you coveryourselfwith it;itirritatesyou,when youcastnitasideyoufeelcold. 6.Heisripeinsidelikeawatermelon.(Describesapersonwhohascometoa resolutionwithoutmakingitpublic). 7.Theworm inthekraalsays,Iam anox. 8.Noflycatchesforanother. 9.Themakerofasongdoesnotspoilit. 10.Metalthatisalreadyweldedtogether,howonecanunweldit. 11.Themanwiththedeepesteyescannotseethemoonuntilitisfifteendaysold. 12.Heatefoodanditkilledhim. 13.Thewontbeoldmanseesbythebloodstain. 14.You willnottheelephant movingonyourhead, onlythe lousemoving on anothers. 15.Thewantforworktodomakesamangetupearlytosalutetheenemy. 16.LittlerbylittlethetortoisearrivedattheIndianOcean. 17.Onewhoexcretesontheroadwillfindflieswhenhecomesback. 18.Nooneteachestheleopardscubshowtospring. 19.Theeyecrossesabigriver.

RIDDLES A riddleisashortsaying intended to makeoneusehiswitsin unraveling the hiddenmeaning InA riddle,thelistenerisfacedwithaquestionoranallusivesentencereferring to something elsewhichtheymusttryto figureout.Riddlesaretoldasapreludeto thetellingofstories.Theycanalsobetoldinbetweenstories. Riddlesarealsoused inconversationstoissueveiled threats,conveysecreteinfor mationandasavehicleofhumour. Performanceofriddles Differentcommunitiesdifferentwaysofperformingriddles. Kikamba:

Challenge:Kwatandai(takeariddle) Acceptance: (A)Nakwata(Itakeit) Riddle: Kavetikaninikanaa nesakwimwenyu(Asmallonewhocooksbetterthan yourmother) Solution: Ninzuki(Itsbees) Kiswahili

Kitendawili (ariddle) A;tega(poseit) R:Kaa hukunikaekuletumvuenguo mshenzi.(Stayonthissideand meontheother sidesothatwecanstripthisfool). Guesses:Bythecompetitortodeciphertheriddle.Ifheissuccessfulhewins;ifnot,he proceedswithnextstep. Prize: tothechallenger(mjioritija)whosolvesorrevealstheriddleinthenextstep. Solution:Nihindi.(Itsamaizecob).

FUNCTIONSOFRIDDLES (A)Environmentaleducation Riddlesstem from observationandcomprehensionoftheenvironment.Eachco mmunityusestheobjectswithinitsenvironmentinitsart. 1.Mycamelistheshortestbutiteatsthetreeatthetop-Bird. 2.WhenIslaughtermycow Idontthrow awayanything.Ieateverythinginclud ingthebones.-coconut. 3.Myhousehasnodoor.-egg 4.Littlethingsthatdefeatus.mosquitoes. 5.Waterstandingup.sugarcane.

(a)LanguageTraining 1.Howmanywheelsdoesacarhave?Five 2.AquestionyoucannotansweryesAreyouasleep 3.Thetwo-leggedsittingon thefourleggedwaitingforthefourlegged.-Abirdona cow waitingforatick.

(a)Culturalnorms (b)1.Ihaveawifeeverybodyshehasabeard.-Themaizeplant . (c)2.ThedirtyFatuma.-Broom (d)3.Mydaughterwholeaveshungryandreturnfull.-Thewaterpot. (e)4.Mydaughterhasineyeonthehead -theneedle 5.ThecolourfulAgnes.Thechameleon (d)Entertainment 1.Thebaldheadedmanhasentered.Ugali 2.Thewhiteladyisintheofficethejigger 3.Myfatherslittlehillwhichiseasilydestroyed-porridge 4.MagiregedewalksasifhewereproudWagon 5.Shiligilishigi. thewind. (e)Recordofchange Theseareriddlestherecordthechangesthathavetakenplaceinthesociety. 1.Mytrainisrunninginthefiled.thecentipede. 2.OnarrivalatthestationIwasshoutedat-train. 3.Alittlechapwhoplaysthetype-writer.thetongue . CLASSIFICATIONOFRIDDLES

1.Riddlesonpeople

Thewhiteladyisintheoffice-jigger IpassedwhenMumiaswiveswerequarrelling-Weaverbirds

2.Culturalobjects

Asmallgourdfullofblood-atick. WhenIbeatmychildpeopledance-drum.

3.Naturalphenomena

Whattreehasonlyonethorn? -sisal. Ameetingunderarock-Thebeard

4.Domesticanimals

Whyhavetheytakenafew forgrazingandleftsomanyresting? -becausethey the sheepsdroppingsMywhitemouthedcowissharedbyall -toothbrush

5.Partsofthebody

Asmallbushinhabitedbyanimals -thehead. GoroundonesideofthemountainwhileIgoroundtheotherbutweshallnever meet .theears. 6.Plants

Whattreehasonlyonethorn? IpassedwhenMumiaswiveswerepregnant. -sisal -Milletheads.

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

Charcoaliron.

8.Howmanywheelsdoesacarhave?-five

Birds IpassedwhenMumiaswiveswerequarrelling. weaverbirds. Mycamelistheshortestbutiteatsthetreeatthetop. abird.

9. Wasteproducts

Icutatreeandlef6titsteaming. humanwaste. Itsteamsbutitisnotlit. freshcowdung

10.Interrogativeriddles

:Theseareriddlesthatareintheform ofquestions. Whattreehaswhyhavetheytakenafew forgrazingandleftsomanyresting? Becausetheyaresheepsdroppings.

11.Declarativeriddles:

Theseareriddlesintheform ofastatement.Mostoftheriddles givenbelowaredeclarativeriddles

12.Epigramaticriddles

:Theseareriddlesthatarepresentedinaseriesofpuzzles. Ohthseones ripebananas .Ohthoseotherones.Waterinacave. 13.Idiophonicriddles

:Theseareriddlesbasedonsounds. Ciand ci.Cindano a needle(in referencetothesound madewhen a needleisgo ing inandoutofagarment). Magiregedewalksasthoughheisproud.wagon.

Examplesofriddles

1.Njorogethecarpenter.

Abeetle. 2.YouholdIhold.

Cuttingofmeatintopieces.

3.Ciandci.(Quietnoisemadebyaneedlepassingthroughcloth).

Aneedle

4.Itcamefrom Kambalandinatie.

Thecrow,

5.Onesideofthegourdiswhite.

Chickendroppings.

6.Ihavegoneroundtheforestwitharedmotorcycle.

Rainbow.

7.Itwenthungryandcamebackfull.

Thesmallbagforgreens(vegetables.)

8.Awinnowingtrayintheplain.

Anelephantsfootprint.

9.Itisupsidedownbutitdoesnotleak.

Acowsudder.

10.Theyfaceupasthoughtheyareabouttoleadasong.

Thehornsofcattle.

11.Ihaveapersonwholivesbetweentwoswordsbuttheynevergetcut.

Thetongue.

12.Icutatreeandleftitsmoking.

Humanexcreta.

13.Ihaveahomewhereonlywomendwell.

Abananaplantation.

14.Myhousehasonlyonepole. Themushroom

15.Thosethingsinthecavehaveonehundredeyes

Honeycombs.

16.Anelephantwithoneear

Acup. 17.Abundoisbusy,Abundoisharvesting.

Thelouse.

18.Adundodancesandsheisrewarded.

Fire.

19.IpassedwhenMumiaswiveswerequarrelling.

Weaverbirds.

20.IpassedwhenMumiaswiveswerepregnant

. Milletheads

21.Iwalk,runandrunperpetually.

Water

22.Theratfamilysgun.

Matchsticks.

23.Ameetingunderarock.

Thebeard. Theoldmanwhocroaksatnight .

24.Theoldmanwhocannotclimbahill.

Thehippo.

25.Theoldmanwhoneverleavesbehindtheovercoat.

Thetortoise. 26.Thesalooncarcarryingwhitesonly. Thecharcoaliron. 27.Themaidenwhom diesaftergivingbirthonlyonce.

Thebananatree.

28.Mydaughterwhoworkswithoutresting.

Theheart

29.Thetwoleggedsittingonthefour-leggedwaitingfortheeight-legged.

Abirdsittingonacowwaitingforatick

30.Itsteamsbutitisnotlit.Freshcowdung 31.Whyhaveyoutakenafew forgrazingandleftbehindsomanyresting?

Becausetheyaresheepsdroppings.

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.A treehasfallenfarawaybutitsbrancheshavebreachedhere.

Newsofdeath.

40.Itcanneitherbeheldnorcaught.

Smoke.

41.Ialwayshearbutcannotseehim.

Wind.

42.Hereisarockandthereisarock.

Thegrave.

43.Littlethingsthatdefeatus.

Mosquitoes 44.Waterstandingup. Sugarcane.

44.Thehouseinwhichonedoesnotturnaround.

Thegrave

45.Thelittlechapwhoplaysthetypewriter.

Thetongue. SimilaritiesbetweenProverbs 1.Theyarebrief. 2.Theyemployfigurativelanguage. 3.Theyappearinfixedform. 4.Theyexpresssomeobservationofphenomena.

Differences 1.Riddlesareperformedinaformalstructureandpatternwithatleasttwoparties, where one is a challengerand the otherone the respondent.Proverbs on the other handare infusedinspeech. 2.The basic function ofriddlesissocialization and entertainment.Proverbs,on theotherhandexpresscommunityswisdom andworldview. 3. Dueto thefunctionsmentioned in(2) above,riddlesarecommon among childrenwhile proverbsareusedmainlybyadults. Tonguetwisters Tongue twisters are intended to test the speakers fluency.They require the speaker to utterwithout hesitation or faltering, a sequence of words with particularproblemsofarticulation. These wordsthemselvesusuallyhave basic meaning usuallyofa jocularnature, and partoffunofperformingtongue twisters consists in thelikelihoodthat distortion ofutterance, duetoarticulationproblem willresult indistortion or confusionofmeaning. Tongue twisterstease ourearsandourbrains.One hasto beaverygoodlistener inorderto getthesoundsofa tonguetwister correctly.Onemustalso havea good memory to repeat itaccurately.Tongue twisters also requirealot of concentration.Thisis becauseone ofthe mainproblems in performing them is thatwhattheysayneed notmakesimple,logicalsense.Theemphasisismainlyo ntherattleofsounds. Tonguetwistershingemainlyon bothalliteration and assonance.Somehowever, maybebasedontonalvariations. FunctionsofTongueTwisters

1.Languagetraining

They help in training childrentobe fluentinlanguage.Theyalsohelpin language therapyforchildrenwithspeechimpairment. 2.Entertainment

Tonguetwistersofferentertainmentasperformersstruggleto articulatethe syllable correctly.

3.Education

Tonguetwistershelp in enhancing listening and memoryskillsin children.Some tongue twistersalsomakereferencetopeople,animalsorobjectsfoundintheenvironment. Thishelpsinenvironmentalconservation. ExamplesofTongueTwisters.

1.Akawalaakaawakaawakuawaakaawakawa?(Luganda)

ThegirlswhogaveKaawabitercoffee;whereisshefrom?

2.Walewatuwaliwaliwalawaliwaliwaliwao.(Kiswahili) Thoseverypeopleoftheheadmaneatthericeoftheheadman.

3.KanakaNikorokonakoramakokorakonakanakanikorakora.(Gikuyu) Nicholaschild fled afterspotting a tadpole.The tadpole also fled afterspotting Nicholschild.

4.Ugokagututugutatugututhirari?

(Gikuyu)Whenwillyoucometohelpusslash?

5.Kanakaakokiakalukikookiakakikaakookakuukwakunakokokakoke kakaku?(Kikamba)Koki,kalokischild,do you fearthissmallflythathas cometoyourplacewithverydirtyhands? 6.ShirikalarelilaRwanda.(Kiswahili) RwandaRailwayCorporation. 7.Peterpleasepauseforproperapplause.

8.Theredlorryrolledalongthelimururoad. 9.Shesellssea-shellsatthesea-shore 10.Theshortsoldiershotthetallsoldierontheshoulder. CHAPTERFIVE FIELDWORKINORALLITERATURE Everystudentoforalliteraturemustrememberthatoralliteratureisactualizedin Performance.This means thatallthe songs,riddles.Proverbs,tongue twisters narratives etc studied in oralliterature course musthave been collected from a specific community perhaps atspecifictimese.g.afuneral,weddingafamilyget- togetherorevenintheeveningas partofrecreation.Ifno scholarorresearcher everwentouttocollectoralliteraturematerialsthenwewouldnothaveapool ofinformationonwhichtobaseour studies.Westudydifferentgenresoforal literaturebecausesomeonewentoutintothecommunityandcollectedanarrative, a song,orariddle.This process ofgoing outinto the communitytocollectoral literature materialsand relatedinformationforstudyandanalysisisreferredtoas fieldwork

IMPORTANCEOFFIELDWORK 1.Wehavenotedabovethatoralliteraturelivesinperformance.Whenitis writtendownvariousaspectsarelost.Letustakeasongforinstance.Whenyou watchalifeperformanceofasongyouenjoyandappreciatethesongmore becauseapartfrom thewordsofthesong,yougettohearthemelodyofthesong, thesingersbeautyofvoiceandmusicalaccompanimentse.g.drums.Youalso gettoseethecostumeswornbythesingers,themovementsthatgowiththe musicandtheinteractionbetweenthesingersandtheaudience.Oneisalsoable toassestherelevanceofthesongtotheoccasion.Whenthesamesongisput downinwriting,onecananalyzethewords.Allotheraspectsarelost. Fieldworkenablesonetocapturetheaspects.

2.Inorderforsomeonetofullyappreciatetheoralliteratureofaparticular community,heorshehastogetintouchwiththatcommunityandobservetheir culture.Thisisbecausesomeoftheirculturalaspectscouldexplainthe natureoftheformsoforalliteratureofvariouscommunities. Forinstanceone could appreciate why the Maasaioralliterature draws heavily from the pastoralworldbyobservingthecloseconnectionthatexistsbetweentheMaasai andtheiranimals.

3.Formsoforalliteraturehavebeenpassedonfrom onegenerationto thenext throughthewordofmouth.Thiswasespeciallysointhepast(especiallyin traditionalcommunities)whenoralliteraturewasmuchmorealive.Withchanges inlifestylesofpeopleandwiththeadventofurbanizationandtheemergenceof cosmopolitancommunities,thereisneedtorecordoralliteraturefrom past generationsforposterity.Thiscanonlybeachievedthroughfieldwork. 4.Throughfieldworknew areasinoralliteraturearediscovered. Onemaysetoutto collectmaterialson acertain genreand end up discovering new areasorsomenatureofacertaingenreoforalliteraturehithertounknown.

5.Fieldworkfacilitatesthecreation ofwideinformation baseformsafoundation fora moreextensivecomparativestudyoforalliteratureofcertain communities. Bycomparing theformsoforalliteratureofdifferentcommunitiesweareableto betterappreciatetheculturaldiversityofourcountryandlearnfrom oneanother.

6.Fieldworkinoralliteratureequipsthestudentwithskillsthatwillbeusefulin othersubjectslikegeography.

Stagesinfieldwork Preparationstage: Thisistheinitialstagebeforegoingouttothefield. Thisstageinvolves: 1.Stating thepurposeand scopeofresearch when determining thePurposeand scopeoffieldwork,the followingquestionsshouldbeconsidered:Whatis to be collected?(Allorsomeoftheformsoforalliterature?)andwhyismaterialbeing collected?(For comparativeanalysisorforclassdiscussion?) 2.Identifyingthelocationoffieldwork.Isitandurbanorruralarea? Isiteasilyaccessiblebymeansoftransportreadilyavailabletothestudent? 3.Findingoutandfamiliarizingoneselfwithwhateverearlier researchthathasbeencarriedoutonthesamesubjectfrom the samecommunity. 4.Specifyingthetime(season)whentocarryouttheresearch. 5.Establishingcontactwithusefulpeopleintheintended communityofresearchinorderto beableto accessinformants andartistes,andalsoforlogisticalarrangements.Thusrequires thatthestudentvisitstheareatotalktoprospectiveassistantsand informantsandgaugetheirexpectations,competenceandattitude beforedecidingonwhom torelyonforassistance. 6.Decidingonthekeymethodstobeusedincarryingoutthe fieldwork.Themethodchosenwilldeterminetheprior arrangementshavetobemade.Forinstance,ifaquestionnairehas tobeused,therewillbeneedtopreparealistofquestions,type them outandmakeenoughcopies. 7.Securingofficialadministrativepermissiontoconductresearchin thechosenareafrom therelevantofficials,e.g.DistrictOfficer andChief. 8.Budgetingforthefieldworkto indicateexpectedexpenditureon transport,accommodation,recordingmaterialsetc. 9.Acquiringandgettingreadyrecordingmaterialse.g.penand paper,taperecorder,cameraorvideoequipmentasnecessary. 2.Materialcollection This is done systematically using specific techniques such as observation, questionnaires, interviewsandparticipation. 3Recordinginformation Thisisdonebywriting,tapingorfilming. 4.Processing This is the scrutiny of information collected in preparation forinterpretation, documentationanddissemination.Processing includes transcription (putting down the recorded materialin writingword for word) and translation (writing the materialoutin thelanguagein which itwillbeshared outand offering thenear estequivalenceofmeaningandsense,usingtheidiom oflanguageoftranslation. 5.Analysisandinterpretation Thisinvolves. 1.Classifyingthecollectedmaterialintogenresandsub-genresusingspecificcriteria. 2.Identifyingthemes,stylisticdevices,functionsetc. 3.Interpretingtheinformation. 4.Drawingconclusions. KEYMETHODSOFCOLLECTINGORALLITERATUREMATERIALS Itis importantthatwe distinguish the difference between collecting and recor ding.Collectingreferstothemethodsusedbytheresearchertoelicitinformationfrom the informantsorartisteswhile recording refers to the measures taken by the researcherinensuringthatthematerialcollectedispreservedforfuturereference. Someofthemethodsusedincollectingoralliteraturematerialsinclude: ThequestionnaireThisrefers to alistofquestions thatwillleadto gathering impo rtantpiecesofinformationfrom varioussources.Thequestionnaireisusefulin,for instance,in getting theinformantsbiographicalbackground.Itcanbeadministered ineitheroftwoways: -Theinformantfillsitoutpersonally. -Thestudentfillsitinashe/sheinterviewstheinformant. Thequestionnaireisusefulin gathering information on genresthatdo notcall for specificoccasions to be performed.These include proverbs and tongue twisters.The only disadvantagewiththequestionnaire isthatitcannotbeusedto collectsongssinceitcannotcapturethevisualandaudioeffectsofsongs.

Theinterview Thisinvolvesmeeting thesourceofthe information faceto faceand verbally seekingtherequiredinformation.Aninterview canfollow astructuredpattern(the studentmovingsystematicallythrougha listofquestions)orbeunstructuredand info rmal (the studentconductsa generalconversation to probe forspecific informationwhilerecordingtheinformationontapeorbywriting.) Interviews are important especially if one wants to seek details about the personallife ofanartisteorincollectingproverbsand riddlesonecouldalso use interview tocollectnarratives.

Participation Taking part in the performance is much favoured method of collecting information because itgivesthestudentachancetoexperiencethespiritofthe actualperformance.Italsoenhancestherapportbetweenthestudentandthecommu nity.By joiningtheperformance,thestudentbridgesrelationalgaps and finds it easierto seekand getinformation in a freer atmosphere.Butthestudentmust ensure that participation does distract him/her from making a recording of material. Observation Unlikeparticipation,observation isa method bywhich thestudentstandsaloof and recordswhatis going on in the performance and in the communityin at large.Itisnecessarytoreinforcethismethodbyconductingfollow upinterviews onobservationsmadetodeepeninsightsandclarifyissues.

KEYMETHODSIN RECORDINGORALLITERATUREMATERIALS Therearea varietyofmethodsfor recording yematerialcollected.Thechoice ofmethoddependson a numberoffactorsincluding the purpose ofresearch, time availableto the studentandtotheinformants,fundsavailable, students technicalcompetence,etc. Themostcommonoftheserecordingmethodsare: Writingthenmaterialdownasitcomes from theperformersandinformants. Recordinginformationonaudio,tape. Filmingorvideorecordingtheperformanceandinterviews Memorizingthematerial. Problemsencounteredduringfieldwork 1.Communicationbarrier.Thishappens whenthestudentdes notsharethesame language withhis/herinformants.Thisproblem couldbesolvedbygettingsomeonewho understandsthelocallanguagetoaccompanyyouduringfieldwork. 2.Transportproblems.Thisisespeciallycommoninruralareaswheremeanso ftransportarenotreadilyavailable orarenotregular.Poorweathercouldalso inhibit movement.Aprior visit to the place in order to familiarize oneself with the transportsystem and thestate ofthe road willhelp the researcherto take appropriatemeasurestocountertheproblem. 3.Suspicionbymembersofthepublicespeciallyinareaswherepeoplearenot usedtohostingresearchers.This problem could besolvedbygetting oneofthe lo calsespecially arespectable memberofthecommunitytoaccompany you.This will inspire confidence inyouandalsoreduceriskofsuspicion. 4.Informantsdemandingcashormaterialrewardsfrom theresearcher.Oneshould explain before handthatthisisanacademic exercise.Andthattherewillbe nomaterial benefits thatwillaccruefrom volunteeringinformation. 5.Lossofrecording materialthrough theftorotherwise.You could asksomeo neto accompanyyou.Thispersonwillactasyoursecuritydetail. 6.Lack of credible informants.To solve this problem one ought to have informantson standby in case the one you chose disappoints you.This can be organized duringthe preparationstageofthefieldwork. 7.Disease ofdiscomfortcaused bychange ofclimate.One should be ready forthis.Heshould carrywith him the necessarypreventive orcurative medicine andappropriate clothingtosuittheclimaticconditionsoftheresearcharea. 8.Theadministrationmaydenytheresearcherpermissiontoundertakefieldwork ina certainarea.Onecouldalwaystryanotherareathatwouldproducethedesiredeffects. CHAPTERSIX COMMONLYASKEDQUESTIONSINORALLITERATURE CharacterAnalysis (a)DiscussthecharacterofMBott-the-road.Supportyouranswerwith illustrationsfrom thestory) (b)DescribethecharacterofChameleon (c)From youOralLiteraturefieldworkgivenamesofthreeanimalcharactersthat youhavecomeacrossandmentionthemaincharactertraitsofeachanimal. (d)Whydoyouthinkanimalcharactersaregivenhumancharacteristics? (e)Compareandcontrastthetwocharactersinthisnarrative (f)Describethecharacterofthethirdwifeand showhowitaffectstheeventsofthe story. (g)Identifyanytwocharactertraitsofthegirlinthisstory.Illustrateyouranswer. (h)WhatdoyoulearnaboutShakascharacterfrom thisPoem? (I)IdentifyandillustratethreecharactertraitsofKaria. Whenansweringquestionsoncharacterization,youmustalwaysprovide TRAITSandILLUSTRATIONS. Ordinarilyyoushould expectasetofoneofthetraitandaccompanying illustrationsto earn youmarks. Thisisnotalwaysthe case hence you need to give asmanytraitsasyoucanget.Whenthe numberoftraitsyouaresupposed to givehas been specified forinstancein(g)above,youshouldsticktothenumber oftraitsgiven. NB Alwaysgiveatleasttwoillustrationsforeachtraitthatyougive. Describe each traiton its own.Do notlump them togethere.g.Chameleon is patient, wiseand generous.You should instead startwith thetraitpatientand them o ffer illustrationsforIt,then move ontoWiseand do the same thing and then generous,againfollowingthesameprocess.Writefullsentences. Use shortparagraphs;onetraitshould occupy oneparagraph.Thismakes iteasy forthe person markingyourworktofollow yourargument.Itisadvisable to underlinethe trait. Thisagainassiststhepersonmarkingtoquicklypointouttheimportantpartsof your answer.Usethepresenttense.ChameleoniswisenotChameleonwaswise Itisadvisable(Perhapsevenlogical)tostartbygivingthetraitandnottheillustrations. Featuresoforalnarratives/poetry (a)Identifyandcommentonanythreeoralfeaturesofthistale (b)Whatfeaturesoforalnarrativesareevidentinthisstory? (c)Identifyfourfeaturesinthisstorythatarecharacteristicoforalnarratives (d)Identifyanythreecharacteristicsoforalnarrativesinthisstory. (e)Identifyandillustrateanythree literarydeviceswhich makethis narrativeanoral poem. (f)Whatfeaturesofthisstoryshowthatitisatraditionaloralnarrative? (g)Identifyandillustratetheoralfeaturesofthispoem. (h)Whatevidence is there thatthis is an oralpoem? Identify andillustrateany twosuchfeatures. Thefollowingarethecommonfeaturesoforalnarratives:

Theopening Formulae:A longtimeago,onceuponatime,Longago,etc.The openingformulaeiseffective -Arrestingtheattentionoftheaudience -Introducingtheaudiencetotheworldofmakebelief -Identifyingthenarrator -Introducingthenarrative.

Theclosingformulae -Markstheendofthenarrative -Releasestheaudiencefrom theworldofmakebelief -Givesachancetothenextnarrator. The useofanimalcharacters(youmustmention which animalcharacters have been used) -Mostcharactersrepresentcertainmembersofsociety.Theelephantmay representthemighty;theharemayrepresentthesmall/insignificant membersofsocietywhosurvivebyusingtheircunning. -Itiseasiertopassthemessageto theaudiencewithoutoffendingthem bypresentinganimalsinsteadofhumancharacters. Peoplecaneasilyidentifywithanimalssinceanimalsarereadily availabletothem.(Theycoexistwithanimals.) Theuse ofsong.Song is saidtobe a multi-purposeaspectof style inoral narratives. Thisisbecauseit. -Linksepisodesinanarrative -Revealsthecharactertraitsofthesingersorthosementionedinsongs. -Involvestheaudienceinthestory. -Helpstorelievetheaudienceofthetensionaccumulatedduringthe narration. -Attimescouldbeusedtocreatesuspensebyheighteningtheintensityof certainpartsofthenarrative. -Breaksthemonotonyofthenarration. Elementsoffantasy/Useofthesupernatural -Innarrativestheremaybecertainthingsthatthecharactersmaydothatappear to bein therealm offantasy.Forinstancea snakemaybeseencrying,ora stonetalkingtopeople.Onemayravenfindtreesintheforestsinging.Inoralliteratur e,anythingispossible. Presenceofmorallesson -Ineverystoryyouwillfindalessonthattheaudiencearesupposedto learnfrom it.Thelessoncouldbedirectlygivenorimpliedinthestory. Seethenextsectionforthepresentationofthelesson. Thefollowingarethecommonfeaturesoforalpoetry. Repetition -Inoralpoetrycertainpartsofthepoem arerepeatedtoform thechorusorto emphasizetheir importance.Repetitioncouldalsobeusedtoensurerhythm in thepoem.

Hyperbole. -Someaspectsfoundinoralpoetrymayappearexaggeratedorevenfantastic.For instanceinpraisingapersonimagessuchasheisthunderorthelionofthe villagemaybeused.Insatiricalsongssomeonemaycastintheextreme.

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

Morallesson. -Likeoralnarrativesoralpoetryusuallycontainamorallesson. Someofthem aremarkedanonymousastheyarenotproductofanindividualbutthe collectivepropertyofthecommunity.

Freetranslation -SomepoemsmaycontainphrasesorwordsthatareinStandardEnglish.Thisis becausewhiletranslatingthepiecesinquestionfrom the sourcelanguageinto English,anartistmaychoosetotranslatewordforwordresultinginphrasesthat maynotbereadilyaccessibletoEnglishe.g.whenthesunstoodinthemiddle ofthevillagei.e.atnoonorshewasmeasuredadressatChogoria Referencetolocalplacesandnamesofpeople. -Mostoralpoemsweremeantforaparticularaudience.Thiscouldfor instance bemembersofthesamevillageorpeopleofthesameagegroup.Forthisreason onemayencounternamesofpeopleandplacesthathemaynotbefamiliar.

Morallessons (a)Mentiontwolessonsthatwelearnfrom thistale. (b)Withillustrations,identifythreelessonsthatcanbelearntfrom thisnarrative. Innotmorethatfivesentences,statewhatthemainmessageofthestoryyouheard was. (d)Whatmorallessondoyoulearnfrom thisstory? (e)Stateandillustratetwomorallessonsyoucanlearnfrom thisoralpoem. (f)Mentionanytwomorallessonslearnedfrom thisoralstory. (g)Stateonethemeofthisnarrative. Whenaskedtostatethemorallessons,youshouldaskyourselfthefollowingquestions: Whatistheaudiencesupposedtolearnfrom thisstoryOR Whydidthenarratorchoosethisstory? You may useaproverbto summarisethe lesson or useaplain statementto present it. Afterthatyouaresupposedtosupportthelessonstatedwith

ILLUSTRATIONS FROM THETEXT. DoNotstatelessonsthataretoospecificasnottobeuniversal,E.g. -Weshouldbeobedientsoasnottobepunishedbyourparents. -Weshouldnotstealbecauseifwearecaughtwewillbekilled. -WeshouldobeyGodbecauseifwedonot,thenGodwillpunishus. Intheexamplesabove:itdoesnotfollow thateverytimeweobeyourparents weare punishedoreverytimesomeoneiscaughtstealingheiskilled. Examplesoflessonslearntinclude: -WeshouldrespectGod --Weshouldbedutiful --Oneshouldnotcryoverspiltmilk -Wisdom isstrength -Youreapwhatyousow -Weshouldbegrateful Whenillustratingthelessons,youshouldfollowthreesteps: -Statethelesson -Statewhodidnotactaccordingtothelessonlearned. -Explaintherepercussionsofnotactingaccordingtothelessonlearnt. ForExample: From the storywe learn thatwe should be grateful.In thisstory,the animals showedingratitudetotheirgodCheptailelbynotgiving partoftheirharvestasa sign ofgratitude.Becauseoftheir ingratitudetheywerepunishedwithasevere drought . Citingproverbsthatsummarisethelessonslearned (a)Give one proverb from you fieldwork and explain how itapplies in any lessonyouhaveidentifiedin(c)above (b)StateandexplainaproverbthatcouldbeusedtowarnthepeopleofRanisi. (c)Giveoneproverbthataccuratelysummarisesthistheme. Whenaskedtosummarisethelessonlearntusingaproverb,youhaveto: -Statethelessoninplainlanguage. -Satetheproverb -Explainthemeaningoftheproverb. -Explainhowitcouldbeusedtosummarizethemessagethatyouhaveidentified.

Forexample -Thelessonlearntinthisnarrativeisthatthosewhohavecertainweaknesses shouldnot castigateotherswhoseemtohavethesameweakness.Aproverbthatcouldbe usedto summarizethislessonisThosewholiveinglasshousesshouldnotthrow stones.In thisnarrative,weseethehyenacastigatingthehareforhisgreed.Heeven wantshim killed.Lateronweseethehyenabeingvilifiedforbeinggreedy.Thehyenacanthus be comparedtoapersonintheproverbwholivesinaglass-houseandisbusythro wing stones.Hewillonlysucceedinharminghimself. -You mustalways explain how the proverb summarizes the message learnt evenwhenyouhavenotbeenasksto.

Aspectsofperformance (a)Withreferenceto a performanceofa narratoryouhavewatched,statewaysin whichsheor hemadehisorhernarrativelively. (b)Try to picture yourselfas the story-tellercharged with the responsibility of narratingthis particularstory.Whatstorytellingdeviceswouldyouemploy? (c)Ifyouwereto doasolo performanceofthisoralpoem,what wouldyou emphasise?

Someaspectsofperformanceinclude -Changeofvoicetoimitatethedifferentcharacters(mimicry) -Useoffacialexpressionstocapturedifferentemotions -Dramatizationoruseofgesturestocapturetheactioninthestory -Useoftonalvariationtocapturedifferentmoodsinnthenarrative. -Involvementoftheaudiencethroughaskingofquestionsorinvitingthem tojoin inthesinging(ifthereisasonginthenarrative) -When giving these types ofaspects ofperformance,youmustpointoutexactly whichpartsofthe textthe aspects would be employed in.Ifyou failtodo this, thenyouwontgetanymarks. -ForexampleonecansayIwouldusemyhandsandlegstodramatizetheogre runningaftertheboy.Iwouldusemyhandstoenactthekillingoftheogrebythe warrior.Iwouldalsovarytoneofmyvoicetocapturethepanicoftheboyashe wasbeingchasedbytheogre.Iwouldusefacialexpressionstoexpressthejoy thattheboyfeltathavingbeingrescuedfromtheogre

CLASSIFICATIONOFORALLITERATURE

(a)Whattypeoforalnarrativeisthis?Givereasonforyouranswer. (b)Explainwhythisnarrativecouldbeclassifiedaslegend (c)Whatdoyouunderstandbythewordgenreinoralliterature? (d)Identifytwotypesoforalnarratives. (e)Giveanexampleandashortexplanationofeachtypeyouhaveidentified. (f)Whattypeoforalpoem doyouthinkthisis?Giveareasonforyouranswer. (g)Whatkindoforalpoem isthis? -Youareexpectedtodemonstrateamasteryofthevariousclassesthatarethereino ralliterature -Apart from merely stating them;you should also be able to give reasons justifyingyouchoiceofclassification.

Economicactivities (a)Listtheeconomicactivitiesofthecommunitydepictedinthisoralnarrative. (b)Describetheeconomicactivitiesofthecommunityinthisstory. (c)Identifytwosocio-economicactivitiesofthecommunityinthisnarrative. -When asked to state the economic activities ofthe communityfrom which a narrativeorpoem istakenyouaresupposedtogothroughthepoem ornarrative andlookforpointers. Forinstance,ifcowsare mentioned in the narrative,then the economic activity could belivestock keeping.Ifmaize is mentioned,then perhaps this community practicesarable farming. -You mustshow how you arrived atyourconclusions aboutthe economic activities evenwhen you have notbeen asked to.Mostcandidates lose marks foreassumingthattheexaminerhasreadthenarrativeandthereforemustknowhow theyarrivedattheanswer. -You havetoassume thattheexaminerhas notreadthenarrativeand issolely relyingontheinformationthatyouaregivinghim. Theaudience (a)Whatkindofaudiencewouldthisnarrativebesuitedforandwhy? -Whenanswering thisquestionyouhaveto askyourselfthefollowingquestion: Whatclassofpeopleinsocietywouldbenefitfrom thelessonslearntinthis narrativeorpoem? OR giventhelanguageused,whichmembersofsocietyare likelytodrawmostbenefitsfrom thetext? -Thenarrativeorpoem couldbesuitableforchildren,theyouth,elders,girls, boys,youngmenorwomenetc. -The mostimportantthing here is thatyou are able to identify the correct group andsupportyourchoiceofaudiencewithevidencefrom thetext.Most candidateslosemarksfromerelystatingthegroupthattheythinkwouldbest benefitfrom thetextwithoutgivingthereasonswhy.Thisistreatedasmere speculation.

Reasonsforstudyingoralliterature (a)Statetworeasonswhyyouthinkitisimportanttostudyoralliteratureinschool. -teachingaboutculture -makingusgainsconfidenceinourculture -Teachculturalvaluesormorals -Teachinggoodneighbourliness -Provideheroesforustoemulate -Teachesabouthistoryofthepast -Teachesusabouttheworldofourancestors -Teachesusaboutourselves -Entertains -Sharpenswit/speech/creativity/listeningandlanguageskills. -Afterstatinganyofthepointsabove,youshouldofferashortexplanationforthe pointssated. -Forinstance: -Oralliteratureteachesusaboutourculture.Bylisteningtonarrativeswe gettoknowthedifferenteconomicactivitiespracticedbythecommunity. Someoftheculturalpracticesforinstanceweddingceremoniesandsome ofthevaluesthatthecommunitiesapprovedof.Alltheseareimportant aspectsofculturethatgetstousviathestudyoforalliterature.

Generaladvicetocandidates

1.Please be neat.Neatworks gives a good impression.Untidy work may easilyputofftheexaminer.Rememberyoursisnottheonlyscriptbeingmar ked.

2.Planyouranswersbeforewritingthem down.Thisensuresthatyouarelo gicalandthatyouwriteexactlywhatyouintendtosay.Donotbeinahurryto finish.Usuallytherewillbeenoughtimeto finishthepaperatacomfortable pace.

3.Where possible underline the importantpoints in you answer.This will help in drawing theattentionoftheexaminertotheanswerandmaysimplify hiswork.

4.Ifyoudo notimmediatelygettheanswersto acertainquestionDONT PANIC! Youare notthe onlyone in the room faced bythe problem.Instead of panickingTHINKthrough theproblem itisbyfarthemostprofitablewayof goingabouttheproblem.

5.Rememberthatinliterature,markslieinILLUSTRATION!Shouldyouforget

everythingelseinthehandbook,keepthispointinmind. ORALLITERATUREMODELPAPERS EXERCISEONE Readthefollowingnarrativeandthenanswerthequestionsthatfollow. THEFALLOFTHEDOG Inthebeginning,thedogusedtobeoneofGod'sfavouritecreatures.Hewasnotcalled dogasheiscallednow,butwascalledLenanu,forhewasverymuchpampered. Andsinceheavenandearthwerenotasfarapartastheynoware,Lenanuusedtopay frequentvisitstoMan,afterwhichhewouldreturntoheavenwhereheresided. Oneday,GodcalledLenanutohim andsaid,"Myfavouriteone,youmaytalktoManas youplease,butdon'tyouevertellhim ofthegentle-one,forIdonotwanttopartwith her."Lenanusaid:"Verywell,Iwillnevertellhim."Butassoonashewasinthecompany ofhisfriend,Man,LenanucouldnotkeepGod'ssecret.Hesaidtohim,"Man,shallItell yousomething?Godhasonethingthathedidnotgiveyou,andwhichhecallsthe gentle-one.Thiscreatureisveryfatandhumblebutifeveryoumanagetoprocure it,allyourproblemswillgoaway.Goandaskforit,forHewillnotdeny ThereuponManwenttorequestGodforthegentle-one."OhGod,"hepleaded,"Ihave cometoaskyoutogivemethegentle-one."Godwasstartledbythisrequestandasked Man,"Whotoldyouofthatgentlecreature?" "ItisLenanuwhotoldme,"Mananswered.GodthensentMantogoandcallLenanu, andhespoketohim thus:"Lenanu,youhaveindeedletoutthesecretofmygentle-one whichIbidyounevertotell!"Lenanukeptmumoutofshame asthough he wasnot theonewhowasbeingspokento."Becauseofwhatyouhavedone,"God continued,"Iwillmakeyouadog.From thisverydayyouwillnotresideinmyhome,but youwillgotoearthandbe aservantto Man,and foryourfood youwillfeedon excrement."Onhearingthis,Lenanuregrettedhisactionsverymuch,butwasitnottoo late? LenanuthensaidtoGod,"Ohfather,now thatyouhaveindeedcursedme,Ihave fourthingstorequestofyou,sothatIcan atleastsurvive.Grantme anose thatcan withstandthedistastefulsmellofexcrementnowthatyoufateittobe my foodgrant meanosethatcandetectthescentoffoodfrom longdistances,sothatIdonotdie from starvationgrantme,too,hairsthatfaceone directionso thatifIam delayedat thehuntIcanmaneuver throughthethornfenceswithoutmyhairsgettingcaughtbetweenthorns,for,asyou know,noonewishestoletservantsinatnight.AndthelastthingthatIshallaskofyou isan agileandlightbodythatcangoacrosswatersandsqueezethroughnarrowspacesnow thatyouhavedisownedme." Godthensaidtodog,"Ihavegrantedyouallthatyouhaveaskedfor,butblamenoone, foryouhaveremovedyourselffrom ahousethatwasalreadybuilt."Thatwashow Lenanafell outoffavourwithGodandearnedthename'dog',andwasthrowndown toearthtoserveMan."Thereasonwhythedogateexcrementisnotforlackofsound advice,itisbecauseheatethedeafear."ThiswasalsothetimewhenManprocuredthe gentle-one,whichhelaterrenamed'sheep'. Questions 1.HowwastherelationshipbetweenGodandMan,andbetweenGod?andLenanu? 2.Whatstylisticdevicehastheauthorused? 3.Howhasthewriterusedpersonification? 4.HowwouldyoudescribeLeannescharacter? 5.Whatdoyouthinkthewritermeantwhenheusedthefollowing Sentences: (i) "Youremovedyourselffrom ahousethatwasalreadybuilt' (ii) "Thereasonwhythedogateexcrementisnotforlack ofsoundadvice,itis becauseheatethedeafear"Thefollowingsentencesinthenarrativeareindirect speech.Changethem intoindirectspeech. a) Mansaid,"Ihavecometoaskyoutogivemethegentle-one' b) "Lenana,youhaveindeedletoutthesecretofmygentle-onewhichIbidyouneverto tell!"Godsaid. c)"Becauseofwhatyouhavedone,"Godcontinued,"Iwillmakeyouadog.-" d) Lenanusaid,"Nowthatyouhaveindeedcursedme,Ihavefourthingstorequestof you,sothatIcanatleastsurvive." c) Goddeclared,"From thisverydayyouwillnotresideinmyhome,butyouwillgoto earthandbeservanttoman." Givethemeaningofthefollowingwordsandphrasesasusedinthe narrative'pampered reside favour 1.TherelationshipbetweenGodandmanwasnotveryfirm becausethereisasecret Goddidnotwantmantoknow ButtherelationshipbetweenGodandLenanuwas intimateforLenanuwasGod'sfavouritecreaturetowhom Hetoldeverything.

keptmum bid

manoeuvre 2.Thefollowingareexamplesofstylisticdevicesusedbythewriter Useofdirectspeech,e.g.,"Verywell,Iwillnevertellhim." Useoffigurativelanguage,e.g.,"...ahousethatwasalreadybuilt." "...heatethedeafear". Useofpersonification,e.g.,Thedogpaysvisitsandtalkslikeaman Useoffantasy,e.g.,Lenanupaysvisittomanonearthandreturnsto heaven.

3Thewriterhasusedpersonificationbygivingthedoghumanqualities.e.g.,Thedog cantalktomanandGod.

4.-Lenanuwasfriendly;heusedtovisitmanfrequently -Hewasaliar,hecheatedGodthathewouldkeeptheirsecret. -Hewasunfaithful;herevealedGod'ssecretdespitethepromisehehadmadenottodo so. -Hewasremorseful/repentant;heregrettedandwasashamedofhisactions -Hewaspolite;hepleadedwithGodandrequestedHim togrant him afewthingsinordertosurvive.

5."Youhaveremovedyourselffrom ahousethatwasalreadybuilt.".Thissentenceis usedtoshowLenanuhis foolishactionforheusedtoliveincomfortinGod'shousewherehewasthefavourite creature.Hisactions havecausedhim problemsforhewould,from thenon,fendforhimselfandserveman. "Thereasonwhythedogateexcrementisnotforlackofsoundadvice,itisbecausehe atethedeafear." ThissentencemeansthatthedogsufferedforhedidnotheedGod'sadvice. 6.a)MansaidthathehadgonetoaskHim togivehim (man)thegentle-one. b)GodtoldLenanuthathehadindeedletoutthesecretofHisgentle-onewhichHebid nevertotell. c)Godcontinuedandsaidthatbecauseofwhathe(Lenanu)haddone,Hewouldmake him adog. d)LenanusaidthatnowHe(God)hadindeedcursedhim,he(Lenanu)hadfourthingsto requestofHim sothathecouldatleastsurvive. e)Goddeclaredthatfrom thatveryday,he(Lenanu)wouldnotreside inHishomebuthewouldgotoearthandbeservanttoman. 7.pampered- overprotected/spoiltbycuddling reside procure startled - surprised reprimanded rebukedsharply Keptmum keptquiet Withstand resist Maneuver moveskilfully agile nimble/active/quick felloutoffavour nolongertreatedwithpartiality/nolonger friends.

- live - obtain/acquire EXERCISE2 Lookatthefollowingproverbsfrom variouslanguagecommunities andwritedowntheirapplication. Forexample:

1.Guthimbalikuura(Gikuyu)

Havingcloudsisnotthesameashavingrain Application: Thisproverbisusedtowarnpeopleagainst makingmajorplansforthingsthathavenothappened.TheEnglishequivalentofthis proverbis"Don'tcountyourchickensbeforetheyhatch.

2. Wekseiurwomboket(Nandi) Whatyoudotometodaymightbedonetoyoutomorrow. Application:Thisproverbisusedto advisepeopletotreatotherswell.ABiblicalequivalentofthisproverbis"Dountoothers asyou wouldwantthem todountoyou" 3 MurnerataOlaiyioniootamenve.(Maasai) Aboyisneverreallycircumcisedwhilehisfatherisstillalive. 4 Meetaemotonyinerneiroekenyua.(M aasai) Thereisnobirdthatdoesnottalkatdawn. 5. Medung'unoyuen'uditioitoi.(Maasai) Onedoesnotmakeawalkingstickwhileontheway. 6.Unyinyinotaunmu(Gikuyu) Youthislikefoolishness. 7Hatirikiegakiurnagahega.(Gikuyu) Nothinggoodcomeseasily. 8.Rurigirwetagiririamukwa.(Gikuyu) Astringcoulddowhileyouwaitfortherope 9.Bintombiamochikare.(Gusii) Thingsareforthosewholive long. 10.Mwanaabandemaniriamakendu.(Gusii) Anotherperson'schildis coldmucus. 11.Nyumbanjemasimlango.(Kiswahili) Agoodhousecannotbejudgedbyitsdoor. 12.UmqjaniNguvu.(Kiswahili) Unityisstrength. 13.Chemachajiuza,kibayachajitembeza.(Kiswahili) Agoodthingsellsitself,abadthingpersuadespeopletobuyit 14.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) Theoneyouarebornwithistheoneyoudiewith. 25.Lookingataking'smouth,onewouldthinkheneversuckedathis 'mother'sbreast.(Ibo) 26. Thosewhosepalm-kernelswerecracked/orthembyabenevolentspiritshouldnot forgettobe humble.(Ibo) 27.Abirdinhandisworthtwointhebush.(English) 28.Astitchintimesavesnine. (English) c) Lookfortenmoreproverbsfrom variouslanguagecommunities.Givetheirdirect translationintoEnglishandtheirapplications Answers 1.Thisproverbisusedtoemphasizetheauthorityoftheeldersinthecommunity.It alsowarnsagainstconflictbetweenoldpeopleandtheyouth.. 2.Thisproverbcautionspeoplewhospeaktoomuchbutinactualfactsaynothing worthwhile.Itisusedtodiscourageidletalk. 3.Properarrangementsforatripshouldbemadebeforeonestartsoffbutnotonthe way.Theproverbisusedtoencouragepeopletoplanthingsbeforedoingthem. 4.Thisproverbisusedtoshow thelittlewisdom theyouthhaveintheeyes of the elders.Mostofthethingsthattheyouthdoaredonefrom lackof wisdom.You thereforecannotpunishapersonfordoingsomethingoutoffoolishness/ignorance. 5.Thisproverbadvisespeopletoworkhardforunlessoneisreadytoworkhardand dirtyhishands,hewillnotacquirewhathedesiresinlife. 6. Thisproverbmeansthatyoushouldutilizethelittlehelpthatyougetand;thatyou shouldnotrejecthelpevenwhenitseemstobeinsignificant. 7.Thisproverbisusedtoemphasizeandencouragethequalityofpatience.Peoplewith patiencealwaysbenefitintheend. 8. Thisproverbisusedtoshowthatyoucannottreatanotherperson'schildexactlyas yourown.Itremindspeoplenthatitisnaturaltoconsiderone'schildfirst. 9.Thisproverbisusedtowarnpeoplenottojudgeothersorthingsmerelybytheir outwardappearance.Whatmightlookgoodorattractiveontheoutsidemightnotbethe sameontheinside. 10.This proverb is used toadvise people to be united in orderto overcome problems.Whenpeopleareunited,itbecomesdifficulttodestroythem. 11.Thisproverbcautionspeopleagainsttalkingtoomuchaboutthemselves.Agood personwillbejudgedfrom hisorhergoodactionsandbehaviour. 12.Inthisproverb,oneisadvisedtolistentoadviceorelseitwillbeveryembarrassing whenhefindshimselfinasituationthatrequireshim tobehaveinaspecialway. 13.Thisproverbtoowarnsapersonagainstdisobedience.Ifonedoes notlistento advice,hewilldiscoverthetruthwhenheisinatotalmess. 14.Thisproverbcautionsonetodothingsslowlybutcarefullyinordertodothem well.. Workdoneinahurryendsupbeingshoddy. 15.Theproverbisusedtocautionpeopleagainstpraisingthemselvesfortheyhave weaknesseswhichtheydonotpointout. 16.Theproverbcautionspeopleaboutmakingtooelaboratepreparationsinregardto ananticipatedhappening.Thisistoavoidembarrassmentincasethereisfailure. 17.Thisproverb isusedtocautionpeopleagainstarrivinglate atafunctionor appointment.Suchpeopleshouldnotcomplainiftheymissthefunctionoriftheyget thedregs/leftovers. 18.Thisproverbmaybeusedtoconsolesomeonewhohasdonesomethingwrong unintentionally.Itmayalsobeusedtocautionthosewholaughatothers'mistakes. 19.Theproverbisusedtoadvisepeopletodoonethingatatimeinordertosucceed. 20.Peopleusethisproverbtoadvisepeoplenottodiscardthingsthattheyarenotusing forsuch thingsmaybehandyinfuture.Italsoemphasizestheimportanceofeach memberofthefamilyregardlessofhisage,sexorsize. 21.The proverb is used to encourage others to acceptwhatmay happen to them.Itis also used tomencouragepeopletodotheirworkwellnomatterhow hardthejobmightbe 22.Thisproverbisusedtoremindpeoplethatpeoplewithbloodrelationsarecloseand willalwayssidewitheachotherAnEnglishequivalentofthisproverbis,"Bloodisthicker thanwater". 23.Thisproverb isusedtoencouragepeopletoworkhardinordertorisefrom poverty. Thisproverbisusedinasocietywhereeveryindividualisgivenachancetobecome importantthroughhardwork 24 Thisproverbcautionsthosethatareluckyandhavebecomerich nottolookdown uponthepoorpeople.Thepoorpeoplearejustunfortunate 25 Thisproverb isusedtoadvisepeopletomakeuseofwhatthey have,nomatter howlittle,andnottostayidlewaitingforbetterthingsthatmightnevercomeatall. 26.Theproverbis usedtocautionpeopleagainstleavingthingsundone:itadvises peopletocorrecterrorswhentheyhappen.Thisisbecauseifworkisleftundonefor long,itwillbedifficulttodo.Again,ifanerrorisnotcorrectedwhenithappens,itwill growoutofhandtherebymakingitmoredifficulttocorrect. EXERCISE3 Readthenarrativebelowandthenanswerthequestionsthatfollow. KONYEKIANDHISFATHER Onceuponatimetherewasanogrewhousedtoturnhimselfintoahandsomeyoung man.Onedayheattendedatraditionaldanceinaneighbouringvillage.Hewassmartly dressedandhedancedsowellthathebecamethecentreofattractionformostof the girls present.One girlwas soattracted tohim that shedancedwith him throughout.Sheevenbecame furiousifheapproachedanothergirlforadance.When theyweredancingthelastdance,he requested her to accompany him to his house to see his house and greethis mother,with apromisethathewouldtake herbackhomeafterthevisit.Theogrewassocourteousthatthegirlbelievedhim. Apartfrom this,hewassoattractivethathehadconqueredherheart. Afterthe lastdance,they setofftowards the ogre's home.They walked and walkedpa...pa...pa...kilometreafterkilometre,acrossrivers,hillsandvalleys.The girlwasgettingtiredandshestoppedandaskedhim howfarhishousewasfrom whereshestood.Hetold herthathishomewasashortdistanceaway.Itwastrue becauseafterashortdistance,shesaw alonelyhouseinthemiddleofaforest.He pointedatthehouseandtoldherthatthatwashishome.Thehousewaslockedfrom theoutsideandtherewasnosignoflife.Hesaidthathismotherhadlockedthehouse andgonetothefarm.Heaskedhertowaitoutsideandexcusedhimself.Hewentinto the house,sayingthathe wasgoingto warm thehouseforher.She waitedoutside andatthetimeshebegantoshiver.Somethinginsidehertoldherallwasnotwelland shebecamesuspiciousoftheyoungman.Hecameoutofthehouseandinvitedherin side.When shewassettled,heexcused himselftogooutformorefirewoodforthe room wasstillcold.Hemadesurehelockedthehousefrom outside.Afterheleft, thegirlgot curious and started looking around.To herhorror,shefoundhuman skullsand limbs tuckedunderthebed.She became so scared thatshe fainted.When she cameto,shefoundherselfonabed.Theogrehadremovedtheartificialhair he hadputonduringthedance,therebyexposinghisothermouthatthebackofhishead. Shestartedcryingandsayingtoherselfthatshewishedshehadheededhermother's adviceandthatallthatglitters isnotgold.Itwastoolatenowandtherewas nopoint cryingoversplitmilk. Shestoppedcryingandpleadedwiththeogre nottoharm herandtolethergohome. Theogretoldhertosavehertearsforshewashis wife from then on.Shecouldnot leavebecausehethreatened tokillherandherfamilyifsheranawayfrom him She dreadedherstaytheredaybydaybutshehadnoalternativebuttostay. She stayed in the ogre's house and aftersome time,she gave birth to a baby boywhom shecalledKonyekiWhenKonyekigrew up,hetookafterthefather.He had his father's characteristics butwas muchmoreinquisitiveandgreedy.Heand hisfatherusedtogototheforesttohuntforallsortsofcreatureswhichtheyusedto bringhomeforthem othertocook.Themotherdetestedthethingstheyateandshe never tasted any ofthem Sheusedtocookherownfoodm Oneday,Konyeki's maternalauntcameto visithersisterafteralongsearchforherShemetKonyeki's motheroutsidethe house drying some animalskins.When they met,theycried on each other's shoulderswith happiness. After exchanging greetings and enquiring aboutthe othermembers ofthe family,Konyeki'smothertoldherhow shecam etotheogre'shouseandhowshehadanotheryoungerogre,worsethanthe father. TheystayedhappilytogetheruntillateafternoonwhenKonyeki'smothertoldhersistert oleavefortheogreswereabouttoreturnhome.Shetoldthesistertoresthalf-waythe journeyonathicktreeandwaitthereuntiltheogreshadpassed.Shetoldherthat sometimesthey used torestunderthe tree.In case theydid,shewasnotto maketheslightest noiseunderanycircumstancesheasked herwhetherthatwasclearand thesister nodded herhead in agreement.She then lefthersister,Konyeki'smother,with tearsinhereyes. Whenshereached thethick tree,she decidedtorestasshewasaskedto do byher sister.Sheclimbed thetreeandmade herselfcomfortable bysitting on a thick branch.Thetree'sthickfoliageconcealedherpresence. WhenKonyekiandhisfathercame,theydecidedtorestabitunderthetreewhen thewoman saw theiruglyfacialfeaturesand especiallytheirmouths,shestarted urinatingandtheurinefellonKonyeki'shead.Hewonderedwhetherithadstarted raininghotrainandhelookedupthetree.Hesaw alegdanglingupthetree. Hisfatherhadastiffneckand hetherefore was notinterested in looking up.He feltexcruciating pain anytime he moved itKonyeki. Ignoring his father's indifference climbed the tree,a slow,shysmilecreepingaroundthecornersofhis mouth.Thewomanheld tightly onto thetree trunkbutKonyekiwascunning.He whisperedthatifshelethim eatherfingersonly,hewouldleaveheraloneandnottell thefatheraboutherpresencethere.Thewomangaveinandwhenherfingerswere eaten,shecouldnotholdontothetreeanylonger.Shewaspulleddownstillscreaming. Herstomachwasopenedand theyfoundtwinbabies.They wereboth boys and Konyekitookthem hometo hismotherto cookthem forhim. When hismother sawthetwobabies,sherealizedwhathadhappenedtohersister.Shetookthebabies, wrappedthem upandtookcareofthem.Inplaceofthem,shecaughttwomoles,cut offtheirtailsandcookedthem forKonyeki.Konyekiatethem althoughhe complainedthathiskidneys(ashecalledthem)seemedtohaveshrivelledandthat they werenottasty.His motherretortedthatshewouldnevereatthestrangethings thattheyate.Herhusbandtrustedherandstopped Konyeki from accusing his mother.Konyekiwasnotsatisfiedwiththeexplanationbuthekeptquiet. Days,months andyearspassedandthe boys grew tallerand stronger.Theywere wellhiddenatnightbuttheywereallowedtogooutduringthedaywhentheogreswent outhunting.Onedayonarainyday, Konyekireturnedintheeveningfrom theirusualhuntingtripsandhefoundmanysmall footprintsnearthedoorofthehouse.Hebecamesuspicious andasked his mother who had madesomanyfootprints.Hismothertoldhim thatthemarksweremade byherasshewentouttogetwater,firewood,foodandwhenshedidotherhousehold chores.Hesaidthefootprintsweretoosmalltobehers.Themotherthensaid they mustbehis forthere was nootherchild in their home.Thefatherdidnotdoubt his wife and told Konyekithefootprintswere his (Konyeki's).The children had beenwarned nevertomake noise andtheyobeyed.Theyalsonevercried.When Konyeki'smotherthoughttheboyswerebigenough,shecalledthem outonemorning andtoldthem abouttheirmother;whoshewas,andthatherlife and theirswerein danger.Iftheythoughtofescaping,thentheyhad to practise how to fightso that theycould killthe ogres.Theyagreed with theiraunt and shebought them swords,spears,bows and arrows.Theyspentmostoftheirtimetraining how to fighttheogres. Aftertheyweresureofthemselves,andconfidentthattheycouldkillthem,theyasked theiraunttoallowthem togoaheadandkilltheogres. OnedaywhenKonyekiandhisfatherreturnedhomeexhausted,they wentstraightto sleepandafterafewminutestheyweresoundasleep andsnoringloudlyasusual.The twinscameoutoftheirhidingplaceandattacked the ogres.Konyekiwas the first one to wake up and defend himself.As he was fighting back,heshoutedathis father,blaminghim forignoringhiswarningwhen hereportedhe hadseen other footsteps.Hishead was hacked offand hedied instantly.His fatherwokeup with a startand he too gotafatalblowbeforehecoulddefendhimself.Thetwins andtheiraunttookallthattheycouldcarry,burntdownthehouse inwhichthedeadogreswereandlefttheplacetogobacktotheirhome. Questions 1. Whatisthethemeofthestory? 2. Whydoyouthinkthetwinsarenecessarytotheplot? 3. WhatqualitiesarebroughtoutinthesestoriesthatmakeKonyekiandhisfather objectsoffear? 4. Whatmoralteachingdoyougetfrom theproverb,"Alltheglittersisnotgold?" 5. Identityanidiophoneinthisnarrativeandsaywhyitisused. 6. Whatdoyouunderstandbytheproverb,"Don'tcryoversplitmilk" 7. Whattypeofstoryisthis? Answers 1.Thethemeofthestoryis greedandruthlessness oftheogresthat destroythem intheend. 2.Twinsarenecessarytotheplotbecauseitisthroughtheiractionsthat thestoryends;theykilltheogresand,togetherwiththeirauntgoback totheotherhumanbeings. 3.QualitiesbroughtoutinthisnarrativethatmakeKonyekiandhisfather objectsoffearare: -theycanchangeintohumanbeingsandtrickrealhumanbeings; -theykillandeathumanbeings; -theyaregreedyandferocious; -theyareneitherhumansnoranimals; -theyarecunning 4. Themoralteachingfrom theproverb"Allthatglittersisnotgold"isthatweshould notjudgepeoplebytheir looksThegirlwentwith anogrethinking thatitwasanattractiveyoungman. Thisbroughtherproblems later. 5. Theidiophone ispa..papaitisusedtoshowthe soundmadebythe feetastheywalked. 6. Thisproverbmeansthatoneshouldnotblamehimself/herselfoveranaction thathappenswhenone knowsthat he/shecannotreversethe action.Alloneshoulddoistrytodo somethingbetternexttime 7. Thisisanogreormonsterstory. EXERCISE 4 READ THEORALNARRATIVEBELOW AND ANSWER THEQUESTIONS THAT FOLLOW. HAWKANDHEN A long time ago Hen and herfriend Hawk.Thetwo friends were goodfriends andlivedneareachother.Theysharedwhatevertheypossessedandthechildren tooweregoodfriends.Everymorningaftertheplantingseason,onecalleduponthe othertogoouttothewoodsandtorubbishDumpstolookforwormsandothertypes offood.Oneday,astheyprepared themselvesto go outto lookforfood,Hare calledonthem and told them,Myfriends,asyou knowa friend inneedisafriendin deed,Ivecalled you this morningto invite you to my daughters wedding.Icannot forget,she continued,how you,especiallyyouHen,fedmychildrenwhenIwassickandbed -ridden.Please,comeandenjoywithus,sheconcluded.Hen andHawklooked at eachother andnoddedtheirheads.TheypromisedHaretheywouldgo tothe ceremony.Haretthankedthem andranofftowardsherhome. AfterHare had left,theylooked ateach otherand burstoutin laughterAs far astheywereconcerned,theydid notconsiderHarea realfriend butjustoneof them.Theyhowever,decidedto attend thewedding partyoutofcuriosityHawks son had married a verybeautifulgirlthepreviousyearand therewasa lotof eating and drinking.Hawkcould remembervividlyhowHyena drankand drank beeruntilhisfourlegscouldnotcarryhim.Hehadtobetakenhomecompletely unaware of what was happening. Could Hare's party match hers? Hawk wondered.Shebecamecuriousandwantedtofindout. On the wedding day,Hen and Hawk dressed themselves in theirbestparty costumes.Theywarnedtheir childrennottoleavetheirhomecompoundsduringt heirmothers'absenceTheythen lefthomeandwalkedhappilytowardsHare's compoundHaresawthem :nadistance andhurriedtomeetthem "Oh!Howare youmyfriends?Welcomehome.Thepartyisgoingtostartinanhourstime'They wenthomewhileHare washoldingHen's hand.Hawknotedthis withdispleasure butshesaidnothing. Whentheyreachedhome,Haresaid:"Sit downandhaveadrinkwhile Iprepare myself Sheaskedoneheryoungsonstoservethem withdrinks. Whenthedrinkswere brought,againHawknotedthatHenwasservedthedrinkinaglasshutHawkwas servedinacupwithcrackededges.ThiskilledHawk'sspirits.Shemaynothave been as beautiful as Hen but that was no reason whyshe should be discriminatedagainst.Afterall,hadn'tshegoneoutofherwaytodressinherbest clothes,justforthepartyHawkthoughtbitterly. Afteranhour,Hareemerged from aninner room, dressed magnificentlywith matchingshoesandnecklace.Theyallproceededtotheparty.Harem ade sure she satnextto Hen butHawk sata little bit fartheraway.Shewondered whatwashappeningHenseemedveryhappyduringthepartyandshelaughedall thetimewithHare,ignoringHawk'spresence.Hawkbecam emoodyanddecidednot totalktoanyofthem from thenon. After the party asover,Harebidthetwogoodbyeandtheyleftforhome. Itwasgettingdarkastheywalkedhome.HentriedtoinvolveHawkinconversation "How did youfindthepartyIthinkitwaswonderfulHawkdid notanswerHenand shewonderedwhyHawkwasbehavinginthatmannerHenwantedtodiscussthe matterbutHawksaidshewasnotinterestedtheywenthomewithouttalking toeach otheruntiltheyreachedtheir respectivecompounds.Hen,asusualinherhigh spiritsbidHawkgoodbyebutHawklookedathersneeringly,swungherhipsmore thanusualandshuthergatewithoutaword.Henclosedhergatetooandwenttocookf orherchildren.VeryearlythefollowingmorningHawkschildknockedatHens doorandafterHenopenedthedoor,shesaid,Mummysentmetoyoutotellyoutogive backallthethingsthatbelongtous.Hereareallyourthingsthatwereinourhouse. Henwasdumbfounded.ShecouldnotimagineendingthefriendshipwithHawk.They hadbeenfriendsforsuchalongtime.Nevertheless,shegavethechildallthethingsthat werenotherstotaketohermother.Thechildleftbutafterashortwhileshereturned. "Mummytoldmeyoudidnotgiveherallthethings.Sheneedsourhoeandpanga whichyouborrowedlastweektocultivateyourfarm.Shealsoneedstherazorwhich youborrowedyesterdaytoshaveyourchildren."Henwentbacktothehouseandcame outwiththe pangaandthehoebutwithouttherazor.Shecouldnotfindtherazoratall.Shetold Hawk'schild, "GoandtellyourmotherthatIhavesearchedfortherazorbladeeverywherebutI cannotgetit.TellherIshalllookforitlateronandIwillsendoneofmy childrenwithit."Hencalledoutallherchildrentolookforthemissingrazorbladeand theyscratchedallaroundtheircompoundwithoutanysuccess.Thatevening,Hensent oneofherchildrentoreportthattherazorbladewaslostandtheycouldnotgetit. Hen'schildknockedatHawk'sdoorandwhenthedoorwasopened,shewaspulledin byHawkandkilled.Hawkinsistedthatshehadtohavebackherrazorbladeandshe sworetoeatallHen'schildrenunlessshegotitback.'Thefollowingmorning,Hawkand herchildrenhoveredoverHen'scompoundtryingtogetachancetosnatchoneofHen's children.Hencluckedloudly cluck...cluck...runningalloverhercompoundfrightenedandfranticallycallingher childrentocometoherforprotection.Theyallran Henwasdumbfounded.Shecould notimagineendingthefriendshipwithHawk.Theyhadbeenfriendsforsuchalongtime. Nevertheless,shegavethechildallthethingsthatwerenotherstotaketohermother. Thechildleftbutafterashortwhileshereturned."Mummytoldmeyoudidnotgiveher allthethings.Sheneedsourhoe andpangawhichyouborrowedlastweektocultivateyourfarm.Shealsoneedsthe razorwhichyouborrowedyesterdaytoshaveyourchildren."Henwentbacktothe houseandcameoutwiththepangaandthehoebutwithouttherazor.Shecouldnot findtherazoratall.ShetoldHawk'schild"GoandtellyourmotherthatIhavesearched fortherazorbladeeverywherebutIcannotgetit.TellherIshalllookforitlateronandI willsendoneofmychildrenwithit." Hencalledoutallherchildrentolookforthemissingrazorbladeandtheyscratchedall aroundtheircompoundwithoutanysuccess.Thatevening,Hensentoneofherchildren toreportthattherazorbladewaslostandtheycouldnotgetit. Hen'schildknockedatHawk'sdoorandwhenthedoorwasopened,shewaspulledin byHawkandkilled.Hawkinsistedthatshehadtohavebackherrazorbladeandshe sworetoeatallHen'schildrenunlessshegotitback.'Thefollowingmorning,Hawkand herchildrenhoveredoverHen'scompoundtryingtogetachancetosnatchoneofHen's children.Hencluckedloudly cluck...cluck...runningalloverhercompoundfrightenedand franticallycallingherchildrentocometoherforprotection.TheyallranHenwas dumbfounded.ShecouldnotimagineendingthefriendshipwithHawk.Theyhadbeen friendsforsuchalongtime.Nevertheless,shegavethechildallthethingsthatwerenot herstotaketohermother.Thechildleftbutafterashortwhileshereturned."Mummy toldmeyoudidnotgiveherallthethings.Sheneedsourhoeandpangawhichyou borrowedlastweekto cultivateyourfarm.Shealsoneedstherazorwhichyouborrowedyesterdaytoshave yourchildren."Henwentbacktothehouseandcameoutwiththepangaandthehoe butwithouttherazor.Shecouldnotfindtherazoratall.ShetoldHawk'schild,"Goand tellyourmotherthatIhavesearchedfortherazorbladeeverywherebutIcannotgetit. TellherIshalllookforitlateronandIwillsendoneofmychildrenwithit."Hencalled outallherchildrentolookforthemissingrazorbladeandtheyscratchedallaround theircompoundwithoutanysuccess.Thatevening,Hensentoneofherchildrento reportthattherazorbladewaslostandtheycouldnotgetit.Hen'schildknockedat Hawk'sdoorandwhenthedoorwasopened,shewaspulledinbyHawkandkilled. HawkinsistedthatshehadtohavebackherrazorbladeandshesworetoeatallHen's childrenunlessshegotitback.'Thefollowingmorning,Hawkandherchildrenhovered overHen'scompoundtryingtogetachancetosnatchoneofHen'schildren.Hen cluckedloudly cluck...cluck...runningalloverhercompoundfrightenedandfranticallycallingher childrentocometoherforprotection.Theyallrantoherandsheprotectedthem,and Hawkfled awaydisappointed.From thattimeuntiltoday,hensgetfrightened and hidetheir childrenanytimetheyseeHawknearby.Hawkontheotherhandisstillangryandshe looksforHen'schildrentokill.Shesaidshewillneverstopuntilshegetsherrazorblade back.HenstilllooksfortherazorbladeeverywhereandthatiswhyHensarealways seenscratchinghereandtherelookingforHawk'srazorblade.Theywonderwhether theywilleverrestorepeacewithHawkandfamily. QUESTIONS 1.-Whatisthemainoccupationofthecharactersinthisnarrative?Supportyouranswer withtwodifferentphrases from thenarrative. 2.Whatdoyouunderstandbytheproverb:"Afriendinneedisafriendindeed'? 3.HowdoyouthinkHenhidherchildrenfrom Hawk? 4.Narrativesusuallyhavethreemainparts:abeginning,amiddleandan ending.Writeoutthethreesentencesthatsignalthebeginningofeach sectioninthisnarrative. 5.WhatincidentsforcedHawktobreakherfriendshipwithHen? 6. Thewriterusesanidiophoneinthisnarrative.Identifyit. 7. Identifyfivewordsthatshowthatthestorywasnarratedinamodern setting. 8.WhatHawk'scharacteraspectscanyouidentifyinthisnarrative? 9. Inonesentence,summarizetheconflictinthisnarrative. 10.Whatmainfeaturesandstyleoforalliteraturehasthewriterused? 11.Thestoryendsinacertainmood.Whatmoodisthis? 12.Whatdoyoucallthistypeofnarrative? ANSWERS 1.Thecharactersinthisnarrativearefarmers.Theevidencefrom thenarrativeis:our hoeandpanga-tocultivateyour farm -aftertheplantingseason. 2. "Afriendinneedisafriendindeed"-Yourrealfriendistheonewhocomestoyour aidwhenyouneeditmost. 3.Henhidherchildrenfrom Hawkbycoveringthem withherwings. 4.Thethreemainpartsinthisnarrativearesignaledbythefollowingthreesentences. Beginning-"Alongtimeago,therelivedHenandherfriendHawk" Middle Ending-"From thattimeuntiltoday,Kensgetfrightenedandhidetheirchildren any timetheyseehawksnearby." 5. HawkbrokeherfriendshipwithHenbecauseshebecamejealouswhen: -HareheldHen'shandtowelcomethem toherhouseandnotHawk'shand. -HawkwasservedadrinkinacupwithroughedgeswhileHenwasservedthedrinkina glass. -Intheparty,HareandHenignoredHawkandleftheroutoftheirconversation..They evensatneareachotherwhile Hawksatabitfarther. 6.Theideophonethatthewriterusesis'cluck-cluck-cluck'todescribethe sound Hen made. 7.Fivewordsthatshowthatthestorywasnarratedinamodernsettingare:cut,glass, party,dress,shoes,panga. 8.Hawk'scharacteraspectsinthenarrativeare; jealous adamant curious ruthless 9.TheconflictinthenarrativeisbetweenHenandHawkwhoneedsbackherrazor bladewhichHenhaslost. 10.Thewriterhasused dialogue,narrativeisgiven bythe third person,animals havebeengivenhuman characteristicsandthewriterhasusedsuspense. 11.Themoodthestoryendsinisthatoffear,anger,vengeance,desperationand hopelessness. 12.Thistypeofnarrativeiscalledexplanatoryoraetiological.

-"Veryearlythenextmorning,Hawk'schildknockedatHen'sdoor..." EXERCISE5 Readthefollowingoralnarrativeandanswerthequestionsthatfollow. LWANDAMAGERE Magerewaslikeamystery,forhewasimmenselystrongandinarmedcombatquite invincible.Thushewasaheroamonghispeople.OftenundercoverofnighttheLang'o madecattleraidsintoLuoterritory;butwheneverMagereappeared,theysufferedheavy lossesandthoseabletoescapealivesoonshowedacleanpairofheels. Then,after Magerehad won countlessbattlesagainstthem,theLang'o eldersassembled to discusswaysofendingthegloriouscareer ofthisall-'conqueringhero."How bestcanwedestroyhim?"theyaskedthemselves "HowisitthatMagereseemstohaveabodyofstonewhen,liketherestofus,hehasa wifeandchildren?Surelyhehasbloodsomewhere."Theydebatedtheproblem atlength, untiltheydecidedtogiveMagereaLang'ogirlwhomightdiscoverthesecretofhis strength.AndsowordwentoutthatthemostbeautifulgirlknownamongtheLang'o shouldbefoundandsenttotheelders'assembly.Agirlwasfound,alovelymaidenas brownasaripeosayefruit:noothergirlcouldmatchherforgraceandbeauty.They senthertoMagereandhefellinlovewithheratonce.WhenMagere'smikayi,orfirst wife,sawthathewasabouttomarryastranger,sheupbraidedhim."Husband,"shesaid, "Idon'tlikeyoumarryingthisdaughteroftheLang'o.Why didn'tyoufindabeautifulLuogirlinsteadofthisjambetrewhohasbeensenttospyon you?"Magererefusedtolisten.Women,hethought,arethesametheworldover:spiteful andfullof-jealousy.Magerelivedhappilywithhisnew wife.Timewentbyandthough shewenttoreporttoherpeoplemoonaftermoon,shehadnonewsforthem..Oneday, however,Magerefellillwhilehisfirstwifewasoutworkinginhergarden.Itwas customarythenforthefirstwifetodothefarmingoratleasttosowtheseedsforthe harvest.ThusthejuniorwifenursedMagere.Nextdayhisillnesswasworseandinthe latemorning,whenthesunreacheditsheightandpeople inthegardenshadtoleavetheirworktoshelterfrom itsheat,Mageretoldhisyoung wifetobringabladecuthisbodywithit,andthenrubsomepotentashintothe wounds.Themedicinewasmadefmm burntherbswhichhehadstuffedintodried sealedreeds.Hehadstoreditinaskinbaginhisownduol awayfrom theeyesofhiswives.Magereaskedhisyoungwiretomaketheincisions. Shereplied,"Husband.whydoyoudemandthe im possible'Athin blade cannotcutthroughrockandyou'reallrock"ThenMagerepointedtohisshadow. "Cutthere,'heordered.Now.she wenthalf-heartedlytoMagere'sshadow,andwith thebladecutthepanofhisshadow castbyhisforehead.Inthe samewayshe madeanotherthreecutsonthe cheeksandthenappliedthemedicine.Asshe watchedthebladesinkintotheshadowitseemedtohertim eitwassinkingintot heearth.Shewasastonished,therefore,tolookupandseebloodtrickling from t he 'rock'Thedeeperthe blade sank,the moretorrentially the blood flowed.SheknewnowthatMagere'sstrengthlayinhisshadow,andnotinhisbody. Hertreacherousheartwaswarmedbyitall.Besides nursing Magere,she had to fetch vegetablesfrom the fieldsand waterfrom theriver.So,shortlyafterher discovery,shetoldMageretositintheshadowofhisduolwhileshewenttoperform these tasks.Meanwhile,ofcourse,shewenttoherhouse,packedherbelongings,andfledto herpeople.WhenMikayiarrivedfrom thefields,sheaskedhowMagerewasfeelingHe saidhisillnesshadadvancedsofarthathe had asked hisLang'owife to cuthim andapplysomemedicine."Oh,my husband,"shecried,'"you'vesteppedonhotash! You'vesteppedonhotash w ith both feet!Whereisthis girl?"Shesearched everywherebutw ithout success.Awareofwhatthediscoverymeant,shenow beggedherhusbandnottogotowaragain. ButMagerereplied,"IwasbornaheroandI'lldieahero!I'llneverhesitateto defendmypeople!"Theyoung wifesoonarrivedin the lang'o heartland.Word quicklyspreadtoallpartsofthecountrythatshehadreturnedwithexcitingnewsfrom Luoland.Theleadersgatheredatonce.Some,whohaddoubtedthewisdom oftheplan asked,"Hasshereallycomeback?"andthereply,"Yes!!"wasgivensofirmlythatit piercedtheinnermostdepthoftheirears. Peoplepouredinfrom thecountryside.Questionandanswerwereconstantlyrepeated amongswellingcrowds.Soon,withthe home tightlypacked,thegirlrosetospeak, andtoldthestoryofMagere'ssickness."Ifyouwanttokillhim,"sheannounced,"look forhis shadowandaim atitwithwhateverweapon you're carrying.Shootnowhere else,fortheuprightparts ofhis body are solidrockthatwillblunt,curl,orbreak all yourspearsandarrows."Herwordssankintotheirears.Theyroseandreturnedtotheir homes.Theelders,however,nowplannedaseries ofbattlesagainstLuo,battlesthatwouldbeginatnightandlastuntilwellafterdawnon themorrow. Afewdayslater,therefore,theylaunchedafiercenightattackontheLuoandthebattle continueduntilwellintothe following day with many lives loston both sides. Seeing that the struggle was dragging onunnecessarily,thesickMagere,who normallyenteredthefieldonlywhenhisjuniorwarriorsseemedespeciallyhardpressed, nowcalmlyhandedhistobaccopipetohismisumba."Preparemyarms!"heordered. Norwouldhelistentohiswife,whobeggedhim ceaselesslynottojointhebattle."I'm goingtodefendmypeople.Onedead herodoesnotpreventtheworldfrom bearingmore."Soherushedintothefield,andall afternoonvictoryhunginthebalance.Withhisclubsandspears,withhisbows,arrows, andshield, Magere hurled himself againstthefoe,takingthem unawaresand slaughteringcountlessnumbersofthem.Thelightlyinjuredfled;thegravelywounded lay bleedingbeneaththesun.Stillclingingtolifetheysweatedintheheatwithoutwaterto quenchtheirthirst.Theysaw deathapproachinglikeanarrowshotfrom thebow,wingingitswaytohittheeyeofits target? TheLang'oresistedstubbornly.Theystrovetostem Magere'sattack,buthedispersed thehardcoreoftheirtroopsanddrovethem intothehills.Racingalonginpursuit,he slaughteredeveryonewithinreach.Then,feelingweary,he decidedtobreakoffabattlethatwaswonalready.HeaskedhispeopletolettheLang'o escape.Cowards,theysay,areheroesonceawarisover,perpetuallyboastingoftheir scars.TheLang'owhoescapednodoubtboastedoftheirwounds, andtheLuo, victorious,wouldretellahundredtimes the storyoftheirbrilliantstrategy.Theglory duetoasingleherowouldbesharedbyall. And now,returning from battle,theLuo chantedwarsongs.Warriorspraised their fellows,slam orliving,andtheairwasfilledwiththeblaringofhorns,theboomingof drums,andtheclangingofspearsandgain. Afterhis hardfightMagere wasweakandhecamedownslowlyfrom themountains where he had driven the Lang'o. It was late evening,when the long shadows announcedthatsoonthesun.mustfallbehindthemountains.Magere,unabletoam, waspickinghiswayalongthehomewardpath.Andatthistime,too,a Lang'owarrior rememberedtheadviceofthegirl.Heupbraidedhiscomrades,'"Arewegoingtolet this manescape,"heasked,"'afterkillingsomanyofourbrothers andsonsCome., let's findhim.Today hemustdie."With the cunning ofwinch his people were famous,theLang'owarriorsetofftosearchforMagere.Likeasnake,heslidfrom, bushtobush,carefullyconcealedfrom theeyesofthereturningLuoWhen,finally,he caughtupwithMagere,hedodgedabout,this wayandthat;andthenwithamighty thrust,hedrovehisspeardeepintoMagere'sshadow.Thelastgreathero oftheLuo crasheddeadtotheearth.Lang'owarriorswhosawhim fallshriekedatthetopoftheir voices.A greatsigalagalawentup. "Theirheroisdead!Theirheroisdead!"But,wonderofwonders,whenMagerefellbefore theLang'o,hebecameamightyrockand,awe-stuckbyhismysteriousdisappearance, theLang'otrembledwithfear,thinkingthattheLuoherohadassumedanotherbodyand wasabouttoriseagainandslaythem.Now,unlikethe Lang'o,whowereashappyas swallowscatching worms,orflies blown far,the Kanopeople(Luo)wentweeping homewards.Forthosewho knew thatmightywarrior,thiswasthesaddestdayof theirlives.This andmany days thatfollowed weregrey and gloomy.To make matters worse,theLang'o,stilldoubtfulwhethertheyhadkilled Magere,launched threemoreheavyattacksontheLuotomakesure.TheysweptthroughLuovillages, wreakingslaughteronevenside.Butnomanlike Magereappearedandtheywenthomeconvincedhewasdead.From thatdaytothis,all whosharpentheirweaponsonMagere'srockbeforesettingofftogohuntingneverfail tokillorcapturetheirquarry.Evenwhentheirspearonlylightlyscratchesthe beast, itsinksto thegroundin itsdeaththroes.TohonourMagere as a greatdefenderof hispeople,hismemoryisenshrined foreverinoneofourmostpopularsayings.When amanexceedsanotherincrueltyheisasked,proverbially."AreyouLwandaMagerethat can'tbetrifledwith''ThoughMagerehasnow beenlongdead,theLuohavenever forgottenhim:heispartandparceloftheirhistoryWhen they love someone dearly. theLuocomposesongsofpraiseabouthim,and thisthey havedoneforLwanda Magere. QUESTIONS I Whattypeoforalnarrativeisthis'? 2. Quoteonephrasethatshowsthatthenarrativeistoldinamodernsetting j.Whatdoyouunderstandbythefollowingproverbasitisusedinthenarrative: "Cowardsareheroesonceawaris over,perpetuallyboastingoftheirscars.? Explainyouranswerwithanexamplefrom thenarrative. 4. WhatfourcharacteraspectsofLwandaMagerecanyougetfrom thisnarrative? 5. WhattypeofcommunitiesweretheLuoandtheLang'ointhisnarrative? 6. Identifythreesentenceswheresimileisused. ANSWERS 1 Thisoralnarrativeisa'legend', 2.Thefollowingphraseshowsthatthenarrativeistoldinamodem setting:'the gloriouscareerofthisallconqueringhero'. 3 Theproverbmeansthatpeoplewhohavenotachievedmuchkeeponboastingwith thelittletheyhavedone.Forexample,LwandaMagerewhowasaherodidnotboastof allthebattleshehadwonunliketheotherwarriorswhokeptonre-tellingoftheir victories. 4. AnyofthefollowingcharacteristicaspectsofLwandaMagerecanbegiven:hewas brave,humble,patriotic,tootrusting/unsuspecting,adamant,stubborn,commanding. 5. Theywerewarringcommunities. 6. a)Magerewaslikeamystery. b)Theysawdeathapproachinglikeanarrow. c) ...whowereashappyasswallows. EXERCISE6 Readthefollowingoralnarrativeandanswerthequestionsthatfollow WHYTHE DOGISTHEFRIENDOFMAN Long,longagothejackalandthedogwerebrothersandlivedtogetherinthewildbush. Eachdaytheywouldgohuntingtogether,andwheneveningfelltheywouldreturnto thevalleywhichwastheironlyhome,andsharetheirfood. Onenighttheybothcameback empty-handed andravenouslyhungry,and to makemattersworse,acoldwindwasblowingacrossthebushandtheanimals couldnotfindanyprotectionfrom thegale,"Alas'"said the dog."Itisavery bad thing to feelhungry,hutmuch worsetofeelhungryandcoldatmesameti me." "Liedownandgotosleep,"suggestedthejackal"Thenwhenthemorningcomes wecangohuntingagainandperhapscatchthatyoungdeerwesonearly caughttoday."'"Jackal'"heexclaimed."Whatisthatlightoverthere'?""'That'savilla ge,andtheredisaman'sfire,"explainedthejackal."Fire iswarm,"'saidthedog longingly"Wontyou goandfetchmesomefire,Jackal.YouarebraverthanI." "Certainlynot!"growledthejackal,"Youfetchityourselfifyouwantit.Itwasyouridea." Butthedogwasafraidofmanandhecurledupevensmalleronthebaregroundtotry tokeephimselfwarm.Ashelaythere,hethoughtthatperhapsthepeopleinthevillage wereeating and hewonderedwhethertheymightleavesomebones lying on the ground aftertheirmeal,which he could creep in and steal.The thoughtmade him hungrierandhungrier,sothatpresentlyheforgothisfearandsaidboldlytothe jackal:"Ican'tstayhereinthecoldanylonger.Iam goingtothevillageandwilltrytoget somefire.PerhapsImayevenbringbacksomebonesforyoutoo.IfIdon'tgetback soon,callme,incaseIcannotfindmywaytoyou."Sooffranthedogtowardsthered glow inthevillage,andwhenhewasnearlytherehesloweddownandcreptinonhis stomach,hopingthatnoonewouldhearhim.Nearerandnearerhegottothefire, sniffingeagerlyashesmelttheodourofapastmealstilllingeringintheair.Justashe reachedthedyingembersofthefireoutsidethedoorofahut,somefowlsroostingina nearbytreegavethealarm.Amanrushedoutandcaughthim,liftinghighhisspearand saying:"Whatareyoudoinginmycompound?""Oh,pleasedon'tkillme,"beggedthe dog."Ihave notcome to harm anybodyhere,butonlyto getalittlewarmthfrom yourdyingfire.Ibegyou,letmeliedownhereandrestandwarm myself,andlaterIwill gobacktothebushandnevertroubleyouagain." Thedoglookedsocoldandmiserablethattheman,whowaskindatheart,feltsorryfor him.Heputdownhisspearandsaid:"Verywell.Ifyoupromisenottoharm anyonein thisvillageyoumayliedownbythefire.Butwhenyouarewarm,youmustgobackto thebushagain." Thedogthankedhim profuselyandlaydownbesidethefire,onwhichthemanpiled somemoresticksandblewthem intoablaze.Nowthedogwashappyindeed,forunder hisverynoselayabone,whichsomeonehadthrowndownattheendoftheirmeal.He gnawedawayhappilyforsometime,whiletheheatfrom thefirewarmedhisshivering limbs.Neverhadhebeensocontentedorsocomfortable.Suddenlythemancalledfrom insidehishut:"Aren'tyouwarm yet?""Notquite,"answeredthedog,whohadjustseen anotherbonenearbythathewantedtochew."Well,I'llgiveyoualittlelonger,"saidthe man,andallwasquietagain exceptforthecrackingofbonesunderthe dog'sstrong teeth."Aren'tyou warm yet?"asked the man presently.Butthe dog thought unhappilyofthecold windblowingacrossthebush,andcreepingevenclosertothe firehebegged:"Letmestayalittlelonger'Itwassometimebeforethemancalledout again,forbothheandthedogathisdoorhadbeenfastasleep 'Youmusthavefinishedwarningyourselfbynow,"saidtheman,risingtohisfeet andcomingoutofhishut.Thedog,decidingthathonestywasthebestpolicy,looked intotheman'seyesandpleaded:'YesIam warm,butIdo notwanttogobackto thebushwhereIam sooftencoldandhungrywillyounotletmestayinthehouse withyou''Iwillhelpyouhuntthe birdsthatflyintheforest.Iwillteachyou the cunningwaysofthewildanimalssothatyoucankillthem forfoodandIpromiseyou thatunlikemybrotherthejackalIwillneverrob you ofourgoatsand chickens.AllI askinreturnisaplacebyyourfireandtheremainsofyourmeals. Themannowlookedcloselyintothedog'seyesandsawthathewasspeakingthetruth. "Verywell,"hereplied."IfyoupromisetoserveandobeymeIwillgiveyouwarmthand food." Eversincethatday,thedoghaslivedwithman.Butwhenatnightyouhearthejackal calling' Bo-aa!'from thebushyouwillknowthatheiscallingforhisbrotherthedogtoreturnto him withthefireandthebonesthathewenttofetch. Butthedogneveranswersthecallandthejackalwandersthebushes alone Questions 1.Theplotofthenarrativehasthethreemainpartsofanarrative.Statewhatthese threepartsareandgiveasentence from thenarrativethatstartseachpart. 2. Throughwhatactionsdoesthedogtrytosolvehisproblem? 3. Whydidthedogdeserthisbrotherthejackal? 4. Statethreecharacteraspectsofthedogaspresentedinthenarrative. 5. Givethethemeofthisnarrative- 6. Whattypeofstoryisthis?Explainbriefly. 7.Thewriteruses directspeechinthis narrative.Changethefollowing conversation betweenthejackalandthe dogfrom directspeechtoreportedspeech. Fireiswarm,saidthedoglongingly.Wontyougoandfetchmesomefirejackal?You arebraverthan I. Certainly!growledthejackal.Youfetchityourselfifyouwantit.Itwasyouidea. ANSWERS 1.Thethreemainpartsofthenarrativeareabeginning,amiddleandanending. - abeginning:"Long,longagothejackalandthedogwerebrothersandlivedtogether inthewildbush." - Middle:"Sooffranthedogtowardstheredglow inthevillage,andwhenhewas nearlytherehe sloweddownandcreptinonhisstomach,hopingthatnoonewouldhearhim. - Andending:"Eversincethatday,thedoghaslivedwithMan." 2. Thedogtriedtosolvehisproblemsby: - goingtoMan'scompoundtowarm himself - requestingMantolethim stayawhiletowarm himself - eatingtheleftoverbonesthatManhadthrownaway - prolonginghisstaybythefiresidebysayingthathewasnotyetwarm - requestingMantolethim stayforgoodtoservehim 3. Thedogdesertedhisbrotherthejackalbecauseitwastoocoldintheforestandhe foundwarmthand satisfactionbystayingwithManinthevillage. 4. Thefollowingarecharacteraspectsofthedogthatonecanchoose Thedogisgreedy,acoward,unreliable,determined,polite,cunning,andselfish. 5. Thethemeofthenarrativeisthedog'sselfishnessandhisdesertionofhisbrother thejackal. 6. Thisisanaetiologicalorexplanatorynarrative.Itexplainswhythedogbecamea domesticanimal. 7. - Thedogsaidthatfirewaswarm andrequestedJackaltogethim somebecause Jackalwasbraverthan him. - Growlingly,Jackalsaidhecertainlycouldnotandaskedthedogtofetchithimselfif hewanteditbecauseit washisidea. EXERCISE7 Readthefollowingoralsongandanswerthequestionsthatfollow. I myhusbandrejectsme Becausehesays ThatIam amerepagan AndIbelieveinthedevil. Hesays Idonotknow Therulesofhealth, AndImixup Mattersofhealthandsuperstition Ocoltroublesmyhead. 10 Hetalkstoomuch Andheheapsinsultsonme Aswellasmyrelatives. Butmostofhiswordsaresenseless, Theyarelikethesongs. Ofchildren'splays. Andhetreatshisclansmen Asiftheyareenemies. Ocolbehaves Asifheisawitch! IV Itistrue Whiteman'smedicinesarestrong, ButAcolimedicines Arealsostrong. V Thesickgetcured Becausehistimehasnotyetcome: Butwhenthedayhasdawned ForthejourneytoPagak Noonecanstopyou Whiteman'smedicines 30 Acolimedicines Crucifixes,rosaries, Toesofediblerats, Thehornoftherhinoceros Noneofthem canblockthepath35 ThatgoestoPagak! VI Whendeathcomes Tofetchyou Shecomesunannounced, Shecomessuddenly Likethevomitofdogs, Andwhenshecomes Thewindkeepsblowing

15 Thebirdsgoonsinging Andtheflowers 45 Donothangtheirheads Theagoyabirdissilent Theagoyacomesafterwards, Hesingstotell, Thatdeathhasbeenthatway!50 VIIWhenMotherDeathcomes Shewhispers Come, Andyoustandup AndfollowYougetupimmediately, Andyoustartwalking Withoutbrushingthedust Onyourbuttocks. 68 VIIIYoumaybebehind 60 Anewbuffalo-hideshield, Andatthemock-fight Orinbattle Youmaybematchless IX Youmaybehiding Inthehole Ofthesmallestblackinsect, Orinthedarkestplace Whereratsbreast-feedtheirpuppies, OrbehindtheAgorohills. OkothPBitek Questions 1. WhydoesOcolrejectLawino?Giveexamples. 2. GivereasonswhyLawinoblamesOcol. 3. Whatdoyouunderstandbythisline:"ForthejourneytoPagak"? (line28) 4. Whatthingsdopeopleusetowardoffdeath?Arethesethingseffective? 5. Whatdoyouunderstandbythefollowinglines: "Thewindkeepsblowing Thebirdsgoonsinging Andtheflowers Donothangtheirheads."? (lines43to46) 6. Thewriterstartswithonethemewhichleadstoanother.Whatarethe twothemes? 7 . Intwosentences,statewhatthewritersaysaboutdeath. ANSWERS 1.Ocolrejects Lawino because hesaysthat she is superstitious For example,inhisopinion,sheisa pagan,andsheisnotclean. 2. LawinoblamesOcolbecause:hetalkstoomuchheabusesLawino andherrelativeshemistreatshisclansmenhebehaveslikea witch 3.Pagakmeansthelandofnoreturn.Therefore,thelinesmeanwhenonedies. 4. Peopleusemodernandtraditionalmedicines,crucifixes,rosaries,toesofedible ratsandthehornofthe rhinocerosascharmstowardoffdeath.Noneofthesethingsiseffective. 5. Thelinesmeanthatevenwhendeathcomestosome,lifestillgoeson. 6. Thetwothemesare: superstitiousbeliefsdeath 7. Thewritersaysthatwhendeathstrikes,thereisnothingonecandoaboutit. Nomatterwhereyou hideorthemedicinesyoutakeorthecharmsyouuse,deathwillstillcome. EXERCISE8 Readthefollowingnarrativeandanswerthequestionsthatfollow. ORIGINOFTHEAGIKUYU Atthe beginningofcreation,MweneNyaga,Ngai,the creatorand providerforall mankind,called on hisservantGikuyu.Hesaidto him,"Myson Gikuyu,Iam going togive youyourshareofland.ThelandIam goingtogiveyouisfoilofravines,rivers, valleys,forestsandplentyofgameforyoutohuntforyourfood.Thelandisfertileand yourchildrenandyourchildren'schildrenwillnevergohungryifyoutillitwell."Gikuyu stoodstillwithdisbeliefMweneNyagasaw Gikuyu'shesitation.Hetookhim tohis residenceontopofthemountainofmystery,"Kirinyaga",whereHeresided.From here, He commanded agoodviewofallHis lands.Hetherefore wantedGikuyutoseefor himselfalltheland hehadbeengiven.Heshowedhim alltheland anditsbeauty.He said,"Myson,allthisisyours."ThenHesatbackandwatchedGikuyu'shappinessashe movedfrom place to place,trying to locatethe boundaries to his land.Butno matterhow hard he looked,his landseemed to rollformiles andmiles.Having inspectedthepanoramaofhisland,hequicklycomposedhimself andrantoMweneNyaga'sfeetandcriedwithhappinessthankingHim forthegreatgift. Hewassurethathewouldbehappyeverafter.Butthen,hefeltakindoflonelinessand hishappinesssubsided.Whatwouldhedowithallthatlandallbyhimself?Mwene Nyagaknew whatwasgoingoninGikuyu'smind.Ashewasleaving,MweneNyaga calledhim backandpointedtohim aspotfaroffinthemiddleofthecountry,wherea figtree,Mnkuyu,grew.He ordered Gikuyu to settle there and callthis place "Mukurwe wa Nyagathanga."WheneverGikuyuwasinneedofMweneNyaga'shelpin whateverway,heshouldofferasacrificetoHim atthefigtree.Heshould raise his hands towards Kirinyaga,Mwene Nyaga's residence,and stateallhis problems. MweneNyagawoulddefinitelyseehim andcometohisrescue.Healsotoldhim thatHe hadgivenhim apresent,themostpreciouspresentinhislife,andthathewouldgetthe presentonhisarrivalathisnew home.Gikuyu thanked Mwene Nyaga and,being unable to contain his curiosity any longer,he hurried straighttoMukurwewa Nyagathanga.Tohissurprise,seatedtherewasayoungbeautifulwomanwhom he calledMumbi(moulderorcreator).Theylivedtogetherasmanandwifeandwere blessedwithninedaughters butno sons.Thedaughterswere Wachera,Wanjiku, Wairimu,Wambui,Wangari,Wanjiru,Wangui,Mwithaga and Waithera.Gikuyun neededanheir,and nothavingason disturbedhim.HethenrememberedMwene Nyaga'sadvice,"I'llcometo yourrescue."o HeorganizedasacrificeattheMukuyutree.Heslaughteredaram and akidfrom hisflockandpoured theirbloodand faton thetrunk ofthe sacredtree. He wentto his house and called Mumbiand theirdaughters.Theyroastedsome meatandofferedittoMweneNyaga.TheyraisedtheirhandstowardsKirinyagaand prayed,"ThaaithathaiyaNgaithaai,.".Helater leftandwenthome. Mwene Nyaga quickly answered Gikuyu's prayers.On the following morning, Gikuyuwenttothesacredtreeandhecouldn'tbelievehiseyeswhenhefound,seated nearthetree,ninestrongyoungmen.Hewasovercomewithjoyandhelookeduptothe mountainandthankedMweneNyaga,hisbenefactor.Hewelcomedthenineyoungmen andtookthem tohishomewhereheintroducedthem tohiswifeanddaughters.Food wascookedforthem andafterbathingandeating,theywenttosleep.Thenextmorning, theninemenwokeupearlyinthemorning,havinghadagoodnight'ssleep.Afterthe morningmeal,Gikuyucalledthem outsidetodiscussmarriage.Hetoldthem theywould marryhisdaughtersononecondition;theyhadtolivewiththem onhisland.Bythis time,themenhadalreadymadetheir choices.Theywere so fascinated by the daughters'beauty and the father's kindness thatthey agreed to his proposal. GikuyuandMumbiwereoverjoyedfortheynowhadsonstoinherittheirvastlands.The daughtersontheotherhandhadalreadystartedtoshowtheirpreferenceofthe men. Theywerealso happywhenthe men agreedtotheirfather'swishfortheyknewthey nowhadmentoprotectthem andgivethem company.Gikuyudidnotwaitlongbefore makingarrangementsforhisdaughters'weddingsaccordingtotheGikuyucustomary laws.Hedidnotaskforbridewealthfrom theyoungmenforheknewtheydidnothave anyandinactualfacttheywereablessingtohim.Thedaughtersgotmarriedtothe youngmenandtheystartedninedifferentfamilies.Theywere,however,unitedunder onename,'MbariyaMumbi',whichmeans'Mumbi'sfamilygroup'.Thiswasinhonourof theirmotherMumbi.GikuyuandMumbiweretheheadsof'MbariyaMumbi'andthe ninefamiliesremainedunderthem.TheyarethemotherandfatheroftheGikuyupeop le.As theyearspassed,Gikuyu andMumbibecame olderandolderandeventually theydied.Beforetheydied,Gikuyucalledhisdaughtersandtheirhusbands.Hetold them,"Mychildren,asyoucanseeyourmotherandIareabouttoleaveyoubutbefore wego,wewouldliketoleaveyouwiththesewords.Allthelandandwhateverelsewe possessisyours.Divideitequallyamongyourselves.Rememberthatonefingercannot killalouse." Withthesewords,GikuyuandMumbibreathedtheirlastbreath.Theninefamilies continuedtolivetogetherandthenumberoftheirchildrenandgrandchildrenwas increasing.They became somanythat itwasimpossibleforthefamiliestolive togetheranymore.Theycalledameeting wheretheyresolvedthateach familyshouldtake allitschildren and grandchildren andlivetogetherasoneclan,Muhiriga.Theclansweretobecalledafterthenine daughtersofGikuyuandMumbi.ThisdecisionisthebasisofthenineprincipalGikuyu clans.TheyareAcheera,Agachiko,Airimo(orAgathigia),Ambui,Angari,Anjiru,Angui, EthagaandAitherando.ThenineclanslivedinGikuyu'slandandoccupieddifferent partsofit.

Questions 1. Whatdoyoucallthistypeofstory? 2. ThecreatorwantedGikuyutotakeupakindofoccupation.Whatisit?Supportyour answerwithasentence from thenarrative. 3. WhyisthefigtreesignificantinGikuyu'slife? 4. Whatdoyouunderstandbythefollowingproverb:"Onefingercannotkillalouse."? GiveoneEnglishproverb equivalenttothisone. 5. BrieflyexplainhowthenineGikuyuclanswerestarted. 6. Whodoyouthinkaretoldthistypeofstoryandwhy ANSWERS 1. Thistypeofstoryiscalledamyth. 2. ThecreatorwantedGikuyutobeafarmer/hunter. Thelandisfertile"(farmer) "Yourchildren'schildrenwillnevergohungryifyoutillitwell."(farmer)"Plentyofgame foryoutohuntfor yourfood."(hunter) 3.ItisunderthefigtreethatGikuyupraystoGodandofferssacrifices,itisunderthe sametreethathisprayers areanswered.E.g.,Mumbiandthenineyoungmenwerefoundatthefigtree.' 4. "Onefingercannotkillalouse"meansthatyouneedcooperationfrom otherpeople foryoutoperform certain taskssuccessfully. "Unityisstrength." 5.ThenineGikuyu clanswerestartedaftertheninefamilies increasedinnumberina waythattheycouldnot livetogetherunderoneroofanymore.Thefamiliesdividedandeachfamilytookthe nameofthemotherof thefamilytostartaclan. 6.Thistypeofstoryistoldtotheyoung peopletoteachthem abouttheoriginoftheir ethnicgroup.Italso servestoperpetuatethecultureofaparticulargroupofpeople. EXERCISE9 Readthefollowingnarrativeandanswerthequestionsthatfollow. HAREANDANTELOPE ThereoncelivedaHarewho,oneday,asshewassaunteringabout inthebush,foundanarrowwhichshepickedup.Onherwaybackhome,she cameuponagroupofhunterswhowereskinningananimaltheyhadkilled,andshe saidtothem:"Ifyougivemeafatpieceofmeat,Iwillgiveyousomethingnicein exchange."Thehuntersasked:"Andwhatcouldthatbe?" Harereplied:"Itisanarrowheadgiventomebygod."Harewasgivenafatpieceofmeat inexchangeforthearrowhead.Shebidthehuntersgoodbyeandwentonherway. Nextshecameuponwarriorswhowereapplyingochretotheirbodies,andrealising theyhadnofat,shesaidtothem:"Heyyouwarriors,ifyougivemeanecklace,Iwillgive youafatpieceofmeatthatyoucoulduseasfat."Thewarriorsconsentedandgaveher anecklace inexchangeforthefatpieceofmeat.Whentheexchangewasfinalised, Haretookleaveofthewarriorsandcontinuedonherway.NextshecameuponAntelope towhom shesaid:"Lookatmynecklace."Onenquiringwhereshehadgotit,Hare replied:"Itismyfriendsthewarriorswhogaveittome,thewarriorstowhom Igavemy meat,themeatthatthehuntersgaveme,thehunterstowhom Igavemyarrow,my arrowwhichmygodgaveme."AntelopelookedatHare'snecklaceadmiringly,andsaid toher:"MayIpleasetryiton?" OnwearingthenecklaceAntelopesoughttheopinionofherfriendbyasking:"Doesit suitme?"To thisHareinnocentlyreplied."Itsuits you perfectlywell."Thereupon Anteloperanasfastasherlegscouldcarryher,runningawaywith Hare'sbeads.After tryingtopursueAntelope,Haresoonrealisedthatshewouldnevercatchupwithher, andsogaveupthechase. Walkingawaysorrowfully,Haresooncameuponanothergroupofhuntersandsaidto them:"Heyyouhunters,pleaseshootthatantelopeforme."Tothisthe huntersasked: "Whatissheguiltyof?"Harereplied:"Shetookawaymynecklace,mynecklacethatthe warriorsgaveme,thewarriorstowhom Igavemymeat,mymeatthatthehuntersgave me,thehunterstowhom Igavemyarrow,myarrow thatmygodgaveme."After hearingofHare'scomplaint,thehuntersdeclinedtoshootAntelope.Takingleaveofthe hunters,Hare cameacross a burning fire,to whom shesaid:"Hey you fire,could youpleaseeatthosehunters?" Fireasked,"Whathave theydone?"Harereplied."Theyrefused toshootAntelope, Antelopewhotookmynecklace,mynecklacethatthewarriorsgaveme,thewarriorsto whom Igavemymeat,mymeatthatthe huntersgaveme,thehunterstowhom Igave myarrow,myarrowthatmygodgaveme."Again,onhearingHare'scomplaint,Firetoo said:"Iwillnoteatthehunters." HarenextcameuponWaterandsaidtoit:"Heyyouwater,couldyoupleaseputoutthat fire?"Waterasked,"WhathasFiredone"HarerepeatedtoWaterallthatshehadtoldFire. Wateronlisteningto Hare'scomplaintdeclinedtodoasshewasbid.HareleftWater,feelingdisappointed. Soonshefoundaherdofelephants,towhom shespokethus:"Heyyouelephants,could youpleasedrinkthatwater."OnenquiringwhyWaterhadtobedrunk,Harereplied: "WaterrefusedtoputoutFire,Firewhorefusedtoeatthehunters,thehuntersthat declinedtoshootAntelope,Antelopewhotookawaymynecklace,mynecklacethatthe warriorsgaveme,thewarriorstowhom Igavemymeat,mymeatthatthehuntersgave me,thehunterstowhom Igavemyarrow,myarrowthatmygodgaveme."Onhearing Hare'sstorytheelephants,too,declinedtocarryoutHare'srequestasalltheothershad done. Undauntedbyherinabilitytoconvinceanyonetotakeactiononherbehalfsofar,Hare movedon,nextcomingupontreestowhom shespokesaying:"Heyyoutrees,couldyou pleasefallonthoseelephants?Onenquiringthe wrongcommittedbytheelephants, Harereplied:"TheyrefusedtodrinkWater,WaterthatrefusedtoputoutFire,Firethat refusedtoeatthehunters,thehuntersthatdeclinedtoshootAntelope,Antelopewho tookawaymynecklace,mynecklacethatthewarriorsgaveme,thewarriorstowhom I gavemymeat,mymeatthatthehuntersgaveme,thehunterstowhom Igavemyarrow, myarrowthatmygodgaveme."WhenthetreeshadheardHare'sstory,theytoosaid, "Wewillnotfallontheelephants/'Harethenleftthetreesandcameupontermites whom sheaskedtofellthetrees.Thetermitesdemandedtoknowthewrongcommitted bythetrees.Haretoldtermitesofhowthetreeshadrefusedtofallontheelephantsand wentonenumeratingwhateveryoneelsehaddoneorrefusedtodointhesamewayshe hadtoldtheothers.TherefusalbybtermitestofellthetreesupsetHare,butshewasby nomeansdaunted.Movingonwithpersistence,Haresooncameuponsomedonkeys whom she askedtotrampleonthetermites.Onhearingwhatthetermiteshaddone, thedonkeystoodeclinedtotrampleonthem. BythistimeHarewasbeginningtofeelexasperatedandweary,havingwalkedallday withno success.Itwasnotlongbeforeshecameuponagroupofhyenas,towhom shesaid: "Heyyou hyenas,could you pleaseeatthosedonkeys?"Thehyenasasked:"Whathavethe donkeysdone?"Harereplied,"Theyrefusedtotrampleonthetermites,thetermites whichrefusedtofellthetrees,thetreesthatrefusedtofallontheelephants,elephants whorefusedtodrinkWater,WaterwhorefusedtoputoutFire,Firewhorefusedtoeat thehunters,thehuntersthatdeclinedtoshootAntelope,Antelopewhotookawaymy necklace,mynecklacethatthewarriorsgaveme,thewarriorstowhom Igavemymeat, mymeatthatthehuntersgaveme,thehunterstowhom Igavemyarrow,myarrowthat mygodgaveme." Agreeing to carryoutHare'srequest,thehyenassaid:"Verywell,wewilleatthe donkeys."Ontherealisationthattheywereabouttobeeaten,thedonkeyssaid:"Wewill trampleonthetermites.Thetermitessaid:"Wewillfellthetrees."Thetreessaid:"Wewill fallontheelephants."Theelephantssaid:"WewilldrinkWater."Watersaid:"Iwillputout Fire."Firesaid:"Iwilleatthehunters."Thehunterssaid:WewillshootAntelope." Antelopesaid:"IwillreturnHare'snecklace."SoHarewasgivenbackhernecklaceand shewasveryhappy. 2."TothisHareinnocentlyreplied."Whydoesthenarratorusetheword innocentlyhere! 3. Whatisthemoodinthisnarrative? 4. Give,withillustrations,threecharacteraspectsofHare. 5. 'Hyena'spresenceinthisnarrativeinindispensable."Brieflystatehow " trueor falsethis statementis. 6.Whatmajornarrativetechniquedoesthenarratoruseinthisstory?Whateffectdoes thishaveonthe developmentofthestory? 7. Whattypeofnarrativeisthis?Supportyouranswer. 74 75 ANSWERS 1. Examplesofpersonificationare: - Hareisreferredtoas"she"/"her". - "Antelope""Hare""Fire""Water"beginwithcapitallettersasiftheyarepersonalnouns. Theyalsotalklikehumans. - Antelopewearsanecklacelikeahumanbeing. - Fireisreferredtoas"whom",arelativepronounthatisusedwith humansonly. 2. Thenarratorusestheword"innocently"becauseHaredidnotknowthatAntelope admiredhernecklaceandshewouldrunawaywithitafterbeingtoldbyHarethatit suited herwell. 3. Themoodinthisnarrativeisoneofdisappointment,sadnessandanger. 4.ExamplesofHare'scharacterare: - Sheispolite(sheusestheword'please'). - Sheispersistent(shedoesn'tgiveupeasilyevenafterbeingturneddown). - Sheisoptimistic(shehopestogetsomejustice). - Sheispersuasive(sherepeatsthechainofeventsthatleadtothelossofher necklace).She requeststobegotbackhernecklace.!- Sheisvengeful(shewantsthosewhorefuse tohelptobe punished). 5.Itistruethat"Hyena'spresenceinthisnarrativeisindispensable"becauseheisthe onlyonewhoacceptstohelp Haretherebyseeingjusticeattained. 6. Thenarratorusesrepetitionasamajornarrativetechniquetocreateachainof eventswhichmakesthe narratinginteresting. 7.Thisisatricksterstory.AntelopetricksHaretobegivenHare'snecklacetotryon, whichshelater runsawaywith. EXERCISE12 Readthefollowingoralnarrativeandthenanswerthequestionsthatfollow. THEWICKEDCHIEF Thereoncelivedawickedchief.Nobody likedhim becauseofhiswickedness.Hewas wickedtooldmenandwomen.Bypretendingtobekind,hetriedtobepopularwithall theyoungmenwholivedinthatcountry.Whenthechiefwonovertheyoungmen,they alllikedhim.Oneday,thechiefcalledalltheyoungmenandtoldthem:"Myfriends, don'tyousee?"Theyasked,"What?""Youshouldkillallofthem.Everybodyshould killhis father"Ah!(Thatthey should killtheirfathers!)As a result,everybody whosefatherwasoldbroughthim to bekilled.Thisonewentandbroughthim to be killed,theotherwentandbroughthisfathertobekilled.Theykilledalltheoldmen, leavingonlyone.Hewasthefatherofaman whosaid "No.Whyshould thechief killalltheoldmenandwhyshouldIsendmyoldfathertobekilled?"Hegotdownand wentanddugalargeholeandconcealeditnicely.Hesenthis fatherthere,wherehe haddug.He fetchedwoodandputitacrossandcovereditwithsoil,makingasmall holeforairtopassthrough.Atthattime,theyhadfinishedkillingalltheoldmen.When the chieffinishedexecutingthem,he thencalled allthe youngmen."Myfriends,we have nowfinishedkillingallouroldmen.ThisisacowIam givingtoyou.Iam sohappywe havegotridofallouroldmen,sogoandkillthecow.Whenyouhavekilledthecow,cut thebestpartofitsmeatandbringittome.Ifyoudon'tbringit,youyourselvesarenot safe."(Thatisallright!)Eh!Theyoungmenrushedoutandslaughteredthecow.Which isthebestpartofthemeatofacow?Theywereworried.Theywentandcuttheliverand sentittohim.Heaskedwhetherornotthatwasthebestpartofthemeat.They answered"yes".Theyaddedpartofthebile.Hesaidthatwasn'tthebestpartofthemeat andthattheyshouldgoandfinditquickly. Thepeoplebecamemoreworried.Everynighttheyoungmansecretlytookfoodtohis father.Onedayhetookfoodtohisfather,whoaskedaboutthenewsofthetown.He said:"Myfather,nowwearesuffering.Whenwekilledalltheoldmen,thechiefgaveusa cowtogoandkill.Whenwekilledthecow,hesaidwemustfindboththesweetestand bitterestpartofthemeatandbringthem tohim.Theifwedonotbringthem,wearenot safeourselves.Thisiswhatisworryingus."Theoldmanlaughed,butagainaskedifhe didnotknowthesweetestpartofthemeat.Hesaid,"No".Heagainaskedifhedidnot knowthebitterestpart.Hesaid"No"."Thenthesweetestandbitterestpartisthetongue. Whenyougo,cutthetongueandsendittohim andsaythatthesweetestpartofthe meatisalsothebitterest." The man rushed home while allthe people satdown,undecided aboutwhatto do.If something had nothappened theymighthavethrown thewholemeatawayand run away.Whentheboyarrived,he said:"Myfriends,takethetongueofthecowin." Theycutthetongueforhim,and he took itto the chiefs palace.He wentand threw itdown and said,"Chief,see thesweetestpartofthemeatandthebitterest partalso." Thechiefsatdownquietlyandfinallysaid:"Youdidnotkillyourfather.Speakthetruth. Youhavenotkilledyourfather."Hesaid:"Itisthetruth,Ididn'tkillhim.Whenallthe otheryoungmenwerekillingtheirfathersIwentandhidmine."Thechiefsaid:"Youare thesonofawiseoldman.ThesweetestandbitterestpartofmeatisthetongueAsfor that,alltheseyoungmenarebigfools.Whyshouldsomeonesendhisfathertobekilled? Butifyouwantthesweetestpartofthemeat,findthetongue.Wereitnotforthetongue, youwouldnothaveanenemy;anditisalsobecauseofyourtonguethatyouwillnot havea friend." Questions 1. Whattypeofstoryisthis?Supportyouranswer 2. Howwouldyoudescribetheyoungmanwhodidnotkillhisfather? 3. Statethreecharacteraspectsofthechief 4. Whatmorallessondoyoulearnfrom thisnarrative? 5. Nametwothingsthatarecharacteristictooralnarrativesthatappearin-this narrative. 6. Explainwhatyouunderstandbythefollowingstatement."Thesweetestand bitterestpartofthemeatis thetongue." ANSWERS 1. Thisisatricksterstory. Theyoungmenaretrickedbythechieftokilltheirfathers andtheydoit. 2. Theyoungmanissensible,cunningandoutspoken. 3. Anyofthefollowingcharacteristicsofthechiefareacceptable: - Pretender - Persuasive - Wicked/ruthless - Clever/wise 4. Peopleshouldthinktwicebeforetheymakemajordecisions.Theyshouldalsonot doanythingthey aretoldwithoutquestions,especiallyifsuchactsaffectthem personally. 5.Anyofthefollowingcharacteristicsoforalnarrativesarecorrect. - Thebeginningofthestorye.g.,"Therelived..." - Useofpastsimple. - Repetitionofsentencesorphrases. - Useofthethirdperson. 6.Thetongueiscapableofpleasingbyutteringpraisesandisalsocapableofcausing angerbyutteringabuses andcurses. EXERCISE15 HAREANDANTELOPE ThereoncelivedaHarewho,oneday,asshewassaunteringaboutinthebush,found anarrow whichshepickedup.Onherwaybackhome,shecameuponagroupof hunterswhowereskinningananimaltheyhadkilled,andshesaidtothem:"Ifyougive meafatpieceofmeat,Iwillgiveyousomethingniceinexchange."Thehuntersasked: "Andwhatcouldthatbe?"Harereplied:"Itisanarrow headgiventomebygod."Hare wasgivenafatpieceofmeatinexchangeforthearrow head.Shebidthehunters goodbyeandwentonherway.Nextshecameuponwarriorswhowereapplyingochre totheirbodies,andrealisingtheyhadnofat,shesaidtothem:"Heyyouwarriors,ifyou givemeanecklace,Iwillgiveyouafatpieceofmeatthatyoucoulduseasfat."The warriorsconsentedandgaveheranecklaceinexchangeforthefatpieceofmeat.When theexchangewasfinalised,Haretookleaveofthewarriorsandcontinuedonherway. NextshecameuponAntelopetowhom shesaid:"Lookatmynecklace."Onenquiring whereshehadgotit,Harereplied:"Itismyfriendsthewarriorswhogaveittome,the warriorstowhom Igavemymeat,themeatthatthehuntersgaveme,thehuntersto whom Igavemyarrow,myarrow which mygodgaveme."AntelopelookedatHare's necklaceadmiringly,andsaidtoher:"MayIpleasetryiton?"Onwearingthenecklace Antelopesoughttheopinionofherfriendbyasking:"Doesitsuitme?"TothisHare innocentlyreplied:"Itsuitsyouperfectlywell."ThereuponAnteloperanasfastasher legscouldcarryher,runningawaywithHare'sbeads.AftertryingtopursueAntelope, Haresoonrealisedthatshewouldnevercatchupwithher,andsogaveupthechase. Walking awaysorrowfully,Haresooncameupon anothergroup ofhuntersand said to them:"Heyyouhunters,pleaseshootthatantelopeforme."Tothis the hunters asked:"What is she guilty of?"Harereplied:"Shetookaway mynecklace,my necklacethatthewarriorsgaveme,thewarriorstowhom Igavemymeat,mymeatthat thehuntersgaveme,thehunterstowhom Igavemyarrow,myarrowthatmygodgave me."AfterhearingofHare'scomplaint,thehuntersdeclinedtoshootAntelope.Taking leave ofthe hunters,Harecame across a burning fire,to whom shesaid:"Heyyou fire, couldyoupleaseeatthosehunters?" Fireasked,"Whathavetheydone"Harereplied:"Theyrefused to shootAntelope, Antelopewho tookmynecklace,mynecklacethatthewarriorsgaveme,thewarriorsto whom Igavemymeat,mymeatthatthehuntersgaveme,thehunterstowhom Igave myarrow,myarrowthatmygodgaveme."Again,onhearingHare'scomplaint,Firetoo said:"Iwillnoteatthehunters." HarenextcameuponWaterandsaidtoit:"Heyyouwater,couldyoupleaseputoutthat fire?"Waterasked,"WhathasFiredone"HarerepeatedtoWaterallthatshehadtoldFire. -WateronlisteningtoHare'scomplaintdeclinedtodoasshewasbid.HareleftWater, feelingdisappointed.Soonshefoundaherdofelephants,towhom shespokethus:"Hey youelephants,couldyoupleasedrinkthatwater."Onenquiring whyWaterhadtobedrunk,Harereplied:"WaterrefusedtoputoutFire,Firewhorefused toeatthehunters,thehuntersthatdeclinedtoshootAntelope,Antelopewhotookaway mynecklace,mynecklacethatthewarriorsgaveme,thewarriorstowhom Igavemy meat,mymeatthatthehuntersgaveme,thehunterstowhom Igavemyarrow,my arrow thatmygodgaveme."OnhearingHare'sstorytheelephants,too,declinedto carryoutHare'srequestasalltheothershaddone.Undauntedbyherinabilityto convinceanyonetotakeactiononherbehalfsofar,Haremovedon,nextcomingupon treesto whom shespokesaying:"Heyyou trees,could you pleasefallon those elephants?"Onenquiringthewrongcommittedbytheelephants,Harereplied:"They refusedtodrinkWater,WaterthatrefusedtoputoutFire,Firethatrefusedtoeatthe hunters,thehuntersthatdeclinedtoshootAntelope,Antelopewhotookawaymy necklace,mynecklacethatthewarriorsgaveme,thewarriorstowhom Igavemymeat, mymeatthatthehuntersgaveme,thehunterstowhom Igavemyarrow,myarrowthat mygodgaveme."Whenthetreeshadm heardHare'sstory,theytoosaid,Wewillnotfall ontheelephants."Harethenleftthetreesandcameupontermiteswhom sheaskedto fellthetrees.Thetermitesdemandedtoknowthewrongcommittedbythetrees.Hare told termitesofhow thetreeshad refused to fallon theelephantsand wenton enumeratingwhateveryoneelsehaddoneorrefusedtodointhesamewayshehad toldtheothers.Therefusalbytermitestofellthe treesupsetHare,butshewasbynomeansdaunted. Movingonwithpersistence,Haresooncameuponsomedonkeyswhom sheaskedto trampleonthetermites.Onhearingwhatthetermiteshaddone,thedonkeystoo declinedtotrampleonthem. BythistimeHarewasbeginningtofeelexasperatedandweary,havingwalkedallday withnosuccess.Itwas notlongbeforeshecameuponagroupofhyenas,towhom shesaid:"Heyyouhyenas,couldyoupleaseeatthosedonkeys?"Thehyenasasked: "Whathavethedonkeysdone?"Harereplied,"Theyrefusedto trampleonthetermites,thetermiteswhichrefusedtofellthetrees,thetreesthat refusedtofallontheelephants,elephantswhorefusedtodrinkWater,Waterwho refusedtoputoutFire,Firewhorefusedtoeatthehunters,thehuntersthatdeclinedto shootAntelope,Antelopewhotookawaymynecklace,mynecklacethatthewarriors gave me,thewarriorsto whom Igave mymeat,mymeatthatthehuntersgaveme, thehunterstowhom Igavemyarrow,myarrow thatmygodgaveme."Agreeingto carryoutHare'srequest,thehyenassaid:"Verywell,wewilleatthedonkeys."Onthe realisationthattheywereabouttobeeaten,thedonkeys said:"Wewilltrampleonthetermites."Thetermitessaid:"Wewillfellthetrees."The treessaid:"Wewillfallontheelephants."Theelephantssaid:"WewilldrinkWater." Watersaid:"IwillputoutFire."Firesaid:"Iwilleatthehunters."Thehunterssaid:Wewill shootAntelope."Antelopesaid:"IwillreturnHare'snecklace."SoHarewasgivenback hernecklaceandshewasveryhappy. Questions 1. Givetwoexamplesofpersonificationusedbythenarrator. 2."TothisHareinnocentlyreplied."Whydoesthenarratorusetheword innocently here? 3.Whatisthemoodinthisnarrative? 4. Give,withillustrations,threecharacteraspectsofHare. 5. 'Hyena'spresenceinthisnarrativeinindispensable."Brieflystatehowtrueorfalse thisstatementis. 6.Whatmajornarrativetechniquedoesthenarratoruseinthisstory?Whateffectdoes thishaveonthe developmentofthestory? 7.Whattypeofnarrativeisthis?Supportyouranswer.

ANSWERS 1.Examplesofpersonificationare: - Hareisreferredtoas"she"/"her" - "Antelope""Hare""Fire""Water"beginwithcapitallettersasiftheyarepersonalnouns. Theyalsotalklikehumans. - Antelopewearsanecklacelikeahumanbeing. - Fireisreferredtoas"whom",arelativepronounthatisusedwith humansonly. 2. Thenarratorusestheword"innocently"becauseHaredidnotknowthatAntelope admiredher necklaceandshewouldrunawaywithitafterbeingtoldbyHarethatitsuitedherwell. 3.Themoodinthisnarrativeisoneofdisappointment,sadnessandanger 4.ExamplesofHarescharacterare: - Sheispolite(sheusesthewordplease). - Sheispersistent(shedoesn'tgiveupeasilyevenafterbeingturneddown). - Sheisoptimistic(shehopestogetsomejustice). - Sheispersuasive(sherepeatsthechainofeventsthatleadtothelossofher necklace).She requeststobegotbackhernecklace. - Sheisvengeful(shewantsthosewhorefusetohelptobepunished). 5.Itistruethat"Hyena' spresenceinthisnarrativeisindispensable"becauseheistheonlyonewhoacceptsto helpHare therebyseeingjusticeattained. 6. Thenarratorusesrepetitionasamajornarrativetechniquetocreateachainof eventswhichmakesthe narratinginteresting. 7. Thisisatricksterstory.AntelopetricksHaretobegivenHare'snecklace totryon,whichshelaterrunsawaywith. EXERCISE16 ReadthefollowingOralsongandanswerthequestionswhich follow. Sleep,sleep Sweet,gentleonesleep Yourmotheriscoming,sleep Sleep,sleep,gentleonesleep. Sleep,sleep Sweetgentleonesleep Yourguardiscomingsleep Sleep,sleepgentleonesleep Sleep,sleep Sweet,gentleonesleep Yourheartiscoming,sleep Sleep,sleepgentleonesleep Sleep,sleep Sweet,gentleonesleep Theselfishoneiscomingsleep Sleep,gentleonesleep. Questions a)Usingthreeillustrationsfrom thesongclassifyit- b)Whatisthesinger'sattitudetowardsthesubjectofthesong" c)Comparethetoneinthefirstthreestanzasandtheone in the laststanzaoftheso ng d)Whattwoaspectsofstylearecommonlyusedinthissong e)Whatisthecharactertraitofthepersonbeingdescribedinthesong f)Whatistherelationshipbetweenthesingerandthepersonbeingdescribed Whatisthemorallessoninthissong? SAMPLEANSWER a)Thisisalullaby,dueto i)Repetitionofwardslike'sleep,sleep" ii)Mentionofmotheriscoming iii)Mentionofguard;scoming. b)Thesingeriscontemptuousofthebaby'smothershesays:"Theselfishoneis coming" c)Thetoneishappyatfirstthenchangestoabitterone.nthelaststanza."Youris coming/Theselfishoneiscoming. d)Theaspectsofstyleusedinthesongare: i)Repetition-sleep/sleep ii)Satire-thebaby'smotherarrivalissatirized.Thespeakerknowsherarrivalisofno usetoher-shesays,"theselfishoneiscoming iii)Irony-thearrivalofthebabyisablessingtothespeaker e)Thepersonbeingdescribedisselfish. f)Thesingerisa nurse whilethepersonbeingdescribedisamother.Thebaby's motherisselfishtothesingerandthatiswhythesingerexpressesthisinaso ng. Theselfishoneiscoming. g)Themorallessonisthatnursesneedtobetreatedfairly in orderforthem tonursebabies withdevotionandwithout fear.