RP-Department of Kiswahili and African Languages

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Browsing RP-Department of Kiswahili and African Languages by Author "King'ei, G. K."

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    Athari ya Washairi Wakongwe Juu ya Washairi wa Kisasa: Mfano wa Muyaka Bin Haji na Ahmad Nassir
    (Kioo cha Lugha, 2007) King'ei, G. K.
    Kwakutumiavichwavyamashairi, umbo namtindo, msamiatinamaudhui, makalahiiinavitambulishabaadhiyavipengelevyausanifuvinavyopatikanakatikaushairiwaMuyakawaMuhajinajinsiambavyovipengelehivyovimeathiri, kilakimojakwakiasichake, ushairiwa Ahmad Nassir katikadiwaniyaMalengawaMvita. MakalainatumiatungozaMuyakazilizochambuliwana Mohamed Hassan Abdulaziznakuchapishwamwakawa 1979. Humumnaonyeshakiwango cha atharizaushairiwaMuyakanakuthibitishajinsimvutomkubwanausanifuwatungozaMuyakaulivyowapendezawashairiwakarneyaishirinikama Ahmad Nassir.
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    Historia na maendeleo ya riwayaya Kiswahili
    (Kenyatta University Faculty of Arts, 1999) King'ei, G. K.
    This paper sets out to investigate briefly the historical origin of Kiswahili prose literature a,w traces its development up to contemporary times. It notes the most important stages that the Kiswahi: novel has gone through and the most influential factors that have shaped it. The discussion sets off by raising afew theoretical questions aimed at grounding the framewon within which the exposition proceeds. Theformal and thematic concerns of the traditional "novel" genre are delineated and the main epic stages of Kiswahili prose writing in colonial and POSI independence eras are discussed against the background. of the unfolding literary and critical concerns of each period with the attendant socio-political and economic dictates. Each stage ana trend is exemplified by quotes from the works considered classical for the era in question. The paper highlights the relative poverty of prose works in Kiswahili in contrast to poe« writing. Secondly, the literary gap and lack of a continuum from the traditional lore to modern prose is also explained. The undue dependence of the East Africans on literature created in Englis! which is brought about by the skewed language policies is seen as largely contributing to the underdevelopment of Kiswahili prose literature. An appeal is made for a concerted effort by the political establishment tofoster a more positive attitude toward Kiswahili. Such a step will not only promote prose writing as the language develops but also, hopefully, raise the quality of Kiswahi/i literature as a whole.
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    Kiswahili in the technical age: Lessons from Kenya's use of Kiswahili in the legal and parliamentary registers
    (LWATI: A Journal of Contemporary Research, 2006) King'ei, G. K.
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    REVIEW ESSAY Using Language to Stereotype Kenya's National Character WahomeMutahi How to be a Kenyan Nairobi, Kenya, East African Educational Publishers Limited/Kenway 1996
    (Kenyatta University, 1999) King'ei, G. K.
    Best known for his popular humour column, "Whispers", which appears in a local Kenyan weekly, Wahome Mutahi has distinguished himself as a prolific prose writer- with a number of novels to his credit. To date, How to be Kenyan is probably his first critical work. On closer scrutiny, the work under review, whichis reminiscent of Chinua Achebe's acclaimed political treatise, The Trouble with Nigeria (1983), seems more of the writer's personal and subjective quarrel with his sociopolitical environment.
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    The role of African languages in development in the 21st century: reflections on policies on African languages in education
    (Kenyatta University, 2002) King'ei, G. K.
    Education remains the most crucial force for development in the Zl" century. In the African context, major issues that will continue to shape educational policy in the new century will revolve around fundamental problems such as mass poverty, illiteracy, technological backwardness, disease and undeveloped infrastructure, among others. This brief paper argues that one of the obstacles of educational advancement in Africa has been the lack of vision and clear sense of purpose in determining the language of instruction. This problem has largely been brought about by many unperceived or ignoredfallacies ingrained in the philosophy governing language policies in most confines on the continent. It calls for the recognition of multilingualism and multiculturalism as assets and not liabilities in development. By so doing, policy makers and implementers will see the urgent need to assign a bigger role for the African languages in education and other facets of development.
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    Swahili taraab: from traditional orality to a globalized art form
    (Lwati: A Journal of Contemporary Research, 2005) King'ei, G. K.
    “Taarab” may simply be defined as a popular form of Swahili music that combines the singing of poetry with the accompaniment of instruments. This paper takes its focal point from the view advanced by Obiechina that it is no longer possible to undertake a meaningful criticism of African literature in indigenous or foreign languages without making serious reference to its traditional oral constituents at the levels of composition as well as content (Obiechina 1993:124). This is a necessary step because African literary and oral forms such as the Swahili taarab are becoming increasing complex through their incorporation of old/new, traditional/modern, oral/written and indigenous /foreign configurations. Therefore, this discussion explores some of these aspects of modern taarab by looking at these factors surrounding the music form through the perspective of this theory of change.