PHD-Department of Music and Dance

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Browsing PHD-Department of Music and Dance by Author "Kidula, J. N."

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    Indigenous Music and the communication of selected innovative social concerns: synchronic analysis of Dodo and Nyatiti songs in Siaya district, Kenya
    (2012-01-05) Digolo, B.A.; Akuno, Emily Achieng; Kidula, J. N.
    This study investigated the communicative viability of Dodo and Nyatiti music among the rural population of Siaya District. Specifically, the study sought to: 1. Analyze the structural, melodic and rhythmic attributes of selected Dodo and Nyatiti songs in order to determine their indigenous epithet; 2. Determine whether the texts of the selected Dodo and Nyatiti songs embodied any aspects of messages related to modern health, literacy and family planning; 3. Ascertain whether respondents selected among the study population perceived Dodo and Nyatiti songs as viable modes of communication; 4. Establish factors that influenced the growing recognition of the indigenous songs as media of communication in the district; and 5. Ascertain whether the messages transmitted through the selected indigenous songs would resulted in acquisition of knowledge on issues concerning modern health, literacy and family planning. The study targeted male and female adults in the district, the traditional musicians, and personnel from Departments of Information and Culture. The techniques used in selecting a working sample from the study population included simple random, purposive and snowball sampling techniques. Data was collected from the respondents using various types of instruments including structured interview schedules, opinionnaire schedules, observation schedules, and also through participant observation and unstructured interview. The data was analyzed using an inferential statistical procedure namely, T-test for related samples, and through description and explanation of qualitative features of the data. The findings of the study revealed that a substantial number of people in Siaya District concurred with the claims that indigenous music forms like Dodo and Nyatiti are viable modes of communication. Structural, melodic and rhythmic attributes of Dodo and Nyatiti were found to have significant bearing on the communicative viability of the genres. The communicative capacity of Dodo and Nyatiti songs was authenticated based on the fact that the texts of the music genres were found to embody messages on the specified social concerns including health, literacy and family planning. Through the pre-test and post-test measures, it was verified that the messages propagated through the song texts resulted into acquisition among some study respondents. This further portrayed the communicative viability of Dodo and Nyatiti. In light of the above study findings, the recommendations made for possible implementation by relevant authorities included the need for; strengthening the formal integration of indigenous media including music within the set up of communication media in Kenya; formulation of a mass media strategy that would involve the development of an Indigenous Media Division to deal with the organization and evaluation of indigenous media activities throughout the country; practical applications of research findings of studies such as the present one, so as to be used as references in policy/decision making processes; promotion and support for the indigenous music performance, particularly at grass root levels where the genres serve as useful sources of information. Finally, suggestions were made for possible areas for further investigations. These included: comparative study on the level of mass media preferences among the rural population in Kenya, with regards to the print, electronics, music and other types of indigenous media; a study to determine the communicative capacity of various types of indigenous media including music, drama, poetry and stories in order to ascertain the most favourable local media for rural communities in Africa; study on compatibility of various indigenous media contents in relation to the prevailing social-cultural situations; assessment of the audience impact of the indigenous media such as music with regards to their capacity to enhance change in attitude and behaviour; and a study to determine relationship between preference of a specific type of indigenous media among a particular African community and the communicative efficacy of the genres