RP-Department of Kiswahili and African Languages

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Uainisho wa Methali
(Writers’ Association of Kenya, 1994) Wafula, R. M.
Language Policy in East Africa: A Dependency Theory Perspective
(Educational Research and Publications, 1996) Mbaabu, I.
On the polyphonic nature of the Gocaandi genre
(Taylor & Francis, 1997) Njogu, Kimani
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.
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.
Language and identity
(Kenyatta University, 1999) Mugambi, P.J.M.
Language is primarily an essential tool for communication. People are endowed with vocal abilities so that they can pass messages and other information in verbal form whether it involves two or more participants. Language, therefore, enables us to convey our thoughts, desires, feelings and emotions. This communication is influenced by our geographic, regional, ethnic, clan or other cluster inclinations and expectations. We belong to certain groups and by virtue of our membership - real or imagined, we often communicate information that is either beneficial or harmful to us and the society at large. Language can and has been used negatively as an identity symbol. People at times use language selectively to attain certain selfish goals and in so doing seek to co-opt and/or corrupt those they communicate with to achieve their aims. Of course languages positively identify and enhance people's culture, aspirations and heritage but often these collective gains are taken for granted and instead, people use language to denote identity and consequently derive some advantage. Language has for instance been used as an ethnic weapon to show either the superiority or inferiority of a people depending on the angle one looks at it from. Indeed as Parkin notes in Whiteley (1974: 186) "the ebb and flow of vernacular interchange among specific pairs of ethnic groups is a function of their positions of "dominance" relative to each other. "Dominance" is seen as resting singly on or on a combination of socio-economic status, political and numerical factors People are constantly conscious about these social signifiers and they as a result strive to outdo each other in terms of achieving material or social well-being. Language itself is a distinctive feature and consequently people usually exploit it to maximize their sectarian pursuits. At the individual level, language is used by some people to achieve-an immediate unfair advantage over those who do not identify with the same language. Envisage the following episodes:
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.
Language attitudes and their implications for language planning in Kenya
(Kenyatta University, 2002) Musau, Paul M.
Thepaper investigates the attitudes that Kenyans have towards Kiswahili and English, two languages that have official status in Kenya. It draws its data from letters to the editors of two popular Kenyan dailies, Daily Nation and Taifa Leo. The paper shows that those who argue for Kiswahili do so, principally for patriotic reasons. Kiswahili is seen as a 'neutral' language that is well suited tofoster national unity, regional integration, pride and cultural identity. On the other hand, arguments that are infavour of English are mainly utilitarian or functional in nature. English is seen as an important language for international communication, accessing science and technology, and a language of prestige without which it is impossible to climb the social ladder. The main conclusion that is drawn in the paper is that although the two languages appear to be incompetition, their roles are complementary. What is required is a language policy that defines the roleof each language. It is suggested that such a policy will maintain English while expanding the functional roles of Kiswahili in government administration and education
Reading and writing: the connection to personal, social and economic development
(Kenyatta University, 2002) Ryanga, C. W.
Historically the focus of teaching reading and writing skills has dwelt on the preparation of children for school education, that is, the ability to read and understand subjects across the curriculum and the taking of examinations. Such a focus has left many people with the idea that reading and writing are important only as far as formal schooling is concerned, at the expense of developing interest and motivation to continue reading and writing in post school years. However, in the 2i st, century, such a restrictive focus should be revisited to demonstrate, that such skills are for a life time and their benefits are immense in adult life. it must be apparent that these skills are necessary if an individual has to be involved in the process offactfinding, dissemination of information and communication of technology, economic and social development. in this paper therefore, I highlight afew scholars who have attempted toformulate models of reading that will cope with the demands of modem life. This is intended to help students to cultivate motivation and develop a readership culture through to their adulthood. The paper also discusses different benefits that an individual can gain from reading and writing skills, and which directly relate to his/her personal, social and economic development. The role of the government in the effort to cultivate interest for reading in adult life has been discussed briefly too. For their importance, reading and writing as skills can be chronicled as the gateway to world thought and modernity through the different print media, and particularly the Internet.
The Contribution of the Germans to the Spread and Development of Kiswahili Language and Literature
(Across Boarders:, 2005) Osore, Miriam; Ngugi, Pamela
Following the partition of Africa, Tanganyika (mainland) was declared a German colony in 1885. The German.s had a brief rule, which was terminated with their defeat in the First World War. By the time the Germans co-Ionized Tanganyika, they found that Kiswahili had already spread in the interior by Arab and Swahili caravan traders. There were also-coastal people, Kiswahili speakers, who had settled in such inland centres such as Tabora and Ujiji. Kiswahili was already serving as a form of 'linqua-franca' in the mainland Tanganyika long before the advent _of the German colonization. During the German rule, they made use of this rich 'lingua-franca' in education and administration.
The Contribution of Persian Language to Kiswahili Phonology and Lexicon
(2001, 2005) Osore, Miriam; Ngugi, Pamela
he favourable climatic and sociological conditions along the East African Coast made it possible for the inhabitants of non-African countries to open up relations with the indigenous peoples of the East African Coast. Such relations existed from the remotest times and that they have continued during the passage of centuries up to the present day. Individuals and groups of people from Persia immigrated to the East African Coast almost 900 years ago. They settled temporarily as well as permanently. Owing to the trade along the coast, the necessity arose for oral understanding between the people of the coastal districts and the various immigrants. Because of these, Kiswahili lan- guage which was being spoken at the coast, both as a first language and a language of general communication has assimilated many lexical items from various languages that were spoken by different groups of sailors and visitors. This process of absorp- tion came naturally as Swaluli civilization acquired foreign concepts and influences without in any way affecting the Bantu base of the Kiswahili language. It is in this understanding that this paper addresses the contribution of the Shirazi to the development ofKiswahili language. It demonstrates that borrowing is an active and creative process that has led to the enrichment of Kiswahili language and has not as many people would have us believe, turned it into a hybrid language. Borrowing is determined by linguistic and sociolinguistic factors. The paper examines briefly the history of Waswahili and the Persian migration to the East African Coast with a view of showing how the two languages came into contact. It then goes on to show how this affected the way oflife of the Waswahili as well as Kiswahili language especially its phonology and lexicon.
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.
Matatizo Yanayowakumba Waandishi wa Vitabu vya Kiswahili Nchini Kenya
(Nordic Association of African Studies, 2006) Kobia, J.M.
This article addresses the problems facing Kiswahili authors in Kenya. It focuses on socioeconomic, technological, attitudinal and language policy related challenges in relation to Kiswahili language and literature in the 21st century. The article attempts to offer suggestions on the way forward as far as writing of Kiswahili books in the Kenyan education system is concerned
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.
Influences and parallels between Persian and Kiswahili literature: some examples from alfu-lela-ulela and selected texts by Shaaban Robert
(Kenyatta University, 2007) Mugambi, P.J.M.
Persian literature has influenced the development of Kiswahili literature thematically and stylistically. This is demonstrated in the works of Shaaban Robert, one of the most famous and celebrated Kiswahili writers. This paper seeks to identify, describe and analyze some of these influences with a view to showing parallels that exist between Persian and Kiswahili literature. The paper briefly discusses the early contacts between the Middle East and the East African Coast through trade in ivory and slaves. This interaction brought about cultural influences including the inculcation of the Islamic religion as well as language and literature. This pre-twentieth century Islamic cultural influence is evident in Shaaban Robert's works. The paper discusses how the historical aspects influenced the literatures from these two parts of the world. This it does by bringing out the interconnectedness between literature and history and also showing that literature and social learning reinforce each other. The relationship between Kiswahili literature and Persian literature in areas such as style, plot, characterization and symbolism brought about by historical realities have been delineated.
Viewing Sheng' as a Social Dialect: A Linguistic Approach
(Kenyatta University, 2007) Mwihaki, A. N.
Thisarticle addresses the linguistic status of Sheng', and argues a casefor defining Sheng' as a socialdialect of Kiswahili. It adopts Critical Discourse Analysis, as a theoretical orientation with the capacity to integrate grammatical knowledge and sociolinguistic information under the umbrella of functional linguistics. Functional linguistics provides a theoretical framework within which findings of sociolinguistic research may be related to situational communication constraints, and the theory of language as a formal and semantic system. Thearticle presents a systematic analysis and description of Sheng' as a variety of Kiswahili, based on correspondence in the formal grammatical constraints at the levels of phonology, morphology, and syntax, but differences in semantic properties. It evaluates some views of languagescholars who have defined Sheng' as a pidgin, broadly labeled it a code, or somehow negatively as an argot, providing principled arguments that discredit these views. Notably, thefirst definition fails to take into account the proliferation of synonymy, the grammatical inflection, and the historicity of Sheng', while the second view can be considered too general to be definitive, and the third view fails to take into consideration elements of prestige in some Sheng' varieties, including tactical use by social organizations in addressing the youth. A casefor the more flexible but definitive status of a social dialect is argued, based on a consideration of the symbolic function of Sheng'. This claim derives support from certain studies touching on the sociolinguistics, pragmatics, semantics, and semiotics of Sheng. The rationale for these studies is assumed to depend on the psychological value of Sheng as a socialcategory of language, a symbol of group identity, and an index of self-definition. Since most of the available studies relate to Sheng' rather indirectly by default, this paper winds up by observing a need for more deliberate studies that will systematically address the range of issues involved.
Harnessing our linguistic heritage for development
(Kenyatta University, 2007) Momanyi, C.
Culture can be defined as the total way of life of a given community. It encompasses the economic, political, historical, linguistic, and psychological dimensions of worldcommunities. This being the case, development cannot be measured purely on economic terms. As a concept, development must reflect all areas of human activity (Prah 1993:18). Hence, it not only manifests itself in the economy of any given society but in all other aspects of human existence. Language being the key instrument of communication is the principal means of bringing about development. On the other hand, any exotic technology that has to be used in a given community will not be meaningful if it is couched in foreign languages. The initiators of such technology must take into consideration the indigenous knowledge structures for it to be readily accepted by the localpeople. Thispaper expounds the view that there is no country that can claim to develop by embracing foreign languages, ideologies, or culture. It elucidates the fact that national developments should not be restricted to economic and technological advancement, but that other parameters like language and culture have to be considered. The paper lucidly discusses Afri.ca's linguistic heritage and the quest for development. It inextricably brings out the relationship between the linguistic and cultural base of communities, and the development of modern technology in Africa. Finally, the paper recommends steps that can be taken to incorporate African languages in the mainstream development of the continent, and avenues that can be used to preserve African linguistic heritage.
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.
A Digital Africa Kiswahili Holds the Key
(African Journals Online, 2008) Kamau, Stephen Njihia
The case for Kiswahili as a regional broadcasting language in East Africa
(The Journal of Pan African Studies, 2009-03) Makokha, J.S.
The peoples of East Africa have a long history of a rich and diverse regional heritage. Perhaps one of the most renowned aspects of this heritage is Kiswahili, the language widely spoken and understood across Eastern Africa. As the numbers of people who are proficient in the language continue to grow year after year, there have been numerous enriching perspectives on the anthropological, historical , literary and sociolinguistic aspects of Kiswahili. In this article, we offer a fresh perspective on how Kiswahili can be tapped as a resource for mobilizing popular support for the East African regional integration process across the five member states of the current East African Community: Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi. Kiswahili should be elevated to the position of a regional broadcasting language for a proposed regional broadcasting network operating under the aegis of the East African Community in Arusha, Tanzania. This is the main argument of the article. The argument is grounded on three main points, namely, media studies indicate that ICT and FM radio stations have become very popular mass media across Africa in the past two decades; radios are ubiquitous media of communication, entertainment and education across East Africa, especially in the rural areas where the vast majority of the people still live; and a regional broadcasting service, using the popular FM mode, can be mooted by the EAC Secretariat in Arusha to promote the programs of the EAC and harness the popular support for its intentions. Kiswahili should be given priority as the chief broadcasting language, as it is a rich symbol of the shared regional heritage. The paper concludes with a proposed framework that offers a basis for further thought and action towards the realization of the foregoing.

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