The Construction of Feminine Psychology in Swahili Women’s Nuptial Poetry-Unyago
Loading...
Date
2017
Authors
Mwai, Wangari
Mwenje, Margaret
M’Raiji, John Kirimi
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Canadian Center of Science and Education
Abstract
This article examines the construction of feminine psychology in Swahili women nuptial poetry-unyago. Unyago
poetry is composed and performed by Swahili women. Swahili is a community located along the coastal region
of Kenya. This article, therefore, focuses on intersections between psychology and poetry in analyzing and
describing how unyago poetry reveals the mindsets and emotions of Swahili women. Data for analysis in article
is derived from research carried out among women of Swahili decent living at Kisumu using observation and
in-depth interviews as data collection methods. Unyago poetry is viewed as confessions and revelations of the
female self, the marriage institution and that of the marital partner. Worth noting is the fact that the women,
whose ancestors originated from the coastal region of Kenya, have preserved the nuptial rituals and teachings
therein across time and space. Through unyago, the women socialize their girls from children to women and is a
deeply rooted practice in their philosophy, psychology, and culture of the Swahili people. Thus, this article
contends that unyago is both a reflection of group and individual psychological reactions to cultural expression
through poetry
Description
Research papers
Keywords
unyago poetry, poetichology, women, confessions
Citation
Journal of Educational and Developmental Psychology; Vol. 7, No. 1; 2017 ISSN 1927-0526 E-ISSN 1927-0534