| dc.description.abstract | The title of this thesis is "The ambiguous nature of
freedom in the Luhya ritual ceremony song texts: It has an
introduction, four chapters, a conclusion, an appendix
containing the song texts in their original Luhya dialects
and in free English translation and a glossary. The
analysis given is~ased on collected and documented song
texts taped during fieldwork research conducted between
August and October 1984 among the Bukusu, Maragoli, Idakho
and Isukha communities in Western Province.
This stated in the introduction that the
analysis aims at showing how the Luhya ritual
ceremony song texts-freely comment upon subjects in an
ambiguous and contradictory manner. To demonstrate
this further, the analysis in the first chapter
illustrates how the Luhya display a range of different,
moods during the circumcision and marriage ritual ceremonies.
Further evidence is adduced from the song texts in
chapters two and three to reveal how these ambiguities and
contradictions are also manifested. In the second chapter
the analysis shows how the song texts operate in an
indecorum manner by concentrating on undermining the social
order. Chapter three is essentially an illustration of how
the song texts, against all expectations, also seek to affirm
the social order by criticising those who break society's
conventional moral laws.
Besides, it is argued in the fourth chapter
that freedom of expression in Luhya ritual ceremony
song texts is not complete freedom. It is restricted
in terms of time and space, as well as through
indirection and humour. In the final analysis, therefore,
the discussion concludes that real meaning in song texts
lies not in the freedom to express issues but in the
ambiguities and contradictions. | en |
