Gender presentation among the Abakhayo in Ongidi’s songs

Abstract

The study, gender presentation among the abakhayo in ongidi‘s songs set out to interrogate the cause and effect of the songs sung by the artist Vincent Ongidi among the Bakhayos of Busia County. The impetus to study was borne out of the realization that ordinary language as spoken could be harnessed by music to bring about harmony among the genders. The study had as its objectives the analysis of the artist‘s portrayal of men and women in his artistic works, the language and style that enabled him to effectively do this and how this, significantly influence the way the two genders perceive each other. The study worked on the hypotheses that Ongidi portrays men and women as equal in social status. His stylistic choices and language use was what made his songs appeal equally to both genders and that the presentation, style and language use has had an impact on how women and men view each other. To help rationalize the area of engagement the study made use of the sociological literary theory, ethnopoetic and the feminist literary theory. The selection of the theories based on the understanding that literature has a social function and is not created in vain. The study also handles the issue of women hence the feminist consideration as a theoretical framework. Given that the texts under study are oral productions ethnopoetics as a theory was indiscipensible. The study was limited to the portrayal of women and men among the Abakhayo with interest on the style and language that make this portrayal have the effect on how the genders relate to each other. In the study, I listened to Ongidi‘s selected songs, attended his live performances and conducted interviews with him and his supporters using written quessionaires. The study established that Ongidi‘s songs are not only received favourably across the genders but even considered the standard texts of the Luhya community. The language and style adopted makes it possible for both genders to like the music and alter the way they perceive each other.