MWEGA WA UJUMI KATIKA NGANO SIMULIZI ZA WACHUKA

Abstract

Oral literature is an important tool in the society that preserves society’s traditions and enhances language use. Studies on aesthetism in various genres of oral literature are mostly based on themes, characterization and the role of women in the society. The study of aesthetism in gichuka oral naratives has received scanty attention. This study sought to address the core of aesthetisism in Gichuka narratives. The objectives of the study are: to investigate how plot is developed aesthetically in formation of Wachuka folk tales, discuss how characterization is developed aestheticaly and analyse how the stylitic devices are used to develop aesthetism in Wachuka Folk tales. This study is based on the Emic Theory by Del Hymes. It utilized qualitative research design and employed an observation schedule as a data collection method. Ten folktales were selected purposively from those narrated based on characters and themes but only five narratives were analyzed because the saturation point was reached. Five informants who were able to narrate Gichuka folktales were used. The selection of the informants was based on the informant’s knowledge, experience of the informant, age of the informant, ability of the informant to remember and capability of the informant to narrating folktales. Data collected was analysed and presented in descriptive method. The study establishes that the formation of Wachuka folk tales develops the plot aesthetically. It also finds out that characterization in Wachuka folktales splits into the protagonist and antagonist and thus enhances aestheticism in the narratives. Finally, the study further establishes that various stylitic devices are used to develop aesthetism in Wachuka Folk tales by enhancing realism and the roles of Wachuka belief systems. The findings of this study are expected to contribute to the scholary literature in narratives which traverses different fields of language study. It is expected that the study will help literary critics and social- linguists to understand the place of aesthetics and their role in Gichuka narratives. The results of this study may enable the preservation of Gichuka folktales as an important genre of oral literature.