Nyimbo za tohara na majukumu ya Mwanamume na Mwanamke katika jamii ya Wagisu, Uganda.

Abstract

ABSTRACT In oral literature songs are very important in communicating cultural values, traditional norms and societal ideas. It has been claimed that songs allocate different roles and responsibilities to men and women. However, no research had been conducted to the best of my knowledge to establish how circumcision songs do so in the Bugisu society. This study therefore was intended to fill that knowledge gap. The objectives of the study were to establish the roles that Wagisu cirmumcision songs allocate to men and women in society and to show the status of a woman in the Gishu society, Sironko district. The research question sought to analyze the Bagisu circumcision songs as a source of allocation of male and female duties, 20 songs were selected whereby only 19 songs were used to explain about the allocation of male and female duties also showing the status of a woman, and the 1 song was left out because it did not contain the themes of roles. The study was guided by Hegemonic masculinity theory of R.W. Connell, (2005) with the guidance one of its tenets being, division of roles between females and males, and also Kress (1985:94)’s explanation about the Critical Discourse Analysis theory basing on the the groups in the society, and that every human being has a role in the society. The Bagisu circumcision songs regarding the allocation of the male and female duties constituted data for this research. The data was collected from the sub counties of Bukiise, Butandiga and Buhugu. The data was collected using the participant observation method. The acquired data was then analyzed and described qualitatively using percentages. The study revealed that females were over powered by their counterparts who allocate them heavy work of the family in the marriage situation. The study therefore recommended that, parents should alter themes that undermine women in circumcision songs through allocating them with all the house cores by positive ones which treat all mankind equally. The study is a contribution to the field of literature particularly the genre oral literature. It is anticipated that its findings will benefit researchers and all the lovers of literature.