Articles

Swahili Songs of Defiance and Mockery

Author
  • Jan Knappert (Barnet Herts)

Abstract

The aim of this publication is mainly to make known to fellow students of African oral traditions the literary achievements of the Swahili people. Songs of mockery and defiance are known in many languages, but sofar none to my knowledge had been published from East Africa. The present article will, it is hoped, fill that lacune. It demonstrates that there are, and always have been, numerous songs of mockery and defiance in Swahili, while new ones are sill being composed and sung. These songs form today a part of the healthy democratic process in East Africa.

KEYWORDS : Oral literature, Swahili, East Africa 

How to Cite:

Knappert, J., (1987) “Swahili Songs of Defiance and Mockery”, Afrika Focus 3(3-4). doi: https://doi.org/10.21825/af.v3i3-4.6546

Downloads:
Download PDF
View PDF

494 Views

322 Downloads

Published on
28 Sep 1987
Peer Reviewed
License