http://erepository.kafuco.ac.ke/123456789/147 2026-06-17T15:21:10Z 2026-06-17T15:21:10Z NAIBEI, CHESIRO NICKSON http://erepository.kafuco.ac.ke/123456789/303 2026-03-13T12:59:03Z 2025-10-07T00:00:00Z

UBVERTING PATRIARCHAL HEGEMONY IN THE AUTOBIOGRAPHIES OF WANGARI MAATHAI’S UNBOWED AND PHOEBE ASIYO’S IT IS POSSIBLE NAIBEI, CHESIRO NICKSON According to the postulations of various feminists, patriarchal hegemony has continued to trample on their basic rights. Therefore, it was in this regard that this study examined how Wangari Maathai and Phoebe Asiyo had put efforts into their two autobiographical literary works, Unbowed and It is Possible, respectively, to subvert the many forms of patriarchy that were supposedly responsible for their discrimination, oppression, stereotyping, and objectification, which this study focused on. As a sub-genre, the autobiography accords the writer space to tell the story of one’s life from a more intimate perspective, especially for women writers. The specific objectives of this study were to analyze the subversion of patriarchal aspects, examine the politics of gender, and examine the constructivist nature of autobiographies and various elements of fictionality employed in the narration of Unbowed and It is Possible, respectively. The study used an eclectic theoretical framework, drawing on strands of feminist literary theory (1996) as propounded by Simone de Beauvoir and Helene Cixous, whose main tenet posits that power hierarchies in domination can be subverted and that the roles assigned to women by patriarchal society are both biased and unsustainable. This was combined with the Autobiography theory (2014) by Saint Augustine of Hippo, whose main principle of subjectivity and objectivity states that autobiographers are selective when choosing what to write. The study used a descriptive research design because of its textual nature, which entailed close reading of the selected texts, analysis, and interpretation of data. The choice of Maathai’s Unbowed and Asiyo’s It is Possible was purposive since it invalidates the normative gender distinctiveness whose establishment has a patriarchal propensity. This study established that women have been suppressed through the dictates of patriarchy as they have been patronized, objectified, stereotyped, sidelined from power, and their property disowned. It was also found that as they narrated their life experiences from an intimate perspective, they upheld the constructivist nature of autobiographies and various elements of fictionality to subvert the marginalization. The outcomes of this research develop women’s autobiographies as refined academic achievements, yield endowments, and complement gender standardization in patriarchal societies. Proportionally, the results are derivations of lessening disputes in patriarchal societies, bringing social peace where there was no peace before. This is remarkably so, as social disputes are a source of nightmares, denying the human race the serenity of existence in what is supposed to be a tranquil cosmos.

2025-10-07T00:00:00Z MASOLIA, MWANIGA DAISY http://erepository.kafuco.ac.ke/123456789/302 2026-03-13T12:28:33Z 2025-10-07T00:00:00Z

MILITARY AUTHORITARIANISM: A LITERARY EXPLORATION OF TRAUMA AND COPING STRATEGIES IN HELON HABILA’S WAITING FOR AN ANGEL AND OKEY NDIBE’S ARROWS OF RAIN MASOLIA, MWANIGA DAISY Literary studies on transitioning from military dictatorship to civilian democracy have attracted global scholarly attention. These studies, however, have mainly focused on the gendered and political effects of military authoritarianism, with specific emphasis on the Great Lakes Region of Africa. Consequently, this study focused on Nigeria, where the soldiers inflicted immense psychological, emotional, and physical anguish. Unlike previous studies that predominantly examined the political implications of military dictatorship in Nigeria, this study foregrounds trauma in its multiple facets on victims and the coping strategies they adopted to survive. This study analysed Helon Habila’s Waiting for an Angel (2003) and Okey Ndibe’s Arrows of Rain (2000) to examine the traumatic effects of military authoritarianism on the victims and how they coped. The objectives of this study were to analyse the depiction of trauma as experienced by characters under military dictatorships, examine how trauma victims cope with the suffering, and analyse the effectiveness of elements of fiction in portraying trauma and coping strategies in the selected texts. The study has used the trauma literary theory as advanced by Cathy Caruth, Shoshana Felman, and Judith Herman in the 1990s, particularly their concept of fragmentation, which manifests through the psychological trauma of its victims, flashbacks, and stream-of-consciousness in narratives. A descriptive research design was used during the research process due to the textual nature of the study, which involved content analysis through close reading, analysis, and interpretation of data in the selected texts. Habila’s Waiting for an Angel and Ndibe’s Arrows of Rain were singled out purposefully as they depict a country marred by countless implications of trauma as a consequence of military dictatorships. Library research and an in-depth text analysis formed the data collection foundation. The findings of this research revealed that trauma manifests itself at the physical, emotional, and psychological levels, often destabilizing personal and collective identities. Still, victims can establish coping strategies for survival. Ultimately, the study highlights the power of literature in documenting military authoritarianism and preserving collective memory. It demonstrates that literary texts reflect the destructive effects of dictatorship and contribute to post-dictatorship healing by fostering dialogue on resilience and reconciliation. In addition, the study highlights literature’s relevance to contemporary policy makers, including governments and multinational bodies such as the African Union and United Nations, by reinforcing the urgency of deterring future military coups and promoting democratic stability globally.

2025-10-07T00:00:00Z WANDA, WENDY CHRISTINE http://erepository.kafuco.ac.ke/123456789/252 2025-02-04T08:12:25Z 2024-09-12T00:00:00Z

UCHUNGUZI WA MAANA ZA SEMI ZINAZOSAWIRI UANA KATIKA LUGHA YA KISWAHILI MIONGONI MWA WASWAHILI WANDA, WENDY CHRISTINE Tafiti nyingi zimefanywa kuhusu suala la uana na watafiti mbalimbali katika jamii za Kiafrika na ulimwengu kwa jumla. Jamii za kijadi na hata za kisasa zingali zinatumia semi zinazoshusha hadhi ya wanawake katika mawasiliano yao. Semi hizi zinatumiwa katika mazungumzo kwa kujua au kwa kutojua. Jambo hili limekuwa la kawaida kutokana na imani potovu ya jamii inayowachukua wanawake kama viumbe duni ikilinganishwa na wanaume. Ingawa tafiti zimefanywa kuhusu uana, hakuna utafiti wa kutosha uliofanywa moja kwa moja kuhusu, uchunguzi wa maana za semi zinazosawiri uana katika lugha ya Kiswahili. Ili kutimiza lengo kuu la utafiti, madhumuni yafuatayo yalitumiwa; kubainisha maumbo ya semi mbalimbali zinazosawiri uana katika lugha ya Kiswahili, kuchanganua maana kijamii za semi mbalimbali zinazosawiri uana katika lugha ya Kiswahili na kuchunguza jinsi utamaduni wa Waswahili unavyoumba maana za semi kiuana katika lugha ya Kiswahili. Utafiti huu uliongozwa na nadharia mbili. Nadharia ya kwanza ni ya Uwezo Uume iliyoasisiwa na Robert Bly na kuendelezwa na Connell. Nadharia hii hubainisha nguvu na mamlaka yanayomilikiwa jinsia ya kiume hasa kutokana na utamaduni wa jamii husika. Nadharia ya pili ni nadharia ya Maana Kijamii. Nadharia ya maana kijamii imekua kutoka kwa kazi ya mwanasaikolojia Lev Vygotsky. Nadharia hii hueleza kwamba maana kijamii hutokana na muktadha unaotawaliwa na elementi za kijamii kama vile lahaja, imani na tamaduni za jamii. Utafiti huu ulitumia muundo wa kimaelezo. Utafiti huu ulikuwa wa maktabani na wa nyanjani. Data za nyanjani zilikusanywa kwa kundi lingani ya wataalam sita katika Makavazi ya Kiutamaduni ya Kiswahili Mombasa. Data ya maktabani ilikusanywa na mtafiti aliposoma Kamusi ya methali ya Lulu za lugha iliyoandikwa na Wamitila na Riwaya ya Chozi la Heri iliyoandikwa na Matei. Idadi lengwa iliyotumiwa katika utafiti huu ni semi sitini. Utafiti huu ulitumia sampuli ya uchunguzi wa sampuli ya sensa na kolevu kukusanya data. Mbinu za majadiliano na kundi lingani pamoja na usomaji wa nyaraka za maandishi zilitumiwa kukusanya data. Data za maktabani na nyanjani zilichanganuliwa kimaelezo kutegemea madhumuni ya utafiti. Mtafiti aliwasilisha data kutumia maelezo na majedwali. Matokeo ya utafiti huu yalibaini kwamba, maana ya kijamii za semi nyingi za methali na misemo inayosawiri uana, zinaegemea sana wanawake kwa upande wa uhasi na wanaume kichanya. Matokeo haya yana umuhimu katika taaluma ya isimu, hasa katika lugha na uana kwa kubainisha maumbo ya semi yanayosawiri uana katika lugha ya Kiswahili na kuchanganua maana zao kijamii. Data ambazo zilikusanywa zilimwezesha mtafiti kujibu maswali ya utafiti na kujaza mapengo yaliyoachwa na watafiti wa awali. Utafiti huu unatoa mchango kwa dafina na matumizi ya lugha katika isimu matumizi. Vilevile, imeonyesha jinsi maana inavyosawiriwa kijamii inavyojikita katika mawanda ya utamaduni. Mtafiti alitoa muhtasari, hitimisho na mapendekezo ya utafiti wa baadaye. Mtafiti anapendekeza kuwa, watafiti wa baadaye wachunguze suala la maana na uana kwa mtazamo wa tanzu mbalimbali za fasihi.

2024-09-12T00:00:00Z IMBUGA, AMOLA CYNTHIA http://erepository.kafuco.ac.ke/123456789/251 2025-02-04T08:00:03Z 2024-10-30T00:00:00Z

UCHANGANUZI WA ATHARI ZA UTAMADUNI WA LUGHA KATIKA TAFSIRI NA UKALIMANI WA KESI ZA MAHAKAMA: HALI HALISI KAUNTI YA VIHIGA IMBUGA, AMOLA CYNTHIA Language and culture are aspects that are intertwined and cannot be separated. Language is used as a means of communication in courtroom, among the plaintiffs, the complainants and witnesses to various cases as well as lawyers and magistrates. Vihiga county has multilingualism in different Luhya dialects. Hence, the importance of having translation and interpretation during different court case proceedings. The statement of the problem is, even though other studies have been done elsewhere, there was need to carry out an investigation on how language culture affect translation and interpretation of cases in Vihiga courts. This study thus, identified this gap and aimed at investigating, how language culture of Tiriki and Maragoli dialects affect translation and interpretation of cases in Vihiga courts.This research was guided by the following three objectives; to examine how culture of the Maragoli and Tiriki dialects affect courtroom translation and interpretation of cases; to examine equivalence in translation and interpretation of cases in courts and to examine the strategies used in translation and interpretation of cases in the courts. This study was guided by Sociolinguistics theory propounded by Labov and improved by Nida. Equivalence Theory that was propounded by Vinay & Darbelnet and improved by various scholars such as: House, Cartford, Pym, Hani and others was also used. The research adopted a case study method. This was a field study carried out in the two law courts found in Vihiga County. That is, Vihiga and Hamisi law courts. Target population in this study was, all cases that required translation and interpretation in Maragoli and Tiriki dialects until a point of saturation is attained, in Vihiga law courts. Therefore, saturated sample was used. Purposive sampling technique was used while the data was collected through observation, analysis of court documents and interviews. In order to achieve reliability and validity of research instruments, a pilot study was carried out at Kakamega Law Courts. The data that was collected, was presented in form of explanations, tables and quoting of the respondents’ statements basing on the objectives of the study. The findings revealed that, when cultural words of the Maragoli and Tiriki dialects are omitted during translation and interpretation, the target language is disadvantaged by not standing a chance to gain new vocabulary. When the translators and interpreters are forced to utter taboo words, they are denied the opportunity to save their faces. Therefore, the findings of this study revealed that, there are effects on translation and interpretation of cases based on Maragoli and Tiriki dialects culture.The findings also revealed that, it was impossible to have full equivalence in translation and interpretation in courtroom cases. The study also discovered that different translation and interpretation strategies were used during the process of translation and interpretation in court cases. The findings will enrinch the field of courtroom translation, interpretation and applied linguistics as it will illustrate how translation and interpretation of various discourses is done.

2024-10-30T00:00:00Z