Grade 7
Course ContentOral Literature
Habari Mwanafunzi! Welcome to the Vibrant World of Oral Literature!
Have you ever sat around a fire, or maybe just in the living room, listening to your grandmother (shosho) or grandfather (guka) tell a story? A story about Sungura the clever hare, a scary ogre, or the great hero Lwanda Magere? If you have, then you have already experienced the magic of Oral Literature, or as we call it in Kiswahili, Fasihi Simulizi!
Oral Literature is the literature of the people, passed down not through books, but through the living word. It's the songs, stories, proverbs, and riddles that have shaped our communities for generations. Let's dive in and explore this amazing treasure!
What Exactly is Oral Literature?
Simply put, Oral Literature is any literary work that is created, composed, and transmitted verbally (by word of mouth) from one generation to the next. It is performed literature!
Think of it like this: Written literature lives on a page. Oral Literature lives in the performance. It involves a speaker (the artist) and a listener (the audience), making it a living, breathing art form.
Think about it: A story in a book is the same every time you read it. But when your aunt tells you the story of the greedy hyena, she might change her voice, use her hands to show how the hyena walked, and even add a new little detail. That's the power of oral literature!
Key Characteristics of Fasihi Simulizi
- It is Verbal: Its main medium is the spoken word. (Hutolewa kwa mdomo).
- It is a Performance: It's not just about the words, but HOW they are said. The artist uses gestures, facial expressions, song, and dance to bring the story to life.
- Communal Ownership: Who wrote the story of the Hare and the Tortoise? No one knows! These stories belong to the entire community.
- It is Dynamic: It changes over time and with each telling. A storyteller might adapt a story to fit a new situation or a different audience.
- It is Functional: It always has a purpose! It can be to educate, entertain, preserve culture, or warn against bad behaviour.
*************************************
* THE PERFORMANCE TRIANGLE *
*************************************
+-----------------+
| ARTIST |
| (Msimulizi) |
+-----------------+
/ \
/ \
(Tells the Story) (Receives & Reacts)
/ \
/ \
+----------------+ +-----------------+
| TEXT | | AUDIENCE |
| (Story, Song) | | (Hadhira) |
+----------------+ +-----------------+
The Main Genres of Oral Literature
Oral Literature is like a big, beautiful tree with many branches. These branches are the different types, or genres. Let's explore the main ones found in Kenya.
1. Narratives (Hadithi)
These are stories! They are the most common form of oral literature.
- Myths (Visakale): These are sacred stories that explain the origin of a people or the creation of the world.
Example: The Agikuyu myth of Gikuyu and Mumbi, who were placed on Mount Kenya by the creator, Ngai, and became the parents of the nine clans.
- Legends (Hekaya/Visavi): Stories about heroes or heroines who had extraordinary abilities and performed great deeds. They are often based on historical figures.
Example: The story of Lwanda Magere from the Luo community, a warrior whose body was made of stone and could not be pierced by spears.
- Fables (Hadithi za Kubuni): Stories where animals or inanimate objects behave like humans. They always teach a moral lesson. The most famous character here is Sungura (the hare)!
Example: The story of how the clever Hare tricked the mighty Elephant and Hippo into a tug-of-war, proving that brains are better than brawn.
- Ogre Narratives (Hadithi za Mazimwi): Scary but exciting stories about monsters (ogres or irimu) who often capture children. These stories were used to warn children against things like wandering off alone or disobeying their parents.
Image Suggestion: An elderly Kenyan grandmother with expressive, kind eyes, sitting on a traditional stool by a gentle fire at dusk. A group of four diverse young children are sitting on a mat before her, looking up with wide-eyed wonder and fascination as she tells a story, her hands gesturing dramatically in the air. The style should be warm, painterly, and full of emotion.
2. Short Forms
These are brief, witty, and packed with meaning!
- Proverbs (Methali): Short, wise sayings that express a general truth about life. They are the salt and pepper of conversation!
Example: "Haraka haraka haina baraka." This means "Hurry, hurry has no blessings." It teaches us the importance of being patient and doing things carefully.
- Riddles (Vitendawili): A battle of wits! They are presented as a challenge from one person to another. The structure is a classic call-and-response.
# The Riddle Formula Step 1: The Challenger says: "Kitendawili!" (Riddle!) Step 2: The Audience responds: "Tega!" (Set it!) Step 3: The Challenger presents the riddle. (e.g., "Nyumba yangu haina mlango." -> "My house has no door.") Step 4: The Audience tries to guess. Step 5: If they can't guess, they "give a town" (pay a forfeit) to get the answer. Step 6: The Challenger gives the answer. (Answer: "Yai." -> "An egg.") - Tongue Twisters (Vitanza Ndimi): Phrases that are difficult to say quickly. They are great fun and help improve pronunciation.
Example: Try saying this fast! "Kala ka ka ka ka la ka la." (A small piece of charcoal ate another small piece of charcoal).
3. Songs (Nyimbo)
Song is everywhere in African communities. It accompanies every aspect of life.
- Work Songs: Sung to make hard work feel lighter and to coordinate effort, like songs sung by farmers while digging.
- Ceremonial Songs: Sung during important events like weddings, initiations, and funerals.
- Lullabies (Bembelezi): Gentle songs sung by mothers to soothe their babies to sleep.
- Praise Songs: Songs that celebrate the achievements of a great leader, warrior, or even a prized animal.
Image Suggestion: A vibrant, wide-angle shot of a group of Maasai warriors in full traditional regalia (red shukas, elaborate beadwork) in the middle of the 'adumu' (jumping dance). One warrior is at the peak of his jump, seemingly floating against the backdrop of the vast Savannah and a distant Mount Kilimanjaro. The image should capture movement, energy, and cultural pride.
Functions of Oral Literature: Why is it so Important?
So, why did our ancestors spend so much time telling stories and singing songs? Because Fasihi Simulizi is super important!
- Education: It teaches children and adults about right and wrong, and the values of the community.
- Entertainment: It's a source of fun, laughter, and enjoyment, long before TV and smartphones existed!
- Preserving Culture & History: It is a library of the people's history, traditions, and beliefs.
- Developing Language Skills: Listening to expert storytellers helps people learn vocabulary and master the language.
- Social Commentary: Stories, especially those about tricksters, can be used to criticise bad leaders or foolish behaviour in a safe, indirect way.
And there you have it! A journey into the heart of our culture. Oral literature is not just a thing of the past; it is a living tradition that continues to inspire us. The next time you hear a proverb or a family story, listen closely. You are connecting with generations of wisdom and art. Keep the fire burning!
Karibu! Welcome to the World of Our Ancestors' Voices!
Habari mwanafunzi! Before we had libraries filled with books, before smartphones and TikTok, how did our communities share stories, wisdom, and history? They used the most powerful tool of all: the human voice. This is the world of Oral Literature, or as we call it in Kiswahili, Fasihi Simulizi. It's the literature of the people, for the people, performed live and passed down from one generation to the next, like a precious family heirloom. Are you ready to become a guardian of these ancient voices?
Think about it... Have you ever heard your grandmother tell a story about Sungura the hare? Or listened to a powerful proverb from an elder? Have you sung songs at a wedding or a family gathering? If you have, you are already part of the living tradition of oral literature!
So, What Exactly is this 'Fasihi Simulizi'?
Oral Literature is any form of verbal art that is passed on through speech and performance. Unlike written literature which is fixed on a page, oral literature is a living, breathing art form. It has a few key characteristics that make it special:
- Oral & Aural: It is composed and transmitted by word of mouth (oral) and is meant to be listened to (aural). It exists in the telling!
- Performance-Based: A storyteller doesn't just speak; they perform! They use gestures, facial expressions, songs, and dance to bring the story to life. The performance is as important as the words.
- Communal Ownership: Who wrote the story of the Hare and the Hyena? We don't know! These stories belong to the entire community, not a single author.
- Dynamic & Ever-Changing: Every time a story is told, it can change slightly. The storyteller might add a new detail to make it funnier or change a character to suit the audience. It adapts and evolves.
Image Suggestion: A vibrant, digital painting of a wise, elderly Kenyan grandmother sitting on a traditional stool under an acacia tree at sunset. She is animatedly telling a story to a group of wide-eyed, captivated children. Her hands are gesturing, and her face is full of expression. The background shows a warm, orange-hued savannah. The style should be realistic yet warm, emphasizing the magic of storytelling.
The Library Before Books: Why We Study Oral Literature
Oral literature wasn't just for fun; it was the backbone of society. It served many critical functions:
- Education: It was the community's school. Myths taught history and beliefs (like the Agikuyu origin story of Gikuyu and Mumbi), while trickster stories taught morals and the importance of being clever.
- Entertainment: After a long day's work, people gathered to listen to stories, solve riddles, and sing songs. It was the original "Netflix and chill"!
- Cultural Preservation: It carried the DNA of a culture—its traditions, laws, values, and identity—across generations.
- Social Commentary: Through songs and stories, people could praise good leaders or criticize bad behaviour without being too direct. A clever story about a greedy hyena could be a warning to a selfish chief.
Meet the Family: The Main Genres of Oral Literature
Oral Literature is a big family with many members. We can group them into a few main categories or genres (tanzu).
ORAL LITERATURE (FASIHI SIMULIZI)
|
+--- 1. NARRATIVES (Hadithi)
| |
| +-- Myths (Hadithi za Usuli)
| +-- Legends (Hekaya)
| +-- Trickster Stories (Hadithi za Sungura)
| +-- Ogre Stories (Ngano za Mazimwi)
|
+--- 2. SHORT FORMS (Semi)
| |
| +-- Proverbs (Methali)
| +-- Riddles (Vitendawili)
|
+--- 3. ORAL POETRY (Ushairi Simulizi)
| |
| +-- Work Songs (Nyimbo za Kazi)
| +-- Lullabies (Bembelezi)
| +-- Ceremonial Songs (Nyimbo za Sherehe)
|
+--- 4. ORATORY (Masimulizi ya Wazi)
|
+-- Speeches, Sermons
Example of a Legend: The story of Lwanda Magere from the Luo community. He was a warrior who could not be killed by spears or arrows because his body was made of stone. His enemies, the Nandi, sent a beautiful woman to marry him and discover his secret. She found out his weakness was his shadow and told her people, leading to his death. This legend teaches about bravery, betrayal, and the consequences of revealing secrets.
It's Not Just What You Say, It's HOW You Say It!
Performance is everything! A good storyteller is an actor, a singer, and a comedian all in one. Key features of a performance include:
- Verbal Skills: Using a loud voice for a giant, a quiet voice for a mouse, changing the pace (fast for a chase, slow for a sad moment), and using sound effects (onomatopoeia) like "KABOOM!" or "Nje-nje-nje" for footsteps.
- Non-Verbal Skills: Using hand gestures to show size, facial expressions to show emotion, and even dancing or mimicking an animal's walk.
- Audience Participation: The audience is not silent! They clap, sing along, answer questions, and respond to calls. This call-and-response creates a shared experience. Think of a riddle: one person calls out, "Kitendawili?" and the whole group replies, "Tega!".
Analyzing Oral Literature: A "Scientific" Approach
Even though it's an art, we can analyze oral literature systematically. Let's create a "formula" to help us break down a story.
Story Analysis = [Setting + Characters + Plot] x [Themes + Moral Lesson]
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Performance Features + Social Context
- Setting, Characters, Plot: The "what" of the story. Where does it happen? Who is involved? What happens from beginning to end?
- Themes & Moral Lesson: The "why" of the story. What is the main idea (e.g., greed is bad)? What lesson are we supposed to learn?
- Performance & Context: The "how" and "where" of the story. How is it told (with song, gestures)? When is it told (at night, during a ceremony)? This part is crucial for oral literature!
Let's look at the structure of a riddle session using a kind of "code":
function startRiddleSession() {
challenger.say("Kitendawili?");
audience.respond("Tega!");
challenger.presentRiddle("Nyumba yangu haina mlango. / My house has no door.");
let answer = audience.guess();
if (answer === "yai / an egg") {
challenger.praise("Umejibu vema! / You answered well!");
} else {
audience.offerGift("Mpeeni mji! / Give him a town!");
challenger.revealAnswer("Jibu ni yai! / The answer is an egg!");
}
}
Is Fasihi Simulizi Still Alive Today?
Absolutely! Oral literature has simply changed its clothes. It's all around us:
- Music: Artists like Sauti Sol and Nyashinski are modern-day storytellers and poets, using rhythm, rhyme, and narrative in their songs.
- Stand-up Comedy: Comedians like Churchill and Mammito are master performers who use storytelling, oratory, and audience interaction to entertain and comment on society.
- Religion: Preachers and imams use oratory, parables (short stories with a moral), and call-and-response to deliver their messages.
- Advertising: Catchy jingles on the radio and TV are a form of short, memorable oral poetry designed to persuade you.
Your Turn to be the Storyteller!
You are now part of a long line of storytellers, poets, and keepers of wisdom. Oral literature is not just a topic to be studied for an exam; it is a living part of your identity and culture. It connects you to your past and gives you the tools to shape your future.
Your Mission: Go and talk to an elder—a grandparent, an aunt, an uncle, or a family friend. Ask them for one thing: a proverb (methali), a riddle (kitendawili), or a short story (hadithi) that they remember from their childhood. Write it down in your notebook. Even better, ask if you can record their voice on a phone. By doing this, you are not just completing an assignment; you are catching a precious piece of our history before it fades away. You are a modern-day collector of our cultural treasures!
Habari Mwanafunzi! Welcome to the Living Library of Our Ancestors!
Before we had books, before the internet, and even before pen and paper were common, how did our communities remember their history? How did they teach young people about right and wrong? How did they entertain themselves after a long day of work? They used the most powerful tool they had: the spoken word.
Let's start with a small challenge, a kitendawili (riddle):
Nyumba yangu haina mlango.
(My house has no door.)...Tega! Jibu ni yai (An egg!)
That riddle you just solved is a tiny piece of a vast, rich world we call Oral Literature, or in Kiswahili, Fasihi Simulizi. Welcome to your first lesson in this amazing subject!
So, What Exactly is Oral Literature?
Simply put, Oral Literature is any form of art that is created, performed, and passed down from one generation to the next through word of mouth. It's the "literature" of the ear, not the eye. It is alive, breathing, and always happening in the presence of an artist and an audience.
It has some key characteristics that make it different from written literature:
- Performance: It is meant to be performed, not just read. The artist uses their voice, body (gestures), and sometimes even props to tell the story.
- Audience: There is always an audience that participates, perhaps by clapping, singing along, or answering questions.
- Dynamic: The story or song can change with every performance! The artist might add new details depending on the audience or the occasion. It's not fixed like a printed book.
- Communal Ownership: These stories and songs don't belong to one person; they belong to the whole community. They are our shared cultural wealth.
Think of the relationship between the artist (fanani) and the audience (hadhira) like this:
+-----------------+
| ARTIST |
| (Storyteller, |
| Singer) |
+-----------------+
|
| Performance (Telling, Singing, Acting)
|
V
+-----------------+
| AUDIENCE | -------> Feedback (Laughter, Clapping, Questions)
| (Listeners, | |
| Participants) | <--------------+
+-----------------+
The Treasure Chest: Genres of Oral Literature
Oral Literature is like a giant treasure chest filled with different kinds of jewels. Let's open it and see what's inside!
1. Narratives (Hadithi)
These are the stories that have been told around the fire for centuries. They explain our world, teach us lessons, and warn us of dangers.
- Myths: Stories that explain the origin of a people or a phenomenon.
Example (Agikuyu): The story of Gikuyu and Mumbi, who were placed at the foot of Mount Kenya (Kirinyaga) by the creator, Ngai. They had nine daughters who became the ancestors of the nine clans of the Agikuyu people. This myth explains their origins and their relationship with God and their land.
- Legends: Stories about heroes who may have actually lived. These stories are often exaggerated to highlight the hero's great qualities.
Example (Luo): The legend of Lwanda Magere, a warrior whose body was made of stone. He was invincible in battle, but his enemies discovered his secret: his shadow was his only weak point. They tricked a woman into marrying him to find this secret, which led to his downfall. This legend teaches about strength, betrayal, and the importance of guarding one's secrets.
Image Suggestion: A powerful, stylized digital painting of the legendary warrior Lwanda Magere in the heat of battle. His skin has a stone-like texture, deflecting spears. His shadow is cast long and dark behind him, and a single enemy spear is aimed directly at the shadow, hinting at his vulnerability. The style should be epic and heroic.
- Trickster and Ogre Stories: Fun tales that often feature a clever, small animal (like the Hare, Sungura) outwitting a bigger, dumber animal or a fearsome ogre (Irimu). They teach that brains are often more powerful than brawn.
2. Short Forms
These are quick, clever, and full of wisdom. They are used in daily conversation to make points powerfully.
- Proverbs (Methali): Short, wise sayings that express a general truth about life.
Example: Haraka haraka haina baraka. (Hurry, hurry has no blessings.) This teaches the value of patience and doing things carefully.
- Riddles (Vitendawili): Puzzles in words that challenge our thinking and wit. We already solved one! They sharpen the mind.
3. Oral Poetry / Songs (Mashairi / Nyimbo)
This is the music of our culture, marking every important stage of life from birth to death.
- Work Songs: Chanted by people as they work (e.g., grinding maize, rowing a boat) to make the work lighter and coordinate their efforts.
- Praise Poems: Recited to honour great leaders, warriors, or even beautiful animals like cattle. They list the great achievements and qualities of the subject.
- Ceremonial Songs: Songs for specific occasions like weddings, initiations, and funerals. They express the joy, solemnity, or grief of the moment.
Image Suggestion: A vibrant, colourful photograph of a traditional Kenyan wedding (e.g., Kamba or Taita). People are dressed in beautiful cultural attire, singing and dancing with joyous expressions. An elder is leading the song, and the bride and groom are at the center, smiling. The energy of the performance should be palpable.
Why Does It Matter? The Functions of Oral Literature
So, why do we study these old stories and songs? Because they are much more than just entertainment! They serve very important functions in society:
- Education: They are our first schools, teaching children and adults about history, morality, and social etiquette.
- Cultural Preservation: They carry our culture, traditions, and beliefs from the past into the future.
- Entertainment: They provide a source of enjoyment, humour, and relaxation for the community.
- Social Validation: They reinforce the laws, customs, and values that hold a community together.
- A Voice for the People: Sometimes, songs and stories were used to criticise leaders or social problems in a way that was safe and indirect.
The Star of the Show: The Oral Artist
A story is only as good as its teller! A great oral artist is a master of performance. They use many skills to capture the audience's attention. How can we measure their effectiveness? Let's create a simple formula for fun!
Let's call it the Performance Impact Score (PIS). We can rate each element from 1 (Needs Improvement) to 10 (Excellent).
Formula: Performance Impact Score (PIS)
(Vocal Variety + Gestures + Audience Engagement)
PIS = ------------------------------------------------
3
Step 1: Rate the artist's Vocal Variety (V).
(Do they whisper, shout, change their tone? 1-10)
Step 2: Rate their use of Gestures (G).
(Do they use their hands, face, and body effectively? 1-10)
Step 3: Rate their Audience Engagement (A).
(Do they make eye contact, ask questions, involve the audience? 1-10)
Step 4: Add the scores and divide by 3.
Example Calculation:
An artist has amazing vocal variety (9/10), uses good gestures (8/10),
and keeps the audience totally hooked (10/10).
PIS = (9 + 8 + 10) / 3
= 27 / 3
= 9.0 (An Excellent Performance!)
This shows that a true oral artist is a skilled performer who combines many talents to bring a story to life.
Your Turn to be a Modern Griot!
Oral Literature is the foundation of all our written literature. It is the soil from which our great writers like Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o grew. Today, you are the new generation of storytellers. Ask your grandparents for stories. Record the proverbs your parents use. Share the riddles you know with your friends.
You have the power to keep this living library open for generations to come.
As the Akamba proverb says: "Kîtheka kya mundu mukulu kîonenekaa menoinî." (An old person's laugh is seen in their teeth/gums.)
It means that wisdom and the deep truths of life are held by our elders. Go and listen!
Pro Tip
Take your own short notes while going through the topics.
