Reclaiming my dreams : oral narratives by Wanjĩra wa Rũkenya / edited by Wanjikũ Mũkabi Kabĩra, Njogu Waita.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Print version record.

A woman yearns for self-assurance to be a woman of dreams, of song and poetry. The feel of life, buried by over socialisation and domestication processes, oppressed by the surrounding culture and dealing with a problem without a name, is lifted in the process of dreaming, singing songs and reciting poetry. That is the woman Wanjira becomes when she narrates stories. She reclaims her dreams through her stories. She reclaims her wellness, hope, independence and strength. You see the sparkle in her eyes when she talks about dances, courtship, beauty, children, love, courage, determination, joy, and womanhood. Reclaiming My Dreams: Stories by Wanjira wa Rukenya is thus, an individual artist's work. It goes a long way in helping students appreciate the narrative genre and understand the creative role of individual artists. This understanding demystifies the idea that anybody and everybody in the African society is a storyteller; an assertion that has belittled the artistry of African Oral Literature. The book makes us appreciate our cultural heritage. Students of literature in Secondary Schools and in higher institutions of learning will find this book useful.

Cover; Title page; Copyright page; Contents; List of Narratives; List of Photographs; Preface; Acknowledgements; CHAPTER 1 -- Introducing Wanjira, the Artist; First Encounter With Wanjira; Who is Wanjira wa Rukenya?; Conclusion; CHAPTER 2 -- The Artist and Society; Wanjira the Story Teller; CHAPTER 3 -- Gender Perspective in Wanjira's Narratives; Introduction; Gender Perspective of the Narratives; Conclusion; CHAPTER 4 -- Technique and Devices; Introduction; Narrator's Instructions and Comments; Interaction with the Audience; Use of Dialogue; Use of Audience.

Dialogue Between Characters in the StoriesUse of Ideophones; Wanjira's Use of Song; Repetition; Characterization; CHAPTER 5 -- Wanjira's Narratives; Glossary; Bibliography; Index; Back cover.

English and Kikuyu.

eBooks on EBSCOhost EBSCO eBook Subscription Academic Collection - Worldwide