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Ujenzi wa Sifa za Mhusika wa Riwaya ya Kiswahili: Tathmini ya Mchango wa Mandhari katika Kiu na Kidagaa Kimemwozea
Full text linkMandhari hufasiliwa kuwa ni wakati na mahali patendekapo kadhia, visa au matukio katika utungo wa kifasihi unaohusika. Mandhari yanaweza kuwa halisi au ya kufikirika. Utafiti ulioichipuza makala hii uliazimia kuchunguza usawiri wa mandhari katika riwaya ya Mohamed S. Mohamed, Kiu pamoja na ile ya Ken Walibora, Kidagaa Kimwemwozea. Ingawa malengo muhsusi ya utafiti yalikuwa matatu, makala hii inazamia lengo moja tu - kutathmini mchango wa mandhari katika ujenzi wa sifa za wahusika katika riwaya ya Kiu na Kidagaa Kimemwozea. Tathmini yenyewe imekitwa kwenye mseto wa nadharia mbili - Uhalisia na Umuundo. Nadharia ya Uhalisia inachimuza uyakinifu wa mandhari ya kijamii ilhali nadharia ya Umuundo ikasisitiza dhima na uhusiano wa vipengele vya sanaa. Utafiti huu wenye mkabala wa kithamano ulifanywa maktabani kwa kuzingatia muundo wa kiuchanganuzi. Eneo la utafiti ni fasihi andishi, hususan utanzu wa riwaya ya Kiswahili. Idadi lengwa ya utafiti ni riwaya 10 za kiuhalisia zinazosawiri mandhari halisi. Sampuli ya riwaya mbili, Kiu na Kidagaa Kimemwozea, iliteuliwa kwa usampulishaji dhaminifu. Riwaya hizi ziliteuliwa kwa misingi ya wingi wa vifani vilivyochunguzwa, yaani usawiri wa mandhari. Pamoja na kuakisi malengo ya utafiti, utunzi wa riwaya teule unaambatana na mihimili ya mseto wa nadharia za utafiti. Data msingi ya utafiti ilikusanywa kwa usomaji wa kina wa matini za riwaya teule. Nazo data za upili zikakusanywa kwa usomaji wa kina wa vitabu, tasnifu na makala anuwai za kitaaluma. Data zilizokusanywa ziliainishwa kwa mujibu wa mihimili ya nadharia na malengo ya utafiti. Zilichanganuliwa kwa mujibu wa yaliyomo na matokeo kuwasilishwa kimaelezo. Matokeo ya utafiti yanadhihirisha kwamba mandhari yana mchango wa moja kwa moja katika ujenzi wa sifa za wahusika. Mandhari hayo ni kama vile: ya mahali(upembeni mwa Mto Kiberenge, chumba cha Mtemi Nasaba Bora, msituni, seli, chumba cha Mzee Mwinyi na mandhari ya mitaa kama wa vibyongoni, Selea, Ukele na mingineyo) na ya kiwakati (enzi za kikoloni,miaka mitano, Vitaa Vikuu vya Pili vya Dunia na kadhalika). Mandhari haya yalisukwa kwa ustadi ambao ulichangia ukuzaji wa sifa za wahusika kwa urahisi mno. Matokeo ya utafiti huu yana tija kwa wanariwaya na wahakiki wa kazi za kifasihi kwa jumla. Yatawasaidia kutunga visa vinavyosawiri na kuakisi mandhari kuntu. Isitoshe, wahakiki wa kazi za fasihi watawezeshwa kubaini na kutathmini mandhari anuwai pamoja na dhima zao katika kazi za kifasihi
Falsafa ya Umoja na Mshikamano katika Misemo ya Vyombo vya Usafiri katika Ziwa Tanganyika
Full text linkMakala haya yanaangazia falsafa ya umoja na mshikamano katika misemo ya vyombo vya usafiri katika ziwa Tanganyika ikiwa ni moja kati ya vipengele vya falsafa ya Kiafrika. Lengo la makala haya ilikuwa ni kutaka kuona namna falsafa ya Kiafrika kupitia kipengele cha umoja na mshikamano inavyojitokeza na kuwasilishwa katika misemo hiyo. Uandishi wa makala uliongozwa na nadharia ya Sosholojia ya Fasihi ambapo suala la falsafa ni sehemu ya jamii na hivyo nadharia hii ni faafu. Data ya makala hii ilikusanywa kwa kutumia mbinu ya usomaji makini na kuchambuliwa kwa kutumia mbinu ya kimaelezo. Makala imebainisha kwamba falsafa ya umoja na mshikamano inajitokeza katika misemo ya vyombo vya usafiri wa majini katika ziwa Tanganyika kupitia misemo ambapo ni umoja na mshikamano ni kupendana, umoja na mshikamano ni kuepuka chuki, umoja na mshikamano ni kuwajali wageni, umoja na mshikamano ni kusaidiana, umoja na mshikamano ni kubarikiwa, umoja na mshikamano ni kuelimishana na umoja na mshikamano katika kuonyana. Makala yanatoa mapendekezo kwamba utafiti kama huu ufanyike kwa kutazama falsafa ya misemo ya kwenye vyombo vya usafiri wa majini katika maziwa na mito mingine ya jamii mbalimbali ili kuweza kupata picha kamili ya falsafa ya umoja na mshikamano katika jami
Kudhihirisha Namna Mwanamke Anavyoweza Kukabiliana na Athari Zinazotokana na Matumizi Hayo ya Lugha
Full text linkKatika jamii nyingi za Kiafrika, lugha imekuwa chombo muhimu kinachotumika kuimarisha, kudumisha, au hata kupinga mitazamo ya kijinsia. Katika muktadha wa jamii ya Wameru, matumizi ya lugha yamekuwa yakielekeza mitazamo hasi dhidi ya wanawake katika uongozi, kwa njia ya kejeli, unyanyapaa wa kifasihi, na taswira dhalili zinazojengwa kupitia vyombo vya habari, mitandao ya kijamii, na mazungumzo ya kawaida. Utafiti huu unalenga kudhihirisha namna wanawake wanavyoweza kukabiliana na athari zinazotokana na matumizi hayo ya lugha, kwa kutumia Nadharia ya Uchunguzi tahakiki wa matini kama muktadha wa kimaandishi na kimaudhui.Kupitia uchambuzi wa matini kutoka majukwaa ya kijamii, hotuba za kisiasa, na mahojiano katika vyombo vya habari, utafiti huu umetambua kuwa lugha si chombo cha kieneo tu, bali ni uwanja wa mapambano wa kijamii. Mwanamke kiongozi, anapowekwa kwenye mizani ya lugha dhalishi, hujikuta akikabiliana na mashambulizi yasiyo ya moja kwa moja, bali yaliyojificha katika istilahi, tamathali na semi zinazobeba mizigo ya kiitikadi. Kwa kutumia misingi ya uchunguzi tahakiki matini kama ilivyowekwa na Fairclough (1995), utafiti huu umeangazia njia ambazo wanawake hutumia kuandika upya simulizi zao, kujenga utambulisho mbadala, na kutumia lugha yenye msimamo kuhimiza uaminifu wao wa kiuongozi. Wanawake hawa hujihami kwa kutumia hoja zenye msingi wa kitaaluma, kutekeleza majukumu yao kwa umakinifu, na kupinga kwa ufasaha taswira hasi wanazopewa.Matokeo ya utafiti huu yanabainisha kuwa lugha inaweza kutumiwa na wanawake kama silaha ya kupinga dhuluma ya kijinsia, na kwamba uwezo wa mwanamke kukabiliana na athari za lugha dhalishi unategemea uelewa wake wa matumizi ya lugha kama zana ya kujitetea, kubadili simulizi, na kujenga nguvu ya kijamii.Utafiti huu una mchango muhimu katika taaluma ya lugha na jinsia, hasa kwa kuelekeza mjadala kwa namna ambavyo wanawake wanaweza kujinasua kutoka kwa dhuluma za kimatamshi, na badala yake kutumia lugha kama ngao ya maendeleo na usawa. UTM imethibitisha uwezo wake kama chombo kinachofichua nguvu za kijamii zilizojificha katika matini, na hivyo kusaidia kuelewa mikakati inayotumiwa na wanawake katika kujinasua kutoka kwenye mifumo ya kilinguistiki dhalishi.
Technology Adoption and Agricultural Productivity: A Study of Mubuku and Rwimi Prisons Farms in Western Uganda
Full text linkThis study examined the impact of technology adoption on agricultural productivity in Uganda’s prison farms, focusing on Mubuku and Rwimi in Western Uganda. Operated by the Uganda Prisons Service (UPS, 2020), these farms combine vocational training with inmate rehabilitation through agriculture, offering a structured setting for evaluating modern farming practices. The research aimed to assess how government support, inmate involvement, and organized training influence the effectiveness of technology adoption, while also identifying the challenges limiting its broader implementation (Kimoni, 2024). The study further explored the potential of these prison farms as scalable models for national agricultural development (FAO, 2019). Despite the introduction of modern agricultural technologies, productivity levels, especially for staple crops like maize and beans, remain low (UBOS, 2020). To investigate this issue, the study used a descriptive, cross-sectional, mixed-methods approach, gathering data from 181 respondents including farm managers, inmates, extension officers, and government officials. Participants were selected through simple random and purposive sampling (Mugenda & Mugenda, 2003). Data collection tools included questionnaires, interviews, and secondary sources like farm records and official reports (UPSR, 2023). The findings revealed that maize was the primary crop, grown by 80% of respondents, while only 20% cultivated beans. Livestock farming was limited, with 27% engaging in mainly poultry, goats, and pigs, while cattle farming was the least practiced. Adopted technologies included automated irrigation systems, solar energy, modern machinery, pest control, and soil enhancement inputs (MAAIF, 2022). These technologies resulted in notable productivity increases: maize yields rose by 23.3%, cowpeas yield by 70%, and overall crop output improved by 21.3% (Kimoni, 2024). However, several challenges hindered the full adoption of these technologies. These included limited funding, inadequate infrastructure, insufficient technical training, and resistance to change among some stakeholders (World Bank, 2021). To overcome these barriers, the study recommends enhanced government investment, regular training for staff and inmates, public awareness campaigns to promote innovation, and partnerships with agricultural research institutions for technical support (NAADS, 2022). In conclusion, while technology adoption has improved productivity, sustained progress will depend on targeted interventions. With appropriate support, Uganda’s prison farms can become both rehabilitation centers and models for national agricultural advancement (FAO, 2019
Teachers' Perception and Contribution of School Meals to Nutrient Intake of Kenyan Children in Relation to Recommended Dietary Requirements
Full text linkBackground: Information on the composition of school meals and their contribution to the nutritional needs of children is scarce. Although teachers are pivotal in the school meals provision process, their perceptions have been ignored. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 70 school teachers and 200 pupils from 11 public schools. Data collection tools included: a pretested study questionnaire, interview guide, food diary, analysis of school records and observation checklists. Results: Over 77% of school teachers perceived the portion of school meals served to children to be inadequate, 98.6% were of the view that meals lacked dietary diversity, while 95.7% reported meals were not well balanced. These findings highlight teachers’ contextual awareness of poor meal quality; nevertheless, this could be leveraged in having them as advocates for enhanced school meals. About 84.3% of teachers indicated provision of school meals was irregular, implying that their full potential to alleviate short-term hunger, improve attention spans and learning capabilities was not being fully utilised. Meals consisted only two food groups 130 grams of maize (cereals) and 20 grams of beans (legumes), and were low in micronutrients providing only 8.8% of calcium, 22.2% of iron, 17.7% of zinc, while completely lacking in vitamin A and Vitamin C. Need to explore strategies to include more food groups in school meals to enhance dietary diversity and micronutrient adequacies. Current school meals provided 5.8 grams of protein, which was only 76.7% of the daily requirements and did not meet the recommended nutrient needs for energy and carbohydrates, implying children were at increased risk of nutritional deficiencies. Evidenced by findings that 24.0% of the children were stunted. Conclusion: This study highlights the need to improve the quality of school meals, particularly with regard to dietary diversity and nutrient adequacy for protein, carbohydrates, vitamin A, Vitamin C, calcium, iron and zinc. Establishing school gardens and supporting them technically and financially, especially in livestock rearing and the production of fruits and vegetables, could enhance food variety, thereby improving dietary diversity and micronutrient intake of school-going children in Kenya
Perceived Benefits and Challenges of Integrating Lead Farmers into Tanzania’s Agricultural Extension System: A Case of Kagera Region
Full text linkThis study examined the perceived benefits and challenges associated with integrating Lead Farmers (LFs) into the government agricultural extension system in Tanzania, using Kagera Region as a case study. The continued shortage of extension officers in rural areas has prompted the use of the LFs model, which has mainly been introduced by non-governmental organisations and donor-supported projects to enhance peer-to-peer learning among farmers. Despite its growing relevance at the grassroots level, the model remains informal and has not been fully institutionalised within the national extension framework. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining household surveys, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions. Respondents included smallholder farmers, extension personnel, NGO representatives, researchers, and local leaders. The findings revealed high levels of awareness and positive perceptions of LFs, particularly in terms of their role in promoting improved agricultural practices, enhancing farmer-to-farmer learning, and expanding access to relevant information. However, key challenges were identified, including irregular interaction with farmers, lack of official recognition, limited logistical and technical support, and weak coordination between actors. The study calls for deliberate policy and institutional efforts to formalise the integration of LFs into the public extension system. Key areas of action include developing clear operational guidelines, improving training and supervision systems, ensuring adequate facilitation and incentives, and strengthening collaboration between government institutions and non-state actors involved in agricultural extensio
Towards Effective Implementation of Equity-Based Strategies in Tanzania Public Secondary Schools. A Case Study of Dodoma Region
Full text linkAccess to education is a fundamental right for every child. As such, promoting equity in the education system so as to facilitate access by every child is key to realising this goal. This study, therefore, sought to explore mechanisms for promoting effective implementation of equity-based strategies in Tanzania's public secondary schools. The study was carried out in the Dodoma region and employed a multiple case study design, which allowed the selection of two case study areas that included Dodoma City, representing the urban setting, and Kondoa district, representing the rural setting. One hundred Forty-Four (144) participants from seven (7) public secondary schools were involved in the study. Data were collected through interviews and questionnaires. Quantitative data were analysed through descriptive analysis and presented in numerical and graphical form, while qualitative data were analysed through inductive content analysis and presented in thematic form and narratives. Study findings suggest that the successful implementation of equity-based strategies in public secondary schools in Tanzania will require employing strategic actions that have the ability to make it possible for equity to be achieved in these schools. Hence, a set of possible strategies were identified and some of them include increasing support to schools so as to strengthen implementation of more activities for enhancing prospects for implementing equity-based strategies, promoting teacher professional training and instituting measures to mitigate socioeconomic status stigma for students while at school, among others. Implications of the above findings show that, if such actions are not taken seriously by education stakeholders, effective implementation of equity-based strategies to respond to equity issues in public secondary schools may not easily be achieved, and as a result, this may hold back government efforts towards promoting equity in public secondary schools in Tanzania
Melodrama Voice and the Narration of Traumatic Experiences
Full text linkThis paper interrogates the critical role melodrama voice played in the narration of traumatic experiences in the Gacaca Trilogy: Living Together Again in Rwanda (Aghion, 2003), In Rwanda We Say: The Family that Does Not Speak Dies (Aghion, 2005), and The Notebooks of Memory (Aghion, 2009). Borrowing from structural approaches to literary trauma and narrative theories, the paper examined modes of and melodramatic voice that are depicted through dialogue, voice-over narrations, emotive language and repetition of specific phrases that reinforce echoes of traumatic suffering. An exploratory research design was adopted to examine how melodrama played a role in the narration, while a multi-modal transcription style was used to collect primary data from the selected texts. Primarily, the paper analysed expressions of self-pity and helplessness that denote narrators' vulnerability and pain. The paper noted that through melodrama modes, characters are in a position to express and externalise their suffering, and identify themselves primarily as trauma victims. In addition, the paper affirmed that melodramatic voice empowers characters to express their pain, granting them a platform to communicate their suffering. As they narrate their experiences, their voices lay bare instances of trauma, seeking acknowledgement and validation for what they have endured. This act of speaking facilitates individual exploration and cultivates a deeper comprehension of traumatic experiences
Nostalgia as a Source for Creative Emanation of Subject Matter in Painting: Analysis of Paintings of Students of Fine Art at Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya
Full text linkWhen artists create artwork, they always have an intent, whatever the description it may bear. At times, this intent is used to express a point of view as social commentary, or to express personal emotions, upheavals, triumphs, or other experiential oscillations such as joy or sadness. A significant segment of this intent is based on the concept of nostalgia, where artists tend to recall certain important occurrences that significantly impact their lives and psyche and subsequently could be of visual essence to audiences. The intent of an artist is in itself motivated or informed by various factors, depending on the type of art. The intent to show natural beauty in a landscape painting, for instance, may be motivated by outdoor observation of unique scenery; the intent to highlight a certain social phenomenon as social commentary may be motivated by the profoundness of its occurrence in a given setting. The intent to show certain perils may be triggered by experiential occurrences that culminate in specific inherent emotions. From a preliminary enquiry, this paper determined that one such factor that motivates an artist’s intent in painting is the concept of nostalgia. The study sought to examine varied paintings of students of Fine Art to determine whether nostalgia features as a major motivating factor in their expressive work and whether or not it is indeed possible to identify the visual permeation of nostalgia in the paintings. The study featured 28 paintings selected from several painting units where students were expected to produce work based on their own generated subject matter and preferred personal style. Ideally projected to produce certain outcomes, but students were free to create paintings that featured a variety of themes. The selected paintings were mainly realist in execution, and it was deduced that students felt more at ease expressing their innate nostalgic feelings using this style since it resonated better with the audience. The paintings were analysed through formal analysis through the use of elements and application of principles of art, which addressed the visual elements of the paintings themselves as works of art, but particular attention was also paid to the visual indicators of the manifestations of nostalgia. The elements included the use of line, shape, colour, texture, light and shade as well as mass and space. The principles included the use of balance, proportion, harmony and rhythm. Descriptive analysis of the paintings in terms of their content and contextual setting was useful in helping to determine the intent of the artist, his or her motivation and the efficacy of the paintings as works of art to elicit some emotive reaction related to nostalgic recollection of an event or an occurrence in time or place as a result of direct visual resonance with the audience. It can be deduced from this study that paintings bear a significant manifestation of nostalgia both in their contextual setting as well as in their content and style of execution. The study posits that artists often deliberately feature a considered aspect of nostalgia as part of their intent, which is a result of an array of images
Analysing the Lexicogrammatical Patterns of Alur folktales
Full text linkAlur folktales are a prose orature narrative genre of the Alur which have been transmitted orally across generations. They contain distinct and recognisable lexicogrammatical patterns that shape meaning across them, reflect their communicative purposes and permit us to understand how language functions in different social contexts. The aim of this paper was to examine the lexicogrammatical patterns of Alur folktales to reveal their genre-unique lexicogrammatical structure at the sentence level. The study adopted a qualitative descriptive design and was underpinned by the Systemic Functional Linguistics approach (SFL) to genre theory. Within SFL, genre analysis was adopted as a methodological framework to examine the lexicogrammatical patterns realising meaning at the sentence stratum. Six Alur folktales selected from a corpus of 51 folktales collected through audio recording were analysed. The study findings reveal that three types of sentences are employed in Alur folktales, including simple, compound, and complex sentences, each of which performs a specific communicative function. A sentence consists of three elements encompassing participant, process, and circumstance realised by nominals, verb groups, and adverbials, respectively. Another recurring genre-unique lexicogrammatical pattern of Alur folktales is that non-human participants are personified. Hence, the lexicogrammatical resources used for human actors are also deployed for non-human entities. Alur folktales are narrated in the simple past and simple present tenses. The indicative and imperative moods are used. The analysis of the sentence structure also revealed that the message is structured into a theme and a rheme. Thus, the research concludes that Alur folktales are instances of language use. They are characterised by specific lexicogrammatical resources which create meanings in the folktales and define their narrative genre nature. The study recommends the use of Alur folktales not just for entertainment and imparting moral values, but also as resources for casting light on how language functions in different social contexts