This book examines women-specific ritual songs in the Kiswahili language as sang in Western Kenya. Through a reading of songs by women in their rituals, the discussion investigates the dualism between men and women in the said communities.Through analysis of the women‟s poetic creations (Nyimbo za Kike) we understand how the people harmonize the male/female distinction into a social whole. The present study draws attention to the central fact that Uswahili practicing men and women live in one world, no matter how much it appears separated into two domains from an outsider‟s point...

This book is a product from a research project of the Organization for Social Science Research in East and Southern Africa (OSSREA). The research project set out to look at who the women artists of East Africa region are, what they create or write about, and how they communicate their ideas creatively. Literature as a discipline reflects what happens in reality. Literature can also be prophetic. This project addressed itself to women literary artists in this sub-region who are studied at University level. We articulate views on thirteen (13) women authors of literary works and a total of...