POETIC EXPRESSOIN LELNA SONGS

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Date
1994-08
Authors
PENI, SAMUEL ANGO
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Abstract
ABSTRACT Very l i t t l e has been written about the h i s t o r y or c u l t u r e of the Lelna people of Zuru Emirate in Kebbi State of Nigeria. The s i t u a t i o n is worse in the area of Lelna oral l i t e r a t u r e , where nothing significant has over been documented or analysed. This work is an attempt to f i l l t h i s gap and to make Lelna o r a l l i t e r a t u r e available to those who do not understand C ' l e l a (the language of the Lelna). The work focuses on songs, the most dominant form of Lelna o r al l i t e r a t u r e , end discusses three genres of Lelna songs, namely: C 'Bomo, C'Kemgte, and Nam C'Debe, corresponding r e s p e c t i v e ly to the categories in English known as the p r a i s e , blame and lament genres. This six-chapter study demonstrates the s t y l i s t i c devices which the a r t i s t s use to espouse Lelna world view, values and b e l i e f s . The composers make e f f e c t i ve use of the i n t r i n s i c q u a l i t i e s of poetry to impart t h e ir messeages permanently in the minds of their l i s t e n e rs The f i r s t chapter gives a general background of Lelna people and the socio-cultural context of their songs- After reviewing the available l i t e r a t u r e on oral poetry, as well as on African oral l i t e r a t u r e in general, the work's theoretical framework, methodology and scope are stated. In the presentation of the material, a chapter each i s devoted in turn to the three genres of Lelna songs. Ix. One chapter presents the training and career of Lelna a r t i s t s and the conclusion discusses the functions of Lelna songs, the problems and prospects of the continued existence of Lelna oral poetry and possible areas of further research.
Description
A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, IN FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN LITERATURE
Keywords
POETIC, EXPRESSOIN, LELNA, SONGS
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