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The Celebration of Nature by East African Poets: a Focus on Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania

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The Celebration of Nature by East African Poets: a Focus on Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania \ THE CELEBRATION OF NATURE BY EAST AFRICAN POETS: A FOCUS ON KENYA, UGANDA AND TANZANIA Jedidah Kibutu A THESIS PROJECT SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE MASTER OF ARTS DEGREE IN LITERATURE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI UN w » s r t ,p : University of NAIROBI Library . l B K K R t 0451731 4 JUNE, 2012 DECLARATION This thesis is my original work and has not been presented for a degree in any other university Signature . ______ Jedidah Kibutu (Candidate) Date 12, This thesis has been submitted for examination with our approval as University Supervisors Signature Professor Monica Mweseli (Supervisor) . Date 2 01 2- Signature! Anna Petkova Mwangi (Supervisor) Date 0-8 J tjyut DEDICATION I dedicate this work to Almighty God, for seeing me through; for being there for me through it all. "The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runs to it and is safe” Proverbs 18:1 ONKJV ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I am deeply thankful to my two Supervisors, Professor Monica Mweseli and Anna Petkova Mwangi for their caring attitude and the dedicated guidance they gave me. I am privileged to have had them as my supervisors, helping me to sharpen my research skills and making me a better researcher. I owe a debt of gratitude to Professor Peter Wasamba and Professor David Kiiru for support given me in numerous ways. My sincerest appreciation also goes to Professor Wanjiku Kabira and Professor Ciarunji Chesaina for their confidence in me. Mention also goes to Professor Henry Indangasi and Professor Chris Wanjala, and all the members of the faculty for their dedicated guidance in lectures and academic presentations. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE Declaration........................................................................................................................................... Dedication............................................................................................................................................i Acknowledgements............................................................................................................................ii Abstract................................................................................................................................................v 1.0 CHAPTER ONE: THE PRESENTATION OF NATURE POEMS: THEORY AND PRACTICE................... • •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••a*** ..1 1.1 Introduction............................. ..1 1.2 Statement of the Problem....... 2 1.3 Justification of the problem.... ..3 1.4 Objectives of the Study.......... ..7 1.5 Hypotheses.............................. ..7 1.6 Literature Review................... ..7 1.7 Theoretical Framework.......... 15 1.8 Methodology............................ 17 1.9 Chapter Breakdown................. 18 1.10 Scope and Limitation............ 19 1.11 Definition of Operative Terms 22 2.0 CHAPTER TWO: NATURE IN ITS PURITY: STYLE ENHANCES CONTENT.......26 2.1 Introduction...................................................................................................................................26 2.2 The Poet Observing Time............................................................................................................27 2.3 Deluge and Drought .................................................................................................................. 70 2.4 The Landscape.............................................................................................................................102 2.5 The World of Animals................................................................................................................ 116 iv 3.0 CHAPTER THREE: MAN’S PLACE IN THE NATURAL WORLD: A SYMBOLIC DIMENSION...............-.................................................................................................................129 3.1 Introduction.................................................................................................................................129 3.2 The Illusive Quality of Nature...............................................................................................130 3.3 Nature Reflecting the Inner Man..........................................................................................139 3.4 Intensity of Feeling.....................................................................................................................156 3.5 Leisure in Nature....................................................................................................................175 4.0 CHAPTER FOUR: SHAPES AND SOUNDS OF NATURE:CONTENT DETERMINES 4.1 Introduction................................................................................................................................191 4.2 Concrete Poetry..........................................................................................................................192 4.3 Lineation....................................................................................................................................201 4.4 Prosody....................................................................................................................................... 214 5.0 CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSION: FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS......224 Works Cited 230 v ABSTRACT This study critically analyzes the manner in which nature has been celebrated by poets from East Africa; specifically, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. It is based on East African anthologies in English published between 1960 and 2012. The study sees a gap in the literary field where the East African poet’s regard for nature remains largely unexamined. This is more so a propos associating this theme with the poetic style. In an endeavor to fill this gap, the study aspires to make a faithful representation of the place taken by nature poems in the East African literary canon. The guiding hypotheses of this study are; one, that harmony of structure and content enhances a balanced analysis of nature poems. A second premise is that the theme of nature enhances a symbolic portrayal of human concerns. Lastly the thematic content of nature poems is seen as the reason for the specific graphic representation on paper. The study has adopted New Criticism and Deconstruction as the guiding analytic theories. The New Critical paradigm is applied, with close reading and a step-by-step analysis guided only by the text. New Critical tools are used to unlock the meaning of the poems, interlacing content and style. Applying the theory of Deconstruction, a between-the-line assessment of the poem is made possible. The study sees a close connection between the East African nature poet and poets of the English Romantic movement. It therefore embarks on finding pivotal points which can be termed Romantic in some East African nature poetry, and pointing out any divergence therein. The study concludes by showing thematic and stylistic findings and recommendations. The study uncovers features of nature which are the most popularly celebrated by the East African poets. It also states findings of the extent to which the East African celebration of nature fits the Romantic model. It also makes a recommendation regarding possibilities of future research. VI CHAPTER ONE THE PRESENTATION OF NATURE POEMS: THEORY AND PRACTICE 1.1 Introduction This study analyzes selected nature poems from East Africa; specifically, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. The poetry is written in the English language. It is based on known anthologies of poetry published in East Africa by poets who hail from or have lived within East Africa between 1960 and 2012. This is the only factor determining the period within which the selected anthologies are found. The analytical process interlaces theme and style to unearth the extent to which the East African poet has paid tribute to the natural world. The celebratory mode is multi-faceted. Some poetic pieces portray the natural world in exclusivity, while others show a symbolic representation of the human world by the natural elements. Some paint an idyllic picture while others reveal some bleak realities of nature. Either way, the reverence for nature is manifest. Paying tribute to nature in an idealistic way is a Romantic quality. The celebratory mode therefore largely manifests itself in the Romantic outlook to life. However, a few poems are unadorned by the idealist inclinations characteristic of Romanticism. The artistic mode used by the individual poets is however, celebratory, and the artistry in the poem is examined. The exploration would not be complete without breaking down individual poems into analyzable stylistic components to show how the theme of nature has been delivered. A comprehensive inquiry calls for an examination of the stylistic mode the poets engage in. This means that a Formalist approach is used; analyzing both theme and style. The ultimate aim of the study is to acknowledge the regard for nature by the selected East African poets. Romanticism as a literary movement is the crux of this study, because the inclination to 1 pay tribute to the natural elements is quintessential^ Romantic. The poems studied therefore qualify themselves as possessing a Romantic essence in as far as the term is applicable. Style and form helps to unearth how far Romantic each poem is. 1.2 Statement of the Problem The thesis statement is: The East African poet’s regard for nature has not been brought to the fore. Secondly, in the cases where documentation
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