CULTURAL CONTINUITY AND CHANGE: A HISTORICAL STUDY ON MUSIC AND DANCE AMONG THE BUKUSU OF BUNGOMA COUNTY, KENYA, Circa 1900 – 2012. BARASA MAURICE WEKESA Reg. No. C82/24011/2011 A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES IN FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (HISTORY) OF KENYATTA UNIVERSITY. SEPTEMBER 2015 DECLARATION This thesis is my original work and has not been presented for the award of a degree in any other university. Barasa Maurice Wekesa Signature_____________________ Date________________________ This thesis has been submitted for examination with our approval as University Supervisors. Signature________________________ Date_______________________________ Prof. H. Mwanzi Department of History, Archaeology and Political Science, Kenyatta University. Signature________________________ Date__________________________________ Dr. S. Mwangi Department of History, Archaeology and Political Science, Kenyatta University. ii DEDICATION To my parents Christopher Barasa Mupalia and Beatrice Wanjiru. iii ACKNOWLEGMENTS This work would not have been successfully completed without the input of many people. However space does not allow me to recognize all of them individually. My greatest gratitude goes to the Almighty God for giving me the necessary strength to undertake and conclude this work. I wish to sincerely thank Prof. Simiyu Wandibba for perusing through the entire work and providing the necessary advice and critique. I also thank him for inspiring me to pursue doctoral studies. I am particularly indebted to my supervisors Prof. Henry Mwanzi and Dr. Susan Mwangi for tirelessly providing guidance, suggestions, and comments which resulted in the successful completion of this work. I would also like to acknowledge Prof. Mildred Ndeda, Dr. Pius Kakai, Dr. Godwin Murunga and Dr. Peter Wafula for encouraging and helping me shape the course of this work. I thank Mr. Maurice Obunga of the National Museums of Kenya, Botany division, for making available the taxonomic names of various plants cited in this work. Kevin Cheptala, to you, I say, asante sana for formating this work. My deep gratitude goes to my family members Nixon Wafula, Martin Sikuku, Gladys Nawanga, Rabecca Machuma, Harun Nderitu, Victor Kamongo, Peter Rambanya, Christine Namuma, Thomas Nyongesa and Simiyu Kharemwa for supporting me morally and financially. To my parents Christopher Barasa Mupalia and Beatrice Wanjiru, I say murio muno for taking me to school and guiding me through the moral web. Po! It has been a long journey. I thank my sons Preston Nyongesa Wekesa and Presley Randy Barasa Wekesa for enduring long spells of my absence from home during the composition of this work. I appreciate Sifuna Mutoro (Okhwa Ketruta), Isaac Ngichabe and Benson Barasa Kituyi for helping me to gather data from the field and to all my informants and colleagues at Kenya Railways, I say, thank you. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION ..................................................................................................................... ii DEDICATION ........................................................................................................................ iii ACKNOWLEGMENTS ........................................................................................................ iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................................ v LIST OF MAPS ...................................................................................................................... ix LIST OF PLATES ................................................................................................................... x OPERATIONATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS ....................................................... xii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS .............................................................................................. xvi ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................................ xviii CHAPTER ONE ...................................................................................................................... 1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background to the Study .................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Statement of the Problem ................................................................................................. 3 1.3 Objectives of the Study ..................................................................................................... 4 1.4 Research Questions ........................................................................................................... 4 1.5 Research Premises ........................................................................................................... 5 1.6 Justification and Significance of the Study ..................................................................... 5 1.7 Study Area .......................................................................................................................... 7 v 1.8 Scope and limitations of the Study ................................................................................... 9 CHAPTER TWO ................................................................................................................... 13 LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK ................................ 13 2.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 13 2.1.1 Review of related literature ......................................................................................... 13 2.2 Theoretical Framework .................................................................................................. 21 CHAPTER THREE .............................................................................................................. 27 METHODOLOGY ................................................................................................................ 27 3.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 27 3.2 Research Design ............................................................................................................... 27 3.3 Population and sampling strategy .................................................................................. 28 3.3.1 Sample Population ........................................................................................................ 28 3.3.2 Sampling Strategy ........................................................................................................ 28 3.3.2.2 Purposive Sampling ................................................................................................... 28 3.3.2.3 Snowball sampling ..................................................................................................... 29 3.4 DATA COLLECTION .................................................................................................... 29 3.4.1 Training of field assistants ........................................................................................... 29 3.4.2 Interview method .......................................................................................................... 29 3.4.3 Observation method ..................................................................................................... 30 vi 3.4.4 Audio and video recording .......................................................................................... 30 3.4.5 Photography .................................................................................................................. 30 3.4.6 Focus Group Discussions ............................................................................................. 30 3.5 Data Processing, Analysis and Interpretation .............................................................. 31 CHAPTER FOUR ................................................................................................................. 33 4.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 33 4.2 Birth songs and dances .................................................................................................... 39 4.3 Circumcision songs and dances ...................................................................................... 47 4.4 Marriage songs and dances ............................................................................................ 68 4.5 Death songs and dances .................................................................................................. 83 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................ 101 CHAPTER FIVE ................................................................................................................. 103 5.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 103 5.2 Birth songs and dances .................................................................................................. 108 5.3 Circumcision songs and dances ...................................................................................