View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by South East Academic Libraries System (SEALS) MUSIC AS SOCIAL DISCOURSE: THE CONTRIBUTION OF POPULAR MUSIC TO THE AWARENESS AND PREVENTION OF HIV/AIDS IN NAIROBI, KENYA PRICSILLA NYAWIRA GITONGA Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Magister Musicae in the Faculty of Arts at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University Supervisor: Prof Zelda Potgieter Co-Supervisor: Mr Mark Brand i - for Gitonga, Mwaniki, Mumbi, Mirigo and Wahome - ii ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The financial assistance of the Department of Research Capacity Building, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, and that of the National Arts Council are hereby acknowledged. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- iii DECLARATION BY STUDENT FULL NAME: PRICSILLA NYAWIRA GITONGA STUDENT NUMBER: 207059928 QUALIFICATION: MAGISTER MUSICAE (MUSICOLOGY) DECLARATION: In accordance with Rule G4.6.3, I hereby declare that the above-mentioned dissertation is my own work and that it has not previously been submitted for assessment to another University or for another qualification. SIGNATURE: ___________________________________________________ DATE: ___________________________________________________ -------------------------------------------------------------------- iv DECLARATION OF ETHICS I hereby declare that this research was conducted with full cognizance of the ethical implications thereof. Accordingly: The interviewee concerned (Addendum E) was fully informed of the nature and scope of this research, and participated in it on a voluntary basis. Despite my best efforts to do so, the owners of the rights to recordings one and four contained in the accompanying CD, Addendum F, could not be located. In the case of recording one, the artist in question is no longer alive and no living relatives could be located. Nyokha recording studio, where the recording was made, expressly denies any ownership over this material and could provide no further leads. With respect to recording four, the contact details provided on the recording were found to be invalid. All attempts to contact the artist, including attempts via producers with whom she has worked, were unsuccessful. Permission for the duplication of these recordings could therefore not be secured. However, Wycliffe Wanjohi (a member of staff at Calif Records), through a telephone conversation held on 26 June 2008, granted the author permission, on behalf of the artists, to use the song Juala for this purpose. Francis, the executive director Ogopa Deejays, through email conversation, granted the author permission to use the song Vuta Pumz for this purpose on 12 June 2008. I hereby declare that the duplications in question will not be exploited for own financial gain, and any or all persons concerned are hereby acknowledged. SIGNATURE: _________________________DATE:___________________ v CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................... vi SUMMARY ......................................................................................................... vii KEY WORDS ..................................................................................................... viii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ................................................................................ ix LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................ xi LIST OF MUSICAL EXAMPLES ........................................................................ xii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS ............................................................................... xiii CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION TO THIS STUDY 1. The Aim of This Study ..................................................................................... 1 2. Rationale ......................................................................................................... 2 3. Research Problem ........................................................................................... 6 4. Objectives and Research Methods .................................................................. 7 5. Delimitations of This Study .............................................................................. 8 6. Outlay of Chapters .......................................................................................... 9 CHAPTER 2 – THE PEOPLE OF KENYA 1. Introduction.................................................................................................... 11 2. Political History .............................................................................................. 12 3. Culture ........................................................................................................... 15 4. Religion and Worldview ................................................................................. 19 5. Language ...................................................................................................... 23 6. Music and Dance ........................................................................................... 29 6.1. Traditional Music .....................................................................................................29 6.2. Popular Music .........................................................................................................34 6.2.1. Benga ........................................................................................................... 35 6.2.2. Rumba and Soukous..................................................................................... 36 i 6.2.3. Tanzanian Rumba ......................................................................................... 37 6.2.4. International Pop ........................................................................................... 38 6.2.5. Taarab .......................................................................................................... 40 6.2.6. Gospel Music ................................................................................................ 41 7. Gender .......................................................................................................... 42 CHAPTER 3 – HIV/AIDS IN KENYA 1. Introduction.................................................................................................... 44 2. Kenyan HIV/Aids Statistics ............................................................................ 45 3. Factors Influencing The Spread of HIV/Aids in Kenya ................................... 48 3.1. Predisposing Factors ..............................................................................................48 3.1.1. Poverty ......................................................................................................... 48 3.1.2. Sexually Transmitted Infections ..................................................................... 49 3.1.3. Drug Abuse and Alcoholism .......................................................................... 50 3.1.4. Conflicts and Ethnic Wars ............................................................................. 51 3.2. Other Contributing Factors.....................................................................................52 3.2.1. Cultural Practices and Perceptions ................................................................ 52 3.2.2. Religion......................................................................................................... 59 4. Those Most Vulnerable To HIV/Aids Infection ............................................... 59 5. The Impact of HIV/Aids at National Level ...................................................... 60 5.1. Socio-Economic Impact .........................................................................................60 5.2. Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) .............................................................62 6. Kenyan Government Interventions ................................................................ 63 6.1. Leadership and Co-Ordination ..............................................................................63 6.2. Existing Intervention Strategies .............................................................................65 6.2.1. Voluntary Counseling and Testing ................................................................. 66 6.2.2. Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission ................................................. 67 6.2.3. Health System Precautions and Blood Safety ................................................ 68 6.2.4. Condom Promotion ....................................................................................... 68 6.2.5. Treatment of Sexually Transmitted Infections ................................................ 69 6.2.6. Creating Awareness ...................................................................................... 69 6.2.7. Treatment and Care of People Living With HIV/Aids (PLWA) ......................... 71 ii 7. Visible Achievements in The Fight Againist HIV/Aids in Kenya ..................... 72 8. Challenges Ahead ......................................................................................... 73 CHAPTER 4 – THE PEOPLE OF NAIROBI 1. Introduction.................................................................................................... 77 2. History of Nairobi ..........................................................................................