The Construction of Feminine Psychology in Swahili Women’s Nuptial Poetry-Unyago
Date
2017-03
Authors
Mwenje, Margaret
Mwai, Wangari
M’Raiji, John Kirimi
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Canadian Center of Science and Education
Abstract
This article examines the construction of feminine psychology in Swahili women nuptial poetry-unyago. Unyago poetry is composed and performed by Swahili women. Swahili is a community located along the coastal region of Kenya. This article, therefore, focuses on intersections between psychology and poetry in analyzing and describing how unyago poetry reveals the mindsets and emotions of Swahili women. Data for analysis in article is derived from research carried out among women of Swahili decent living at Kisumu using observation and in-depth interviews as data collection methods. Unyago poetry is viewed as confessions and revelations of the female self, the marriage institution and that of the marital partner. Worth noting is the fact that the women,whose ancestors originated from the coastal region of Kenya, have preserved the nuptial rituals and teachings
therein across time and space. Through unyago, the women socialize their girls from children to women and is a deeply rooted practice in their philosophy, psychology, and culture of the Swahili people. Thus, this article contends that unyago is both a reflection of group and individual psychological reactions to cultural expression through poetry.
Description
doi:10.5539/jedp.v7n1p241
Keywords
unyago poetry, poetichology, women, confessions
Citation
Journal of Educational and Developmental Psychology; Vol. 7, No. 1; 2017