ABSTRACT
This research investigated the portrayal of the African politician in Kiswahili poetry.
Basically, this research intended to shed light on how different poets have portrayed
African politicians creatively with a purpose of revealing how these leaders have
changed since colonial times to the multi-party period. The research assumed that
political leaders played a great role in the development of their individual countries and
Africa as a whole. The attainment of various developmental goals such as Kenya’s
Vision 2030 and strengthening of the East African Community is to a large extent
pegged on political decisions. The objectives of this research were to investigate the
role of Kiswahili poetry in preserving the history of the African politician, to examine
the traits of pre-independence African politician according to Kiswahili poets and to
evaluate the changes that the African politician has undergone since independence
according to Kiswahili poets. The researcher assumed that the poet speaks for the
citizen who gets adversely affected by decisions and actions taken by politicians. The
study was guided by Romanticism theory developed by William Wordsworth and
Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Post-colonial Theory which is associated with the works
of Edward W. Said, Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak and Homi K. Bhabha. The study was
carried out in the library where purposive sampling method was used to collect data
from selected anthologies. Qualitative analysis of the selected poems was done guided
by the research objectives. This thesis is divided into six chapters. Chapter one gives
the introduction to the study. In chapter two there is a review of related literature which
also covers theoretical framework. Chapter three comprises of the research
methodology. In chapter four and five, data is analyzed, presented and research
findings discussed. Finally, chapter six summarizes the findings of the study and gives
recommendations for further research. The findings of this study revealed that the
seemingly royal pre-independence African politician changed drastically after
independence was attained and became a tormentor of the very people he had sworn to
protect. Likewise, politicians who appeared to champion the struggle for multi-party
democracy are yet to live to the letter and spirit of that democracy. Despite these
shortcomings, it is evident that the African continent has a few political role models
whom the current and future politicians can emulate. The findings of this research will
benefit Kiswahili scholars, writers and all political stakeholders in Africa and beyond
M’NGARUTHI, T (2021). Usawiri Wa Mwanasiasa Wa Afrika Katika Ushairi Wa Kiswahili. Afribary. Retrieved from https://track.afribary.com/works/usawiri-wa-mwanasiasa-wa-afrika-katika-ushairi-wa-kiswahili
M’NGARUTHI, TIMOTHY "Usawiri Wa Mwanasiasa Wa Afrika Katika Ushairi Wa Kiswahili" Afribary. Afribary, 06 May. 2021, https://track.afribary.com/works/usawiri-wa-mwanasiasa-wa-afrika-katika-ushairi-wa-kiswahili. Accessed 25 Dec. 2024.
M’NGARUTHI, TIMOTHY . "Usawiri Wa Mwanasiasa Wa Afrika Katika Ushairi Wa Kiswahili". Afribary, Afribary, 06 May. 2021. Web. 25 Dec. 2024. < https://track.afribary.com/works/usawiri-wa-mwanasiasa-wa-afrika-katika-ushairi-wa-kiswahili >.
M’NGARUTHI, TIMOTHY . "Usawiri Wa Mwanasiasa Wa Afrika Katika Ushairi Wa Kiswahili" Afribary (2021). Accessed December 25, 2024. https://track.afribary.com/works/usawiri-wa-mwanasiasa-wa-afrika-katika-ushairi-wa-kiswahili