This thesis examines the role of spirit songs in a spirit- mediumship cult of Mombasa, Kenya. It does this by analysing the meaning and function of the songs within the context of the rituals in which they are sung. The first part describes in detail the context of these rituals, the beliefs and practices underlying them, and it provides an outline history of the Swahili community in which the rituals occur. In the second part of the thesis, the songs are divided into four broad categories on the basis of their themes and functions. An analysis of the songs is then attempted by adopting, and adapting for this purpose, the approach originally used by V.W. Turner in his study of the Ndembu circumcision ritual. This study treats the songs as a genre of oral literature. Their status as such is discussed and an attempt is made to show the literary features in them. There is also a brief discussion on the grammatical structure of the songs and, though a point of minor importance in this thesis, an approach to the grammatical study of Swahili poetry is also suggested. So far as I know this is the first attempt to deal systematically with a genre of Swahili literature in a ritual setting. The thesis is original in that respect.

This thesis covers the concepts of God in the traditional faith of Meru people but the background goes back to African traditional religion in general. Meru is located at the eastern part of Mount Kenya. The work begins with a literature review and field based on oral tradition, which indicates that Meru people came from northern Africa, moved to Canaan, Meroe, (south of Egypt) Meru-Arusha, Mombasa, and finally through Tana River to their present land. The Meru people also claim that they came along with all Bantus speaking communities in Eastern, Southern, and Central Africa. The thesis has seven chapters. The first one covers introduction and background, followed by the research plan and methodology (chapter two) Literature review (chapter three). The fourth chapter outlines the geography, migration and the various stages of becoming a human being. That fifth chapter consists of Meru traditional government and specialists. The sixth one describes the concepts of the Supreme Being in Meru traditional religion. The seventh chapter discusses the interaction of Meru traditional religion with Christianity and its implications. / Systematic Theology and Theological Ethics / M.Th. (Systematic Theology)

This thesis covers the concepts of God in the traditional faith of Meru people but the background goes back to African traditional religion in general. Meru is located at the eastern part of Mount Kenya. The work begins with a literature review and field based on oral tradition, which indicates that Meru people came from northern Africa, moved to Canaan, Meroe, (south of Egypt) Meru-Arusha, Mombasa, and finally through Tana River to their present land. The Meru people also claim that they came along with all Bantus speaking communities in Eastern, Southern, and Central Africa. The thesis has seven chapters. The first one covers introduction and background, followed by the research plan and methodology (chapter two) Literature review (chapter three). The fourth chapter outlines the geography, migration and the various stages of becoming a human being. That fifth chapter consists of Meru traditional government and specialists. The sixth one describes the concepts of the Supreme Being in Meru traditional religion. The seventh chapter discusses the interaction of Meru traditional religion with Christianity and its implications. / Systematic Theology and Theological Ethics / M.Th. (Systematic Theology)