To be modern and modernity are among notions about which people frequently talk past each other at all levels. There is no settled meaning of modernity so far. On the one hand, academics take different approaches to the notion, resulting in more than three theories of modernity. In their everyday life, non-scholars conceptualise modernity based on its immediate effects. This research stems from the same premises that there is no single notion of modernity nor can people have a universal understanding of it. This study endeavours to explore modernity in Bena orature. It attempts to expose what Bena people think of modernity as they present opinions in their aesthetic communication - orature. To meet that aim, the study adopted grounded theory which enables the researcher to develop a theory from available data. Bena orature was collected, analysed, and using grounded theory methods, I formulated the Bena theory of modernity. Apart from Bena orature, post-performance discussions, additional informal discussions, and secondary data from among the Bena and other societies were employed to accomplish the objectives of the study. In the analysis of data, several categories emerged, one of which appeared to be the strongest. In grounded theory, this is referred to as the core category. The core category is the theme or concept which is regarded as the main issue discussed in the society under study. In this study, wellbeing was determined to be the core category over and above the others because of its ability to explain other categories. It was revealed that wellbeing is one of the concepts which not only surfaces in Bena society but to which many other issues are related, both in aesthetic and ordinary communication. Sometimes, it may appear as if people disagree on several issues. This might translate into disagreeing on some truths amongst themselves, but in fact, they disagree on how to enhance wellbeing among Bena. Owing to that, the research ends by formulating a theory of modernity of wellbeing. Put differently, what really concerns Bena society in this modern world is attempting to enhance wellbeing, both at the individual and societal levels.:TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT i DEDICATION IV ABSTRACT V TABLE OF CONTENTS VI 1 GENERAL INTRODUCTION 1.1 Introduction 1.2 The Background to the Study 1.3 Statement of the Problem 1.4 Objectives of the Study 1.5 The Notion of Orature 1.6 The Notion of Modernity 1.7 Investigating Modernity in Orature 1.8 Position of the Researcher 2 LITERATURE REVIEW AND CONCEPTUAL BACKGROUND 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Approaches to Orature 2.2.1 Performance-centred Approach 2.2.2 Text-centred Theories 2.3 The Emergence and Development of Performance Theory 2.3.1.1 Performance Theory 2.3.1.2 Performer – Audience Relationship 2.3.1.3 Orature Performance Patterns 2.3.1.4 Functions of Orature Performances 2.3.1.5 Changing Nature of Orature in the African Context 2.3.1.6 Criticisms of Performance Theory 2.3.2 Re-emergence of Text-centred Approach 2.4 Modernity 2.5 The Origin and Development of Modernity 2.5.1 Modernity as Western Civilisation 2.5.2 Multiple Modernities (Alternative Modernities) 2.5.3 Modernity as Independent Civilization 2.5.4 Modernity as Interconnectedness 2.5.5 Modernity as Contemporaneity 2.6 Tradition versus Modernity Dichotomy 2.7 Social Construction through Narratives 2.7.1 Background to the Notion of Social Construction 2.7.2 Main Arguments of Social Construction 2.7.2.1 The Idea of Frames 2.7.3 Social Construction through Narratives 2.8 Conclusion 3 METHODOLOGY 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Origin and History of Grounded Theory 3.3 Undertaking Grounded Theory 3.3.1 Category Development 3.3.2 Substantive Coding 3.3.3 Theoretical Sampling 3.3.4 Memo Writing 3.3.5 Theoretical Sensitivity 3.3.6 Selective and Theoretical Coding 3.4 Symbolic Interactionism 3.5 Complementary Theories 3.6 Applying Grounded Theory 3.7 Data Collection 3.7.1 Research Area 3.7.2 Data Collection 3.7.2.1 Participant Observation 3.7.2.2 Interviews 3.7.2.3 Group Interviews (Focus Group Discussion) 3.7.2.4 Recording Performance, Interviews and Group Interviews 3.7.3 Reviewing Bena Documents 3.8 Data Analysis 3.9 Conclusion 4 A DESCRIPTION OF THE BENA WORLD OF ORATURE 4.1 Introduction 4.2 The Bena People 4.3 Contemporary Language Composition 4.4 Elements of Orature 4.4.1 Elements of Orature among the Bena 4.4.1.1 Tales 4.4.1.2 Tale Performers 4.4.1.3 Tale Performability 4.4.2 Performer-Audience Relationship among the Bena 4.4.2.1 Indexical References 4.4.3 Bena Songs 4.4.3.1 Bena Song Performers 4.4.4 The Bena Wedding Songs 4.4.4.1 Themes and Social Functions of the Bena Songs 4.4.5 The Bena Marriage Procedures 4.4.6 Grave Building among the Bena 4.4.7 Political Meetings 4.5 Conclusion 5 PERFORMING MODERNITY 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Uwatsalino (Usasa) 5.3 Uwukola (Romanticism) 5.3.1 Othering through Language 5.3.1.1 Monsterisation of Language 5.3.1.2 Emphasis 5.3.1.3 Euphemism 5.3.2 Fear of the Unknown 5.4 Ulutengamaso (Wellbeing) 5.4.1 Welfare 5.4.2 Grave Building 5.4.3 Christianity and Witchcraft 5.4.4 Architecture and Clothing 5.5 Uwukangafu (Bravery) 5.5.1 Courage, Perseverance and Cleverness 5.6 Kolatila (Duty) 5.6.1 Self-Reliance and Food Security 5.6.2 Thanksgiving and Labour 5.6.3 Marriage, Procreation, and Discrimination 5.7 Uwunu (Ubuntu/Humanity) 5.7.1 Obedience, Hospitality and Honesty 5.7.2 Relationship with Other People 5.7.3 Love and Harmony 5.7.4 Praises 5.7.5 Mourning 5.7.6 Humanity and Mortality 5.8 Core Category 5.9 Conclusion 6 MODERNITY OF WELLBEING AMONG THE BENA 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Wellbeing (Ulutengamaso) 6.3 Wellbeing and Other Categories 6.3.1 Wellbeing and Uwunu (Ubuntu/Humanity) 6.3.2 Wellbeing and Duty (Kolatila) 6.3.3 Wellbeing and Uwukola (Romanticism) 6.3.4 Wellbeing and Uwukangafu (Bravery) 6.3.5 Wellbeing and Uwatsalino (Usasa) 6.4 Grounding a Theory of Modernity as Wellbeing 6.5 The Relationship between Modernity as Wellbeing and Other Theories of Modernity 6.6 Conclusion 7 GENERAL SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION 7.1 Introduction 7.2 General Summary 7.3 Conclusion 8 REFERENCE 9 APPENDICES Paraphrased Bena Tales 10. ERKLÄRUNG

Kutokana na tofauti za mazingira, tabia ya nchi na hali ya hewa, binadamu wamekuwa na tamaduni zinazotofautiana na kufanana kwa viwango mbalimbali. Miongoni mwa masuala yanayotofautiana na kufanana ni majukumu yanayofanywa kwa kuzingatia misingi ya jinsi. Kutokana na umuhimu wa suala hilo, kumezaliwa taaluma ya jinsia inayohusu uhusiano uliopo baina ya wanaume na wanawake. Taaluma hiyo inaitwa ujinsia. Kwa miaka ya hivi karibuni msisitizo mkubwa kwa wanataaluma wengi, hasa wanaharakati wanaopigania haki na usawa wa wanawake dhidi ya ukandamizaji unaofanywa na wanaume, umekuwa ukidadisi mgawanyo wa majukumu kati ya wanawake na wanaume. Majukumu hayo yameenea karibu katika kila kona ya maisha ya binadamu toka katika siasa, uchumi na majukumu ya kijamii kwa ujumla. Imekuwa ikidaiwa kuwa katika uhusiano baina ya wanawake na wanaume, wanawake wamekuwa wakinyanyaswa na kukandamizwa. Kwa maneno mengine, uhusiano kati ya wanawake na wanaume haujajengwa katika misingi ya usawa kwa sababu wanaume wananufaika zaidi kuliko wanawake. Makala hii inachunguza namna mawazo hayo yanavyosawiriwa katika muziki wa taarab (mipasho) na nyimbo za ngoma ya Kibena iitwayo Mtuli. Tunachunguza namna majukumu ya mwanamke yanavyosawiriwa yakidokeza mgawanyo wa majukumu katika jamii zitumiazo sanaa hizo.

This dissertation is a grammar of Rena (ISO bez), a Bantu language spoken in southwestern Tanzania by approximately 600,000 people. Bena is largely undocumented, and though aspects of Bena grammar have been described, there is no usable, detailed treatment of the Bena language. Therefore the goal of this dissertation is provide the first detailed description of Bena that discusses phonology, morphology, and syntax. The analysis described in this grammar is based on data collected in the Njombe district of Tanzania during 2008 and 2009. Data throughout the grammar is taken from both elicitation and a corpus of 23 narratives. Though Bena is spoken by over half a million people, it is threatened by Swahili (the national language of Tanzania). Swahili's prominence in Tanzania has increased drastically since independence in 1961, and many (if not most) of the approximately 120 languages spoken in Tanzania are threatened by Swahili. Bena is no exception to this. The results of a sociolinguistic survey conducted in 2009 indicate that Swahili is having a significant impact on the Bena language. Therefore the writing of this dissertation comes at a crucial time. It provides a record of Bena at a time before too many features of the language are lost due to language contact. The first chapter provides an introduction to the Bena language and people. It also discusses results from the 2009 sociolinguistic survey which had the goal of clarifying questions on both the dialectal situation and the sociolinguistic vitality of Bena. The second chapter is devoted to phonetics and phonology. Of particular interest in this chapter are Bena's "predictable" tone system and the morphophonological process of imbrication (a type of coalescence in which multiple morphemes are interwoven together). The third chapter gives an overview of Bena word classes and provides a road map of the next several chapters of the grammar. Fourth is a description of Bena nominal morphology and other elements in the noun phrase. Like other Bantu languages, Bena uses a complex noun class system; Bena's 19 noun classes and the ways in which they are used are discussed in detail in this chapter. Following this is a description of Bena verbal morphology. Of particular interest in Bena is its tense aspect system--Bena distinguishes four separate past tenses and three distinct futures; these interact with five aspects. The second major focus of Chapter 5 is the use of a series of suffixes in verbal derivation. The sixth chapter of the grammar describes adverbs and other invariable words in Bena. Chapter 7 describes major aspects of Bena syntax. Because Bantu languages have rich morphological systems, most grammars of Bantu languages either give a fairly cursory treatment of syntax or they ignore it completely. This dissertation aims to fill that gap by providing a description of a Bantu language that is more balanced and acknowledges the significant roles played by both morphology and syntax. The final chapter highlights several features of Bena from a typological perspective and discusses areas in which further research on Bena has the potential to contribute significantly to Bantu linguistics.

Diss.--Wien, 1999. / Bibliogr. p. 261-274. Glossaire.

Abstract The purpose of this ethnographic study is to describe and analyse professional and lay care in the Bena cultural context in the Tanzanian village of Ilembula. The study focuses on care as a cultural phenomenon. The structure of the study is based on M.M. Leininger's (1991) Culture Care Theory In the first phase of the study, care was described from a professional perspective. The data were collected by interviewing and observing trained nurses (n=6) in the wards of Ilembula Lutheran Hospital. The study material was complemented with the data obtained from informants' diaries and institutional documents. The data were analysed by using qualitative ethnonursing analysis. In the second phase of the study, the focus was on lay care. The fieldwork was done in the Ilembula village and Ilembula Lutheran Hospital. The data were collected by interviewing villagers (n=49) and relatives (n=12) of patients admitted to Ilembula Lutheran Hospital, and by observing their care practices. The data were analysed by qualitative content analyses with regard to the cultural context. Curing and caring were the characteristics of professional care, as described by the nurse informants. Curing was linked to skills and knowledge obtained in nurse training and it was demonstrated through technical interventions, medication and health education. Caring referred to a natural mother-child relationship and reflected the traditional cultural knowledge. Caring was demonstrated in primary care, meaning a mother's responsibilities in taking care of a small baby, encouragement and comfort. The patient's recovery and maintenance of health were the goals of professional care. Respect and protection were the characteristics of lay care, reflecting the worldview and cultural values of the Bena. The aim of respect was to maintain family unity and to ensure wellbeing, while protection focused on the sensitive phases of the Bena life span. The main meaning of lay care for the informants was health maintenance and improvement of health. Health included physical, mental and reproductive aspects, and enabled them to respond to the culturally determined role expectations. The aim of this ethnographic study was to demonstrate that care is integral to much more comprehensive socio-cultural issues in the context of a Tanzanian village. The study demonstrates the meaning of cultural and social factors, such as cultural values and lifeways, kinship, economic, educational, and ethnohistory in both professional and lay care. The findings can be utilised in transcultural nursing education and in clinical nursing practice, especially in developing patient education from a transcultural perspective, not only in Tanzania, but internationally.

Kutokana na tofauti za mazingira, tabia ya nchi na hali ya hewa, binadamu wamekuwa na tamaduni zinazotofautiana na kufanana kwa viwango mbalimbali. Miongoni mwa masuala yanayotofautiana na kufanana ni majukumu yanayofanywa kwa kuzingatia misingi ya jinsi. Kutokana na umuhimu wa suala hilo, kumezaliwa taaluma ya jinsia inayohusu uhusiano uliopo baina ya wanaume na wanawake. Taaluma hiyo inaitwa ujinsia. Kwa miaka ya hivi karibuni msisitizo mkubwa kwa wanataaluma wengi, hasa wanaharakati wanaopigania haki na usawa wa wanawake dhidi ya ukandamizaji unaofanywa na wanaume, umekuwa ukidadisi mgawanyo wa majukumu kati ya wanawake na wanaume. Majukumu hayo yameenea karibu katika kila kona ya maisha ya binadamu toka katika siasa, uchumi na majukumu ya kijamii kwa ujumla. Imekuwa ikidaiwa kuwa katika uhusiano baina ya wanawake na wanaume, wanawake wamekuwa wakinyanyaswa na kukandamizwa. Kwa maneno mengine, uhusiano kati ya wanawake na wanaume haujajengwa katika misingi ya usawa kwa sababu wanaume wananufaika zaidi kuliko wanawake. Makala hii inachunguza namna mawazo hayo yanavyosawiriwa katika muziki wa taarab (mipasho) na nyimbo za ngoma ya Kibena iitwayo Mtuli. Tunachunguza namna majukumu ya mwanamke yanavyosawiriwa yakidokeza mgawanyo wa majukumu katika jamii zitumiazo sanaa hizo.

A beta-tubulin gene (benA) is widely used in taxonomy and identification of Aspergillus spp. and other Fungi.Across Aspergillus spp. There is either one (benA) or two beta-tubulin paralogs (benA and tubC). The risk ofcontemporary use of sequences of paralogous genes with non-homologous function in the same phylogeneticanalysis is well known. It is evident that it had happened repeatedly in Aspergillus section Nigri. It is alarmingthat conventional primers for amplification of partial benA sequence can specifically amplify tubC paralog insome species. In this work, both paralogs were characterised in a set of species. The beta-tubulin primers in usewere revised and new, more benA specific primers were designed. Applicability of some markers such as basecomposition, codon usage and length of introns for distinguishing -tubulin paralogs benA and tubC is tested. Alarge study on molecular diversity of 349 isolates of Aspergillus (PCR-fingerprint, sequence data - ITS, benA,rpb2, caM) originating from Czech culture collections and from clinical material is also included. 82 specieswere identified, togetherwith nine tentative new taxa belonging to sections with high economic impact - Nigri,Fumigati or Aspergillus (Eurotium spp.). Five species from Section Aspergillus could be synonymised withexisting taxa. A study...