Kithaka wa Mberia (b.1956) is one of the most innovative Kenyan poets. Until now he has published four collections of poems and three plays. His poems contain a strong political and social criticism, sometimes in the form of animal allegories. He condemns various acts of violence done to women, like rapes of schoolgirls or prostitution caused by poverty. Some compositions seem life-stories of real persons, others are overtly didactic and moralizing, but in all the theme of social justice is almost obsessive. Another group of poems highlights the author’s concern with his surroundings and with the “health conditions” of the Earth in general; thus, for instance, he denounces the devastation of Kenyan soil in order to get foreign currency. His love of nature makes him address affectionate verses to animals, insects and plants. Formally the poems have little in common with the poetic tradition of the Swahili coast as they are in free verse. Kithaka exhibits a rich vocabulary of botanical and zoological terms and is fond of various forms of word-playing like chiming and punning; an important role in his poetry is played by parallelism. Moreover, he introduces into Kiswahili visual poems where typography is relied upon to perform expressive effects. Kithaka wa Mberia, together with other East African contemporary poets, proves that Swahili poetry is able to express universal themes and can reach a high artistic value even without repeating traditional models.

Makala haya yanachunguza mtindo wa usimulizi katika tamthilia za Kithaka wa Mberia na kutoa ufafanuzi wake. Tamthilia zenyewe ni Natala (1997), Kifo Kisimani (Death at the Well, 2001) na Maua Kwenye Jua la Asubuhi (Flowers in the Morning Sun, 2004). Vipera vya usimulizi vinavyo-chunguzwa ni methali, nyimbo/ngoma, sauti na hadithi. Usimulizi ni mbinu ya fasihi simulizi iliyo na jadi ndefu. Kutokana na msingi huu, wa Mberia alioanisha usimulizi na ujumbe wa tamthilia zake ana¬powasawiri wahusika wake kupitia matendo yao na mazungumzo yao jukwaani. Umuhimu wa matu¬mizi ya mbinu ya usimulizi katika tamthilia teule unaonekana kupuuzwa na wahakiki wengi. Kwa hivyo, madhumuni ya makala haya ni kuangazia umuhimu wa usimulizi katika usawiri wa maudhui mbalimbali na kuthibitisha kuweko kwa matumizi ya usimulizi katika tamthilia teule. Ni makala ambayo yatawafaidi wanafunzi katika vyuo vinavyotoa masomo ya fasihi. Makala haya yanamdhihi¬risha wa Mberia kama mtunzi shupavu, anayeteka makini ya hadhira yake kwa kuiwezesha kutafakari zaidi kuhusu masuala anayojadilia tamthiliani, kwa matumizi ya usimulizi. / This paper analyses narrative style in Kithaka wa Mberia’s plays. The plays analysed are Natala (1997), Kifo Kisimani (Death at the Well, 2001) na Maua Kwenye Jua la Asubuhi (Flowers in the Morning Sun, 2004). The elements of narrative style analysed are proverbs, songs/dances, voice and epic. Narrative style has a long history in oral literature. It has been integrated into written literature and thus lost its initial outlook which had led to its disregard by many analysts in the past. The objectives of this essay are to discuss narrative style in the selected plays, and to show how it functions to create empathy on the part of the reader which helps her/him to internalyse the themes conveyed. Furthermore, this essay intends to stimulate further research on narrative style in Swahili drama.

Makala haya yanachunguza mtindo wa usimulizi katika tamthilia za Kithaka wa Mberia na kutoa ufafanuzi wake. Tamthilia zenyewe ni Natala (1997), Kifo Kisimani (Death at the Well, 2001) na Maua Kwenye Jua la Asubuhi (Flowers in the Morning Sun, 2004). Vipera vya usimulizi vinavyo-chunguzwa ni methali, nyimbo/ngoma, sauti na hadithi. Usimulizi ni mbinu ya fasihi simulizi iliyo na jadi ndefu. Kutokana na msingi huu, wa Mberia alioanisha usimulizi na ujumbe wa tamthilia zake ana¬powasawiri wahusika wake kupitia matendo yao na mazungumzo yao jukwaani. Umuhimu wa matu¬mizi ya mbinu ya usimulizi katika tamthilia teule unaonekana kupuuzwa na wahakiki wengi. Kwa hivyo, madhumuni ya makala haya ni kuangazia umuhimu wa usimulizi katika usawiri wa maudhui mbalimbali na kuthibitisha kuweko kwa matumizi ya usimulizi katika tamthilia teule. Ni makala ambayo yatawafaidi wanafunzi katika vyuo vinavyotoa masomo ya fasihi. Makala haya yanamdhihi¬risha wa Mberia kama mtunzi shupavu, anayeteka makini ya hadhira yake kwa kuiwezesha kutafakari zaidi kuhusu masuala anayojadilia tamthiliani, kwa matumizi ya usimulizi. / This paper analyses narrative style in Kithaka wa Mberia’s plays. The plays analysed are Natala (1997), Kifo Kisimani (Death at the Well, 2001) na Maua Kwenye Jua la Asubuhi (Flowers in the Morning Sun, 2004). The elements of narrative style analysed are proverbs, songs/dances, voice and epic. Narrative style has a long history in oral literature. It has been integrated into written literature and thus lost its initial outlook which had led to its disregard by many analysts in the past. The objectives of this essay are to discuss narrative style in the selected plays, and to show how it functions to create empathy on the part of the reader which helps her/him to internalyse the themes conveyed. Furthermore, this essay intends to stimulate further research on narrative style in Swahili drama.

Kithaka wa Mberia (b.1956) is one of the most innovative Kenyan poets. Until now he has published four collections of poems and three plays. His poems contain a strong political and social criticism, sometimes in the form of animal allegories. He condemns various acts of violence done to women, like rapes of schoolgirls or prostitution caused by poverty. Some compositions seem life-stories of real persons, others are overtly didactic and moralizing, but in all the theme of social justice is almost obsessive. Another group of poems highlights the author’s concern with his surroundings and with the “health conditions” of the Earth in general; thus, for instance, he denounces the devastation of Kenyan soil in order to get foreign currency. His love of nature makes him address affectionate verses to animals, insects and plants. Formally the poems have little in common with the poetic tradition of the Swahili coast as they are in free verse. Kithaka exhibits a rich vocabulary of botanical and zoological terms and is fond of various forms of word-playing like chiming and punning; an important role in his poetry is played by parallelism. Moreover, he introduces into Kiswahili visual poems where typography is relied upon to perform expressive effects. Kithaka wa Mberia, together with other East African contemporary poets, proves that Swahili poetry is able to express universal themes and can reach a high artistic value even without repeating traditional models.