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
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:DRESDEN/oai:qucosa:de:qucosa:16750 |
| Date | 15 November 2017 |
| Creators | Mnenuka, Angelus Jacob |
| Contributors | Universität Leipzig |
| Source Sets | Hochschulschriftenserver (HSSS) der SLUB Dresden |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion, doc-type:doctoralThesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/doctoralThesis, doc-type:Text |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
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