Riddles, along with proverbs, are key aspects of oral
communication in many African cultures, including that of Abagusii
of Kenya. Popular, especially with children in the community,
participants typically use riddles to challenge one another's
knoweldge. One person would metaphorically describe something with
a concealed clue. The listener, using imagination, previous
experience and the context in which the riddle is said, would
search for the most relevant answer. It takes great imagination to
get the correct answer.
Riddles are also performed communally as in the case of groups
of people working in the fields, trekking to the market, riding in
the same public transport or simply sitting around an evening fire
as they waited to retire to bed. This aspect of riddling acted to
strengthen community bonds, enhanced knowledge-sharing and imparted
lessons, especially for the young in the community.
" Riddles of Abagusii of Kenya" documents the many riddles from
that community recorded over a spread of time and space. It offers
analysis intended for understanding the riddles and how they are
used.
What Others Say:
The publication of Christopher Okemwa's " Riddles of Abagusii of
Kenya " is a giant groundbreaking step in making available the rich
reservoir of the oral literature of the Abagusii. The pool of
riddles in the book will be handy in helping students and
researchers to access this genre of the oral literature of the
community. It is not only a fact that this is so far the best
presentation of the riddling tradition among the Abagusii, but also
the deep literary quality of this presentation places this book
among the best that have emanated from a research on this
community. " - Obed Machogu, University of East Africa,
Baraton."
"By collecting riddles from all parts of the Abagusii community,
the author scores a first in this category of writing. However,
what makes the book stand out and more useful is his treatment of
riddling, which takes care of place, function and time. His
analysis of the riddling styles caps the book achievement with
refreshing, rather unexpected, academic spicing." " - Anderea
Morara, Editor; Author of "Ogasusu na Abasani Baye Aboro""
"Riddles' originality is that they imaginatively depict the
environment in which they are made by a keen observant mind. Their
reality makes it practical by the imagery with which they are
expressed. They are factual and compelling." - " Evans Machera,
Lawyer."
"It creates suspense that demands the reader to search for
more. The tone is high that makes one want to laugh, yet hidden
meaning challenges the reader's thinking. It is revealing and
entertaining." " - Anonymous "
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