DOI: 10.36347/sjahss.2016.v04i08.014

Pages: 912-920

This article investigates, identifies and analyzes performance of Olubeko dirges among the Abanyala (Wanyala) of Kakamega, a homogenous ethnic dialect of Luhya-Bantu stock in the Western region of Kenya. By so doing, it exposes the fascinating language variety and literary elements of Olubeko dirge form as funeral poetry. Through content analysis tool under the guidelines of Dell Hymes theory of performance, the literary elements of literature used by music contours in the performance of Olubeko dirges were analyzed. The theory of performance has its roots based on the importance of performance in any text or element of speech; how the work of art is created and the involvement of the audience. To achieve this, five Olubeko dirges were observed and analyzed. The article is of the view that the literary devices of literature (theme, characters, setting, repetitions, refrain and figurative language) employed by the performers constitute some of the essential components that are utilized in the realization of funeral poetry. The vivid pictures that are conjured from the performers’ imagination as they perform these dirges generate emotive feelings that view death as a process and not an end and in which Olubeko dirges contributea lot to its realization among the Abanyala of Kakamega. Through the literary devices that are exposed, it is evident that performance is a mode of language, a way of speaking.