Papers by Christopher Okemwa
The International Journal of Humanities & Social Studies
This article explores how poets construct their identities in spoken word poetry performances in ... more This article explores how poets construct their identities in spoken word poetry performances in Nairobi, Kenya. The article contends how the poets create their own images, and stage personae play a pivotal role in endearing themselves to the unique Nairobi audience. It does this by tracing the history of the event and comprehensively describing the performances. Preparations for the event are also brought to light. Spoken word poetry is, arguably, the premier regular performance poetry event in Nairobi since 2015 to date. Thus, understanding how the poets construct their own identities is an essential antidote to understanding the longstanding endurance of the spoken word poetry performances in Nairobi.
The International Journal of Humanities & Social Studies
This paper examines the feature of open-mic poetry performance, a sub-genre of spoken word poetry... more This paper examines the feature of open-mic poetry performance, a sub-genre of spoken word poetry in Kenya. Since 2003, Performance poetry has gained greater recognition in Kenya, illustrating the impact of captivating verbal choices at play in crafted, theatrical, and nonlinear dialogues between open-mic poets and their audiences. This paper uses selected open-mic poems to describe how this sub-genre engages various verbal inflections in (re)presenting our everyday societal issues. Anchored on an interactionist stance, the study proceeds from an understanding that art should be viewed not as a disembodied product but as a collection of dynamic social and interactional processes. While using textual analysis, this paper unravels verbal inflections used in selected open-mic poems in Kenya. It further interrogates how open-mic poets deploy various performance strategies to make their performances lively and captivating and deliver their intended messages. The paper argues that the eme...
Journal of Global Research in Education and Social Science
Abagusii of Kenya, like many traditional African societies, were (are) thought to be patriarchal ... more Abagusii of Kenya, like many traditional African societies, were (are) thought to be patriarchal in their social setup. Contrary to this belief, however, there exist cultural art forms from the community which suggest a balance, if delicate, of power across gender. One such art form is oral poetry. Abagusii oral poetry is performed in all rites of passage and activities in the community such as birth, harvest, circumcision, and marriage-related ceremonies, to name but a few. When examining the oral poetry of Abagusii closely, it becomes evident that gender relations among Abagusii are much more sophisticated than generally assumed. On some occasions, matrimonial power is not only seen to exist but suggestively acknowledged as well. The study is mainly guided by the ideas of such African feminists as Oyèrónké Oyĕwùmí, Ifi Amadiume, among other gender intellectuals as Lugones [1], Gullestand (1993) Vilar [2], Shannon (1985), and Chinweizu (1990), this article examines manifestations o...
Nairobi Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences
This paper examines verbal inflections and performance strategies used in open-mic performance po... more This paper examines verbal inflections and performance strategies used in open-mic performance poetry, a sub-genre of spoken word poetry in Kenya. Since 2003, Performance poetry has gained greater recognition in Kenya illustrating the impact of captivating verbal choices at play in crafted, theatrical, and nonlinear dialogues between open-mic poets and their audience. Using selected open-mic poems, this paper describes how this sub-genre engages various verbal inflections in (re)presenting our everyday issues in society. Anchored on an interactionist stance, the study proceeds from an understanding that art should be viewed not as a disembodied product, but as a collection of dynamic social and interactional processes. While using textual analysis, this paper unravels verbal inflections used in selected open-mic poems in Kenya. It further interrogates ways in which open-mic poets deploy various performance strategies to make their performances lively, captivating and to deliver thei...
Nairobi Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, Oct 22, 2019
Audio-visual Coca-Cola commercials are conceptualized as art that falls in the genre of film. The... more Audio-visual Coca-Cola commercials are conceptualized as art that falls in the genre of film. They use soundtracks that are in congruence with advertisers’ messages. The review of extant literature shows that the frame by frame presentation of images is enhanced by the use of the right melodies that are in form of customized popular music. Following the principles of semiotics, the researcher conducted a content analysis on a sample of twelve audio-visual Coca-Cola commercials, identified through convenience sampling from YouTube. The purpose of this paper was to assess how soundtracks interact with visuals in audio-visual Coca-Cola commercials to create images that are a representation of mediated reality. The findings of this study indicate that the audio-video Coca-Cola advertisements rely on a combination of visual image and sound to create signs (constellations of signifiers) that encourage audiences to identify with characters featured taking Coke drinks, as they exhibit excitement and enthusiasms. The interaction of lyrics and other visual elements enable the audience to interpret created images, assign meanings, and assume the subject positions defined by themes in commercials
This creative work comprises six short stories, which capture the experiences of women in Kenya t... more This creative work comprises six short stories, which capture the experiences of women in Kenya today. The plight of women is focused in these short stories. The stories demonstrate how cultural and traditional beliefs contribute to the hindrance of women’s progress. Practices such as female circumcision and early marriage are some of the main hindrances to women’s progress. The struggle of women to liberate themselves is also featured by this creative work. Access to education bv the women is indicated as one avenue through which women are able to liberate themselves. This creative work, therefore, shows that education has the power to liberate them. The achievement of women is also celebrated by this creative work. The stories indicate l that participation in politics and acquisition of leadership positions in the society are some of the achievements of women in Kenya today. Stories in this project are arranged in a logical sequence. This sequence depicts women liberation movement...
East African Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies
Many women in Kenya, and in particular those in the Kipsigis community, are still faced with many... more Many women in Kenya, and in particular those in the Kipsigis community, are still faced with many challenges due to the patriarchal nature of their society, although the new Kenya constitution passed in 2010 provides a framework for attaining gender equality. Among the many methods of protest, art has been used in many societies as an instrument for contesting social ills including patriarchy. This has also been true to the Kipsigis community. Therefore, this research aimed to investigate the use of selected popular Kipsigis songs of Diana Chemutai Musila (Chelele) and Babra Chepkoech to contest patriarchy. Specifically, the study analysed the aspects of patriarchal oppression of the Kipsigis women as depicted in the selected Kipsigis songs; explored ways used by the Kipsigis women to contest patriarchy as highlighted in the selected Kipsigis songs and examined the literary devices used by the selected singers to expose patriarchal oppression in the selected Kipsigis songs. The targ...
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Papers by Christopher Okemwa