A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF HUMOUR AS AN ASPECT OF SATIRE IN SELECTED SONGS OF OKOT P’BITEK: SONG OF MALAYA, SONG OF LAWINO AND SONG OF OCOL

Abstract

Humour is essentially part of our daily lives. There seems to be life and liveliness whenever we incorporate humour even to a small extent. Based on this concept, this study sought to explore the use of humour and how it leads to successful satirizing of situations in OkotP’Bitek’s three selected texts - Song of Malaya, Song of Lawino and Song of Ocol. It aimed at giving different definitions of humour and then going ahead to show that humour is subjective, that is, what one considers as humour may differ from another person's interpretation within the same context of use. Successful use of satire relies on effective use of humour and this is important to both writers and the readers in that whereas the writer will comfortably relay issues of concern, the readers will not get offended even when the issues being relayed touch on their personal lives. This study had three objectives: to identify humour in satirical contexts in S. O. M, S. O. O and S. O. L, to show that humour is arbitrary in the selected songs, and finally to demonstrate that use of humour leads to successful relay of negative themes in the three songs. The aim of the study was to show that satire cannot be successfully used without incorporating humour. Therefore, satire and humour are integral. Various contexts were considered in the three songs in order to find out contexts that contain humour. In particular, the songs were studied in contexts of politics, religion and culture so as to provide a more organized in-depth analysis. Study population was limited to the three songs and only samples of data were picked to achieve the study objectives. One theory of reference which was heavily relied on in this study was Reader Response theory by Stanley Fish. The study design was qualitative in nature. Cresswell (1998) observes that a study design aims at exploring in depth, insight and the wealthy ideas of a phenomenon. Data were collected from both primary and secondary sources and were particularly based on a library research. Primary data was data which was collected afresh for the first time. On the other hand, secondary data was data that had already been collected in order to be used again. After obtaining data, analysis was done on the content. It was textual analysis. Towards the end there were conclusions and recommendations that would give summaries and future actions respectively.