Mark Chetambe

Female Characters in the Contemporary Kenyan Oral Narrative: a Study of Six Kenyan Oral Narratives Mark Chetambe

The contemporary oral narrative is an evolving literary genre in Kenya. It has become increasingly popular with the Kenyan audience, especially after it was introduced in the Kenya School' and Colleges' Drama Festival. T. V and radio stations have embraced it as part of their entertainment menu. This book delves into the way the contemporary oral narrative in Kenya portrays the female character. Focusing on six oral narrative texts performed in the drama festival by six different institutions in Kenya, the author examines the images and roles that female charcters are cast in in these contemporary tales. The style that the narratives employ in presenting the female person is also analysed. Making it clear that the contemporary oral narrative differs from the traditional narrative in terms of composition and performance,the author observes that the contemporary tale needs to be reconstructed so that it can project a more favourable image of the female gender.