SAIKOLOJIA YA ELIMU (PSYCHOLOGY OF EDUCATION)

TITLE OF THE BOOK;  SONG OF LAWINO.

POET:  OKOT P`BETEK.

PUBLISHER:  EAST AFRICA PUBLISHERS HOUSE.

YEAR:  1976.

BACKGROUND OF THE POET

 Okot P`betek was born in Gulu (northern  Uganda) in 1931. He is ocol by tribe, his father is a teacher of Gulu mission center and his mother was a composer and singer of ocol`s songs.  a long poem Okot p`betek dealing with the tribulations of a rural African wife whose husband has taken up urban life and wishes everything to be westernized. Okot got his education from Gulu high school, kings college Budo (Uganda) government training college(teaching), Bristol university  education diploma. A songs of Lawino was  initially written  in Akoli, one of the Luo dialect in  northern Uganda in 1971. But letter gives an english  translation by author who according to his own words dipper a bite of the eagle kings of the original Acoli. 

Although the work was turn down by several british publisher in 1966 it became a best seller in 2001. Okot`s good friend made another translation of song of Lawino which he claim was closer to  his old friends. Acoli version called in defence of Lawino. This literary work is also originating from sub-saharan Africa an more known for its scathing  shown how African society was being destroyed by the colonization of Africa.

THE SHORT STORY OF THE POEM

The song of  lawino of ocol is an epic poem writer by Uganda p`Bitek.  The strory is told as a dialogue between lawino and ocol, the first chapter set up the differences between lawino and ocol  despises black people and their traditional ways and has adopted  Europeans values because he work in the government he wants to modernize Africa in those values. Lawino disagrees and implores her husband   hating his own people.

FORMS

Is the part of a literary work which comprises setting, plot, style, characters, characterization and language use. Or form is the general organization of a literary works.

Setting

This is the element  of form which show the  place and when the event has been taken place. Or setting is the place where literary work is happen or taking place. The main setting of the song of lawino and Ocol located in northern  Uganda after independence and being published by east Africa publishing house (EAPH) in 1966.

Also there minor setting used by a poet, such as;

Clubs is the place where lawino blaiming about the western dances, also she says that African dance and song are most essential for Acoli`s  youths for example in the poem I DO NOT KNOW THE DANCE OF WHITE PEOPLE when lawino says that,

                                      “I can not dance the rumba,

                                       My mother taught me,

                                        The beautiful dance of Acoli…….” (pg. 42

At the church  where Ocol  says “When Jesus was born white men began to count here, 

                                                        I don’t know the  ways of God a Christian name,

                                                        I like visiting the diviner priest”……..(pg. 73)

Also says “We should pray to Joseph and Petro and Lucas and others ancestors of white men”(pg93)

At the forest.  That seen when lawino says that “Each trees from the Ituri  forest” blow up Kilimanjaro. (Pg. 146)

At the Hospital. The author show the setting at difference hospital, e.g. At Mulago and Kenyatta  Ocol like to be treated because him blame local medicine. (pg 150).

At Gulu high school- The place where Ocol got higher education founded at southern Uganda  (Pg. 88) “who has not been to school he says A university”    

At the market. The author shows lawino  at the market  e.g. “whose preoccupation is to boast in the market place showing off to people”. (Pg. 90).

At the village where lawino and ocol live (Pg 141)

“How did I make men ignorant?

Was it not I,

Who ask the minster, to build a school, in your village, and did I prevent,  children from other village fro going to school” says Ocol.

CHARACTER AND CHARACTERIZATION.

Character is person  or animal or things that take part  in the action  of literary work.

Characterization is the process of describing the participants in a literary work. Or is the creation of imaginary persons so that they can exist  for the readers as life like.

There two types of characters which are,

(i)                 Main/major characters and

(ii)                Minor characters

Main character is the character who appear in a whole story and is the centre of the story.

The main character of song of Lawino and Ocol are;

a/ Lawino,

b/ Ocol and

c/ Clementine,

The minor  character is the helping character who is helping a major character example  in songs of lawino are;

a/ Ocol`s  brother`s,

b/ Lawino`s  mother`s and

c/ Ocol mother`s.

Characterization:

a/ Lawino.

i/ She is Ocol`s wife.

ii/ She is uneducated woman. (pg.34)

“You  say I do not know the letter, A because I have not been to school”

(pg.56 and pg.72)

iii/ She practice African culture.(pg.50)

“My husband tells me I have no ideas of modern beauty.  He  says I have stuck to old fashioned hair styles”

iv/ She is strong upholder of African tradition. (pg.51)

 “Its true I can not do my hair as white women do”

 v/ She is responsible mother who loves and care for her family (Pg.67) “If a child cries or has a cough, Ocol stom like a Buffalo.

“She is jelious woman (pg.39) I don’t deny am a little jealous.It is not good lying ,We all suffer from alittle jealousy” (Pg. 40).

b/ Ocol

i/ He is Lawino husband and he has girlfriend whom known as Clementine.

ii/ He is arrogant.  eg.(Pg35.) “My husband pours scorn on black people”

iii/ He is educated man.  (pg.88). “he has no time to waste  discussing this with a thing like me who has not been to school”

iv/ He follow western culture. (pg 36)

 “Ocol  is no longer in love with me. He is in love with a morden woman”

     v/ He betrayal his culture «He says Black people are primitive

                                            And their ways are utterly harmful,

                                             Their dances are mortal sins,

                                             They are ignorant, poor and diseased! ...»( Pg. 36). Also (pg.35)

vi/ He is hypocrity  politician (leader of DP) who preaches unity and at the sometime he is in  conflict with his brother who belong to another political party UPC.(Pg.73) & pg. 151.

Vii/ He beliefs Christianity (pg.82)

“Pagan names, he says, Belong to sinners who is burn in everlasting  fires Ocol insists he must be called by his christian name”.

c/ Clementine

i/ she is ocol's girlfriend. (pg.37)

ii/ She an educated woman.

iii/ She is a modernized girl, (pg. 37) “ he is in love with a modern girl the name of the beautiful one is Clementine”

Also Clementine

iv/ She oppose African culture. (pg.39).

v/ She is a westernized woman who symbolizes western fashion.

d/ Lawino`s Mother

i/ She is a mother ofLawino

ii/ She follow African culture (pg.42)

iii/ She is informal (pg.42)

iv/ She care and love her family.

In the poem I DO NOT KNOW THE DANCE OF A WHITE PEOPLE. This show the characterization of Lawino`s mother when lawino says that

                                                     “I cannot dance the rumba,

                                                       My mother taught me,

                                                      The beautiful dances of Acoli.”(Pg.42)

e/ Ocol`s Brother

i/ He is ocol`s brother (pg.37)

ii/ He is a political leader ( UPC ). (pg. 151)

Iii/ He is hypocrite.

Style

Refer to the technique or a method of doing or performing a work of art ( literary work). In the song of lawino and ocol. Technique used are.

Monologue

Monology is the  speech you make to yourself

In the poem the poet use monologue technique when Lawino speaking herself from the beginning up to the end, also Ocol speaks himself from the beginning  to the last.

Narrative technique

A poet use narrative technique to narrate a story of a poet.

Straight forward narration

A poet use a technique of straight forward narration because the events arranged from the beginning to the end.

Plot

Refers to the arrangement of events in a literary work. The poem has been arranged chronologically, because the story arranged from the beginning, middle and to the end.

At the beginning Lawino tells us how  Ocol insult and looks down on her and her ways, family, clan and all people and their traditional ways. Lawino reacts to Ocol insult by mocking him with his western ways example in the poem “ MY HUSBAND TONGUE IS BITTER” when  Lawino say that,

                                           “Husband, now you despire me,

                                              Now you treat me with spite,

                                             And says I have inherited the

                                              Stupidly of my aunt”…….( Pg.37)

Then at the middle Lawino introduces us to Clementine the city girl who is her rivals for Ocol`s  love and explain how they are living by following westernized culture,  way of wearing, dancing, hairing style like wearing wings. The   use of headkerchiefs and way of welcoming her husband warmly. Lawino also compares  western ways of telling time like counting seconds, min an hour clocks with traditional ways of observing nature or by needs felt by human being. Lawino express her altitude towards Christianity and those who preach  and love it. She blames the  preachers of Christianity she shows that the missionaries are wrong on the way of thinking, education, sexual morality and naming individual, She blame the preachers for preaching good things but practicing bad thing to Christians. Example in the poem THEM WOMAN WITH WHO I SHARE MY HUSBAND when Lawino says that,

                                                           “Ocol rejects the old type

                                                            He is in love with a modern woman

                                                             He is in love with a beautiful girl….”(Pg.36)

And the end Lawino advises Ocol on how to regain his manhood, according to her he can do that by throwing away all the symbol of hypocricy by beginning for forgiveness of the elder offering traditional sacrifices using tradition doctor and medicines. Example in the poem LET PREPARE THE MALAKWANG DISH, whe Lawino says; 

                                                                                 “Remove the gloves,

                                                                                   Throw them the scats,

                                                                                   Then remove the scats…..”

Figure of speech

Is the skillful use of words and the figurative or metaphorical language. Example Metaphor, hyperbole , personification, simile, irony, images,  etc..

i/ Metaphor  is the comparison that does not use conjuction such as  “like”, “as”

 for example Lawino says  “my husband is angry” (Pg.164),Let me praise you, son of chief”(pg.120).

ii/ Personification; A figure of speech that gives  animals ideas and  in animate objective human form character, the presenting of imaginary creative or things of having human personalities, intelligence and emotion

for example in this book there personifications such as;

             Lawino say  “my husband, son of bull” (Pg.120).

           Ocol told Lawino that;  “A dog of the white man understand English” (Pg.115)

iii/ Images. Refer to the use of figurative language to produce pictures in the mind of the reader of hearers. Due to the song of Lawino and Ocol have just potrayed such as;

Lawino says “if a child cries or has cough, Ocol like a Buffalo” (Pg.67).

                     “Mad creacture, her hair, a burnt out forest, her eyer” (Pg.12)

                 “Listern, ostrich plunes differ from chicken feathers” (Pg.51)

                 “from the mouth of which river” (Pg.84).              

    iv/ Hyperbole is deliberate exaggeration or overstatement. This appear is poem MY HUSBAND TONGUE IS BITTER, when Lawino says that;

                                      “Clementine body resemble  the ugly coatof the hyena…..”  (Pg. 37).

Also hyperbole was seen when Ocol tell Lawino that;

                     “A dog of the white man understanding English…..” (Pg.115)

                      “White men`s stove are for cooking white men`s foods….” (Pg.62)

                     “do they buy the place in sky land with money…….” (Pg.85)

                    

v/ Simile is a figure of speech that compare two dissimilar things by using a keyword of conjuctive such as like, as, for instance. In this book it shows when lawino telling Clementine

                                                “Her lips are –red-hot like  glowing charcoal,

                                                 Her mouth is like raw yaws,

                                                She looks as if she has been stuck by lighting,

                                                Her lips look like a bleeding,

                                                She look like a witch like someone who has lost her head” (Pg.39).    

 Also Lawino telling her husband that;

              “my husband`s tongue is bitter like the root of lynno lily….”

Another simile are; Lawino says; “if a child cries or has a cough, Ocol storms  like rooting to tomatoes” (Pg. 67).

Also  “creacked like the Earth.” (Pg. 131)

          “will capture your head and like my husband” (pg. 115)

 vi/ Symbolism is a figure of speech which use sign to show certain meaning within this poem it shown when Ocol says;

                     “The graceful giraffe” it symbolize the beauty of African woman.

                       “The monkey” it stand for the ugliness of the white woman and who appear white by wearing white people`s eg. Wigs (Pg.50-56).

vii/ Repetition; is the fact of doing or saying the same things many times. For instance Lawino tells her husband that;

         “you kiss her on the check as white people

         Do you kiss her open-sore lips as white people do,

         You suck the slimy saliva from each other mouth as white people do” (Pg. 44)

Ocol respond to her mother “why, why was I born black”(Pg.126)

                                                “Let them go down,

                                                 Let them go down,

                                                  With the setting sun” ( pg.101).

viii/ Irony;  is the figure of speech in which what is meant is contracy to what the words to say or is the figure of speech in which the actual intention is expressed in words that carry the oppose meaning Example, you are the cleverest student in class but you score 5% in Kiswahili subject. But within the poem shown in section five from the poem THE GRACEFUL GIRRAFE CANNOT BECOME A MONKEY

        “The woman is not beautiful at all after putting curly in her head

           She become like a chicken that has fallen in a pond”

It is irony to say that she is a beautiful woman.

ix/ Tone/voice  as  altitude toward the subject and toward the audience implied in a literary work. In the poet song of Lawino and Ocol the author potrays Lawino  to stand  the tone is that of seriousness because all songs of Lawino voice/tone complain blame about ocol ways as well as ironic tone the athour describe Ocol have adopt ironicvoice for example

                             “why mother, mother, why mother was born black” (Pg. 126).

                               “don’t know, the use of quinine” (Pg, 91).

Proverbs is the fact of experience that is taken as true by many people. This is another language used in song  of Lawino and Ocol such proverbs are;

                                        “ The pumpkin  in the old homestead must not be uprooted”….(Pg.41)

Mood is the situation/state of mind appear  after reading the work such as good or bad .

Okot P`Bitek have potray lawino have the sadness about words of Ocol insulted custom and tradition of Africa, disunity, hypocricy, betrayal etc….

                                    

                                                  Language use;

The language use is the intermediate because its involve simple and complex language for  example of simple language was used in (Pg. 38)

                “My classmen, I cry listen to my voice

                  The insult of my may

                  Are painful beyond bearing”

And the complex language was in (Pg. 38)

              “ Yesterday night  ah!

                  The  hot bath

            The  thick purple carpet

             The red slippers”

Also there a use of Native language. Native language is  the tribe language or mother tongue  language

For example,  in (pg. 6) Timme  ducu,  luttimme, munu-munu, lukwako dako atyer. (Pg. 44.translate) “ you kiss her on the ckeek, you kiss her open-sore lips, you  suck the slimy salva”

Also; Te okomo obur long lupuku; (Pg.41. translate) The pumpkin in old homestead must not be uprooted.

Use of Swahili language eg, (pg. 139) “when uhuru ripped”

My flower garden into maize shamba

Im not play the rumba.

So the poet show how the western  culture or foreign culture  affect the African culture

   

                                                      REFERENCE

Poem book ( Song of Lawino and Ocol) 1966

www.wikipedia/song of lawino and ocol.com

Group discussion