| dc.description.abstract | The study investigates the literariness of selected Bamasaaba Marriage Songs in Namunsi Sub-county, Mbale district. The study was guided by three objectives which include: examination of the moral underpinnings of the Bamasaaba marriage songs; examining the aesthetic value of the selected Bamasaaba marriage songs; and analysis of the aesthetic value of Bamasaaba marriage songs. Aware that stability in a marriage requires a stable mental state, among others, the study was anchored on the psychoanalytic literary theory to analyse the selected traditional marriage songs. Both fieldwork and library-based research methodologies were used to garner both primary and secondary data—articles, textbooks, journals, newspapers and interviews form the major sources of the data used in the study. The researcher also supplemented with some interviews where data collected from respondents, such as, opinion leaders, married couples and youths had to align with what was in the field. A qualitative research approach was adopted where themes derived from the study objectives guided the analysis. The study findings revealed that traditional marriage songs were important in fostering marriage stability by offering guidance on marriages among the Bamasaaba through the promotion and preservation of moral, therapeutic and aesthetic values. However, it was discovered that little was being done by the elders and cultural leaders in teaching children traditional marriage songs, as the responsibility for teaching these songs heavily depended on schools. Finally, the study recommends that elders get time to teach children the traditional marriage songs since they play an integral role in the stability of marriages, among others. Parents should take time to teach their children traditional marriage songs which instill morals and prepare young couples for their marriage. Local producers and composers should produce and store traditional marriage songs so that they can be accessed anytime and anywhere. | en_US |
