| dc.description.abstract | ABSTRACT
Literature is the mirror of society. There is a big relationship between literature and the
happenings in society. Aspects of literature are in style and theme and characters are one of
the aspects of style. Swahili written literature has four genres: novel, play, short stories and
poetry. Characters’ image in the play is usually brought out through their conversations and
actions. Many studies that have been conducted on female characters in plays before 2000
portrayed the woman generally without focusing on her leadership. Few which focused on the
female character portrayed her negatively. Leadership is an aspect of significance in society.
Although we have had women leaders before 2000, their status has been low. The changes in
society since 2000 have brought about a situation whereby the status of women leaders is
improving and the society seemingly accepts their leadership. Some of the play writers since
2000 are portraying the woman positively through their plays. There is need of having studies
that will investigate if the woman leader in Swahili plays since 2000 is still being portrayed
negatively or if this portrayal has changed. The year 2000 is a key date in the growth of the
image of the woman leader because it is from this year that there is an increase in the number
of play writers who are portraying the woman positively. This study aimed at investigating
the portrayal of the woman leader in selected Swahili plays since 2000. This study was
guided by the following specific objectives: describe the characterization of the woman
leader in selected Swahili plays since 2000; analyze stylistic devices used to portray the
woman leader in selected Swahili plays since 2000; evaluate the impact of the portrayal of
the woman leader on women leadership in selected plays. The theory that is adopted for this
study is the Deconstruction Theory that was propounded by Derrida (1966) and explained by
Ntaragwi (2004). The tenets of this theory include: language, context and perceptions. This
study investigated how stylistic devices, perceptions and actions of characters portray the
woman leader. The impact of this portrayal to women leadership was also investigated.
Analytical research design was employed. This study focused on 23 Swahili plays that have
been written since 2000 because it is in this period that the status of women leaders is
improving and the society seemingly accepts their leadership. Through purposive sampling
technique, this research sampled 4 plays: Pango (Wamitila, 2003), Posa za Bikisiwa
(Mohammed & King’ei, 2008), Kimya Kimya Kimya (Mohammed, 2011) and Kigogo (Kea,
2016). Library method was used to collect data. Selected plays were read and data recorded
with the help of an observation checklist. This data was organized and analyzed through
content analysis. Findings were presented through explanation. It has emerged through this
study that the woman leader in selected Swahili plays has been portrayed positively.
Similarly, it has emerged that stylistic devices have contributed towards portraying the
woman leader in selected Swahili plays. Moreover, this study has demonstrated that the
woman leader’s action of coming out to lead brings her various challenges. However, the
woman leader in selected Swahili plays since 2000 to 2016 faces these challenges and
emerges victorious. | en_US |
