To apply the functionist theory to the oral literature of our community. Draw examples from narratives, proverbs, riddles and songs.

INTRODUCTION

Functionalism theory; Is of the view that any cultural activity must have a utilitarian value for its people. Functionalist theory  see the society  as a stable entity perpetuated by the various cultural activities, narratives are seen as an embodiment of the beliefs, customs, rituals, and structure that needs to be maintained. Functionalism is by far the most persistent theory in the study of oral literature Miruka (1994). The theory proposed by Bronislaw Malinowski and Radcliffe Brown. By using MAKONDE SOCIETY as a case study to discuss the way functionalism theory applied in oral literature of makonde society.

NARRATIVES.

A narrative refers to a prose account of people, events, places,that may be factual or fictional, the account are  principally handed down from one person to another, and generation to generation through words mouth.

Myths. Often attempt to explain the beginning of time, and are concerned with the projection of external principles as observed though natural phenomena, consist of events which happened in the distant sacred past, frequently related to time of creation. Nandwa and Bukenya(1983).In Makonde society myths are common and they performs various function for the betterment  of the society.

For example; zama ja tangu vavana vazaliwa nanga ulinda kwa sababu wazazi vao vyalyanga mai la vanyama bila hatiya kwa mfano vang’uku vakataila mayai lammalele lanaliwa, mnungu mkuveng’a lana mwishoni mkuamua kuvalimbikija vajawazito kulya mai.

A time go, new born babies were born with no hair in their heads, because their parents used to eat the eggs of  Hen and Duck, as the result God cursed them to bare babies without hair and finally they restricts pregnant women to eat eggs.

This is used to secure animals especially chickens and Duck which were venerable to disappear.

Legends; These are stories about heroes of a certain community. It can sometimes happen the whole community to perform heroic event, it involve extra ordinal ability of a person. Are closely related to myths, but what happen to legend is belief to be true and usually there are some indicators showing things are happened the way they are narrated. In Makonde society legend is also common in one way or another.

For example; vanu vaikala kandokando na mto Ruvuma  vanahwa sana na ajali ya vambulu, mwka umu mkutokela mtaalamu Malungudulu  ambae  anivawalala vambulu kalibu vohe vachisumbula na maisha mkuva la usalama kama hambi na kusababisha achi chituchema siku  malungudulu

A time ago people lived along the belt of Ruvuma river were highly killed by crocodiles, a certain year occurred a man called Malungudulu who killed all crocodiles disturbed  people then  after people started to live free this lead to what we call Malungudulu day.

This is used to motivate people in Makonde society to be patriots in their society and to solve their problems in case if something is happening.

Tricksters; these refers to the stories involves small animals tricking bigger animals. in Makonde society such stories are common intended to perform various functions.

For example;

Anepo tangu Sungura na mchehe vavele malafiki, siku limu limu vapete kadi ya mwaliko, sungura mkuandaa ndizi na Mcehe mkuandaa mmogo kwa ajili ya mwanda wao, nndila sungura mkuchi valye chakulya chao na valile mmogo baadae Mchehe mkumshauli valye chakulya sungula mkuchi ndizi jivele sumu. Baada ya mda Sungura mkumshauli Mcheha vabadili malina lao nang’e Chawageni na mchehe chawote, chakulya pavawikile mkuchi chawageni mkukulya sungura weka na siku lifuete chakulya mkuandaliwa kwa ajili ya chawageni mkulyanga vohe.

A long time ago, Hare and Hyena were friends and they lived together, one day they received the invitation card, few days later they started their journey. Hare prepared bananas and Hyena prepared cassava for their journey, when they were in the way Hare told Hyena to eat their food and they ate cassava. After a long journey Hyena advised Hare to eat their food but Hare said his food (banana) has Poisson. Finally Hare told Hyena they have to change their names, Hare called Chawageni and Hyena called Chaote. After arriving they were given a food called chawageni Hare eat it alone, the next day food was prepared called Chawote then all Hare and Hyena eat together.

This used to criticize people to avoid greediness in the society.

PROVERBS;

Refers to the saying in more or less fixed form marked by shortness, sense and salt, and distinguished by popular acceptance of the truth tersely expressed in it. Ruth Finnegan (1970). According to Longman dictionary proverb is a short well known saying in popular language. In Makonde society proverbs are constructed to perform various functions.

  For example;  Mnongoledi akalya matope.

                         Let a person who wants to go ahead pass.

This proverb may be used to talk about a leader who is facing difficulties in his task of leadership on behalf of his subject. This is used to make people sharp and responsible to perform various tasks for a right time without delaying.

                  Unahena  unauya.

                  You will go, you will return.

This proverb is used to advice people not to be ambitious in the society.

   Wammbele mnyuma akahwika

   The one who is behind does not arrive in front.

This proverb perform the function that, people should not give up because things change you have to keep on struggling here and there.

  Nikashindana na kiwambaza mnango nguwona.

  Do not compete with one who is more powerful than you

This proverb wants people to be submissive to their fellows and avoidance type of behavior.

 Kila chuni na chakulya chake.

 Every bird has its own food.

This is used to mean there is no accounting for testes, it wants people to eat food without any judgments in order people to have common interest.

RIDDLES;

Riddle refers as a word puzzle in which an object or situation is referred to in unusual figurative terms and one is expected to discover or decipher in literal terms what it meant. Nandw & Bukenya. (1983). Or

Is a short oral puzzle which presents the peculiar characteristics of a concept whether those characteristics are physical, behavioral, or habitual and requires the unraveling of the concealed literal reference riddle may not be considered as complete without the response. The answer must therefore be regarded as an integral part of the riddle. In Makonde society riddles are used to perform different functions

For example;

         Challenger: Nyumba yangu nanga paivele na mnango.

                My house has

       Respondent: Liye

                 Egg.

To measure the level of understanding to a particular person. That is to say a reader should associate to different things and to know what mean.

  Challenger: Ng’uku wangu ataidile mmiva.

          My hen egged in the thorns.

Respondent: Nanasi

         Pineapple.

This is used to entertain people especially if they are in mood less situation.

    

 Challenger: koti lyanga somo live vamboko

         The coat of grandfather has louse

 Respondent: Mbingu na nyota

          Heaven and stars

 This is used to entertain people especially if they are in mood less.

 Challenger: Ukakamulika wala kung’anilika

         Untouchable

Respondent: Moto

          Fire

This is used to warn people against dangerous situation in area they live in.

Challenger: chakulya changa   wamwana

          The main food of a child

Respondent: luwono

         Sleeping.

 Is used to entertain people, especially if they are mood less and to make them happy.

 Challenger: Rafiki yangu avena lidodo limu

          My friend has one leg

 Respondent: uwowa

          Mushroom.

To measure level of understanding between people or readers in the society.

SONG.

There is confusion between poetry and song. These two are not exactly the same, song is just one way of delivering poetry, A poem may be sang, declaimed or recited, like wise song may be devoid of poetry. It may convey any feeling, thoughts, or ideas and may be nothing but a set of sounds set to a tune. Miruka (1994).In makonde society songs are performed to in different socio-political aspects for instance during the traditional ceremonies songs are sang to perform various functions like to entertain people and sometimes to educate people.

 For example;

            Vanamwali vanamwali vanamwaka munimahanika

Vanamwali vanamwali vanamwaka munimahanika

Pavenamwali kuhena kusokoni kunaiva mboa

Vakamuja munangutangaze nangu nalipa

            Vanamwali vanamwali vanamwaka munimahanika

            Vanamwali vanamwali vanamwaka munimahanika

            Pavenamwali kuhena kusokoni kunaiva mboa

Vakamuja munangutangaze nangu nalipa

 This is used to entertain people at the same time to educate them, this song meant to criticize people to avoid lust, and to work for their betterment.

   Anacho chani chinu chinikulupuka

   Anecho chani chinu chinikulupuka

   Muchidachi mweee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

   Chinu chinikulupuka

                    

This is used to entertain people and to show off that a family has ability to afford basic needs like clothes during the traditional ceremonies to their children. This is when children are taken to home.

 Generally; oral literature performs different function in the society like to educate people, to entertain, to criticize, to preserve cultural heritage and to develop language skills, thus why each society has its own oral literature to its people. Oral literature depends on artistic or imaginative use of language. However, by virtue of its verbal expression in its authentic form, oral literature has certain stylistic aspects which are peculiar to it. Each genre of oral literature has its own special characteristics and functions just as each piece will have aspects which it does not share with other material from the same genre.  Oral narratives, all over the world, set the pace for the written literature. It is an integral part of every human culture. However, the sophistication of the modern world, particularly the globalization, has directly or indirectly affected the potency of oral narratives in many societies because people nowadays ignore their narratives.

                    

 REFERENCES

Finnegan, R.(1970). Oral literature in Africa, Nairobi: Oxford University press.

Nandwa, J.& Bukenya, A.(1983). African Oral Literature for Schools, Nairobi: Longman                    Publishers.

 Miruka, O.(2005). Encounter With Oral Literature, Kenya: East African Educational Publishers                    Ltd.