A Comparative Study of the Visions and Styles of Francis Imbuga and John Ruganda

Kyallo, Joshua W. (1992) A Comparative Study of the Visions and Styles of Francis Imbuga and John Ruganda. Masters thesis, Kenyatta University.

[img] PDF (A Comparative Study of the Visions and Styles of Francis Imbuga and John Ruganda)
2016-02-115.pdf - Accepted Version
Restricted to Repository staff only

Download (86MB) | Request a copy

Abstract

The aim of our study is to compare how the prevailing social and political conditions in East Africa, especially in the post-independence period, influence the dramas of Francis Imbuga and John Ruganda. We set out to examine the influence of East African reality on their plays, and to explore some of the dramatic techniques they have adopted for effective transmission of this reality. Thus, our major task is to compare the vision of the two playwrights, as well as their techniques of dramatic construction. It is our key premise that social, historical and political realities in East Africa form a creative reservoir of the region1s drama. East African drama has acquired a sharp socio-political focus. It manifestly responds to familiar but specific historical developments. It is our contention that, a close analysis of the dramas of leading playwri9hts like Imbuga and Ruganda reveals the socio-political temper in the society. Because of its social commitment, a critic of East African drama must, of necessity, assess its contributions to social development. These contributions include values, attitudes, vision; and their manner of artistic presentation. We proceed on the premises that East African drama functions as a tool for social change. It explores revolutionary themes, through use of novel strategies. As skilled artists, Imbuga and Ruganda, we believe, creatively present revolutionary ideas through equally revolutionary dramatic techniques. We are concerned with how they perceive the East African society, and how their perception affects their style of dramatization. The Thesis is divided into four chapter$, and a conclusion. Chapter one focuses on the statement of the problem, justification of the study, the scope of the study and definition of the key terms. Chapter Two traces the political motif in the dramas of Imbuga and Ruganda. It is sub-divided into two sections. Section one mainly focuses on Betrayal in the city, Game of Silence and The Floods; plays which deal with Leadership perversion in the society. Section two of this chapter enumerates the effects of leadership distortion. It mainly deals with Man of Kafira and Music without Tears. In Chapter Three, which is also sub-divided into two sections, we focus on power struggle in the society and, aftermath. The plays primarily analysed in this section are The Successor and The Burdens. Chapter Four deals with dramatic techniques. The techniques are discussed from four broad categories, namely: characterization, dramatic structure, appropriation of folkloristic material and Symbolic significant ion. The conclusion, which forms Chapter Five, is a comparative synthesis of the major aspects of style any vision discussed. It also isolates possible tasks for future research.

Item Type: Thesis (Masters)
Subjects: P Language and Literature > PN Literature (General)
P Language and Literature > PR English literature
Divisions: Africana
Depositing User: Geoffrey Obatsa
Date Deposited: 03 Feb 2017 10:29
Last Modified: 03 Feb 2017 10:29
URI: http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/id/eprint/1409

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item