Sociological Dimensions of Power in Mdumange Songs: The Analysis of Tanzanian Orature Using Discourse Perspectives

Abstract

Like other forms of creative arts, African orature has the capacity to reveal social realities with the purpose of improving living standards. Among the social reality that is being revealed in African orature is the concept of power. This paper presents sociological dimensions of power relation revealed in African orature especially through mdumange songs. These songs are being performed by both men and women during ceremonies of marriage, political campaign and religious celebrations. Specifically, the data has been collected from the Sambaa community in Tanzania. The paper begins by outlining some basic thoughts of power relation as pioneered by scholars from the field of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA). Basing on the CDA principles, the paper consecrates much on explaining different categories of power relation as seen through the analysis of Mdumange songs. In short, the analysis has shown that according to Sambaa worldview, power relation can be structured into two basic categories: (i) the supernatural vs performers and audience; and (ii) power relation on the basis of members of the family. Finally, the paper ends up by concluding that among the Sambaa community of Tanzania power relation is a major phenomenon where subordination and class struggles are revealed. Thus, the performances of several genres of African orature including mdumange songs perpetuate the existence of several forms of social inequalities as well as suggesting alternative way of eliminating them.