The Postcolonial Economic Ideology and the Construction of Gĩkũyũ Romance: An Analysis of Selected Gῖkũyũ Popular Songs

Abstract

This article is an analysis of the role played by the postcolonial economic ideology in the construction of modern Gῖkũyũ romance. The data for analysis is obtained from selected popular Gῖkũyũ songs. The songs have been selected using purposive sampling. The study has used qualitative research design and it is guided by postcolonial theory. Reflexive reading approach has also been employed as a technique of data analysis. The study has revealed that some of the economic factors that affect, influence and complicate the construction of Gῖkũyũ romance include;the growth of capitalistic money economy, education and unemployment, social class differences, the diaspora experience, urbanization, the culture of prostitution and the growth of technology. The growth of technology comprises of advanced communication agents such as the electronic media in the television, the mobile phone, the computer and the internet. These factors affect, influence and complicate the construction of modern Gῖkũyũromance by either enhancing relationship stability or causing dysfunction and tragi-romance.