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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:The significance of deception in the Liongo epic
Author:Mbele, Joseph L.ISNI
Year:1997
Periodical:Kiswahili (ISSN 0856-048X)
Volume:60
Pages:7-14
Language:English
Notes:biblio. refs.
Geographic terms:Kenya
East Africa
Subjects:Swahili
epics (form)
literature
Swahili literature
Deception in literature
Abstract:The Liongo epic originated and flourished on the northern Kenya coast. The evidence that constitutes the main themes and outlines of this epic became available to outsiders between 1870 and 1928. Focusing on the Liongo tradition as told by the Swahili, rather than the Pokomo and others, the present author explores a motif which plays an important part in the Liongo epic, deception. Not only do both hero and villain resort to deception in their efforts to realize their different aims, but deception is also an indispensable element of the plot, a bound motif. In addition, the use of deception by both hero and villain raises fundamental questions concerning the nature and meaning of heroism in the epic, as well as the relationship between hero, trickster, and villain. Ref.
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