Abstract:
This study presents an ecolinguistic analysis of the Ekegusii song “Engamia ya
Nyasae” by Henry Sagero through both critical and positive discourse analysis
lenses. Drawing on Stibbe’s (2015, 2021) concept of “the stories we live by”, the
study categorizes the discourses in the song as positive, negative, or ambivalent. It
further explores the intersection of language, culture, and environmental ethics
within the Abagusii worldview. The analysis reveals a dual narrative: on one hand,
the song advocates for animal rights and respect for the non-human world; on the
other, it upholds superstitious beliefs that blame the camel for infertility and
madness. Grounded in an ecosophical framework, the study provides insights into
the sociocultural values embedded in indigenous music and calls for a critical
reconsideration of beliefs that hinder ecological coexistence.
Description:
This study presents an ecolinguistic analysis of the Ekegusii song “Engamia ya
Nyasae” by Henry Sagero through both critical and positive discourse analysis
lenses. Drawing on Stibbe’s (2015, 2021) concept of “the stories we live by”, the
study categorizes the discourses in the song as positive, negative, or ambivalent. It
further explores the intersection of language, culture, and environmental ethics
within the Abagusii worldview. The analysis reveals a dual narrative: on one hand,
the song advocates for animal rights and respect for the non-human world; on the
other, it upholds superstitious beliefs that blame the camel for infertility and
madness. Grounded in an ecosophical framework, the study provides insights into
the sociocultural values embedded in indigenous music and calls for a critical
reconsideration of beliefs that hinder ecological coexistence.
