A Comparative Analysis of African Epic Hero Trait Depictions in the Epics of Fumo Liyongo, Mikidadi Na Mayasa and Swifa Ya Nguvumali.
Publication Date: 30/09/2025
Author(s): Nyachoi Evans Ombengi (Ph.D.), Lore Catherine Okemba.
Volume/Issue: Volume 8, Issue 2 (2025)
Page No: 130-152
Journal: International Journal of Literature, Language and Linguistics (IJLLL)
Abstract:
This research was a comparative study on the depiction of heroism in selected Kiswahili epics of Fumo Liyongo, Mikidadi na Mayasa and Swifa ya Nguvumali. The objective of the research was to comparatively identify heroes and heroines according to universal traits of African heroes in the selected Kiswahili epics. The choice of the research topic was informed by the existing academic gap. Even though many researches have been done on heroism, the researcher is yet to encounter a research work on the comparative analysis in depicting heroism in selected Kiswahili epics of epic of Fumo Liyongo, the epic of Mikidadi na Mayasa and the epic of Swifa ya Nguvumali. This research was guided by mythology theory by Rank (1909) and Raglan (1936), and later expounded by Okpewho (1979) and Mulokozi (2002). This theory has identified and listed specific traits that an African epic hero or heroine should be depicted with. This research was library based. Different libraries including e-library were used. The research target population was Kiswahili epics, and it purposefully sampled three Kiswahili epics. The selected epics were; epic of Fumo Liyongo, (Kijumwa, 1913) epic of Mikidadi na Mayasa (Bashir 1972), and epic of Swifa ya Nguvumali, (Ismaili 1968). Data was collected by use of content analysis. The selected Kiswahili epics were read in depth. Specific data connected with the objectives was documented as guided by the three theories and then cross checked in a comparative way. Data was then analyzed descriptively, and results presented in a written document. The research identified heroes and heroines as guided by universal traits of an African epic hero in the selected Kiswahili epics. The research concluded that not all heroes and heroines have all the universal African hero traits in the selected Kiswahili epics. The results of the research are expected to be an important source of reference to scholars on the topic of heroism in Kiswahili epics. This research is a bridge to future research and an important addition to researches already done on heroism in Kiswahili epics.
Keywords:
Kinship, Cohesion, Traits, African epic hero.
