Functional Values And Aspects Of Style In Selected Rwandese Insigamigani Texts

ABSTRACT

This study analyses key literary and social values in Rwandese literary Metagenres known as Insigamigani. Insigamigani means proverb subjects or subjects that have generated proverbs. The study analysed the social values of heroism and patriotism as key virtues that emerged from the selected texts and illustrates how they turned into literary meta-genres collected in ‘Ibirari by’insigamigani’ texts. Insigamigani are considered meta-genres because they entail two oral literary genres: proverbs and narratives. The study paid particular attention to both text and context in the analysis of heroism and patriotism in Insigamigani narratives. The focus of the study was delimited to a collection of Insigamigani narratives in Benedigito Mulihano’s ‘Ibirari By’insigamigani’. The study is a library based research where an in-depth reading of the selected texts for this study was conducted and supported by secondary sources followed by a critical analysis and interpretation of the narratives. In its theoretical framework the study utilizes narratology and stylistic theories. The study shows the relevance of Insigamigani narratives as sources of virtues and positive social traits such as heroism, patriotism and other moral codes in the society featuring as social values for the modern world.