| dc.description.abstract | This research includes riddle definitions, analysis of subjects, metaphors and
formulae of riddles as well as the functions of ridding. New challenges are the driving
forces behind research. So, I attempted to find something new in my work and new
for me is has been discovering the imagery in riddles drawing my focus in Lumasaba
riddles. According to African Tradition, Africans never had a formal system of
education. In this sense, education took place informally in various activities such as
work, entertainment, ceremonies, and worship among others. Work among
Bamasaaba could include hunting, fruit gathering, livestock and crop farming,
grinding, cooking, harvesting, and other communal work such as cleaning wells,
building houses etcetera. Riddles were used to encouraging hard work and also to
improve the children's intellectual understanding. Entertainment on the other hand
was common among children during playtime and elders had time for entertainment
to celebrate good harvests and successful achievements in their families. Such was
done with dance commonly known as Luwegele accompanied by songs of victory.
Riddles were also used for entertainment purposes such that whenever a riddle was
posed and the respondent failed, the rest of the audience would laugh and make fun
of the respondent who failed the riddle. Ceremonies like marriage were also very
important among the Bamasaba. Here, the guest of honor used riddles during the
ceremony with the intention of dramatizing the event and creating humor. | en_US |
