The use of Imagery in Riddles among the Basoga.

Abstract

The case study here in presents the analysis on imagery in the selected Busoga riddles exhibiting how they are employed in different riddles that are to be looked at in later chapters, their relevancy and effectiveness in the lives of the Basoga. It foregrounds the way different imageries such as auditory, visual, gustatory, kinesthetic and olfactory imagery are portrayed in the selected riddles. The study is for purposes of showing how the Basoga riddles are full of imagery and how they are employed while riddling. It is of importance for the Basoga and other related cultures to have knowledge about their traditions and things that come along with it like the riddles that all cultures have regardless of their settings and can comprehended in relation to their life experience and how value it when it comes to passing on the morals and traditional beliefs to the young generation. The general Lusogo word for riddle is "kikwaikho". Riddles in Busoga region are used for entertainment and intellectual development through thinking, reasoning and communication done during riddling. Participatory observation is one the effective method that is being used in the case study. During this, both the researcher and those giving data contribute in a way that the researcher gets engaged in some parts where there is need when the riddle is being told but leading the session to the direction that gives the required information and at the same taking up the role of gathering the information that is from the told riddle. The researcher here in also employs oral interview for further collection of data, this creates a platform for the interviewer and the interviewee to have ample time of interaction as detailed information about the imagery in riddle among the Basoga is gathered. The researcher also used translation and transcription for data analysis. Through these finding and this study I concluded that less attention had been given to the style and language employed during riddling among the Basoga therefore more study is needed to be carried out on other forms of style and language in riddles among the Basoga such as symbolism, performance.