The portrayal of heroines in Ankole folktales

Abstract

This research explores the portrayal of heroines in Ankole folktales. A case study of the selected araunyankore folktales was conducted in BwongyeraSub-county in Ntungamo district Western Uganda. The various researchers I approached showed me that different fokltales have different ways performance, subject matter, interpretation, themes, values and stylistic devicesin them. This helped me to identify those specific foltales which have have outstanding female characters hence my topic; the portrayal of heroines in Runyankore folktales. I strongly emphasized ‘heroines’ while interviewing my respondents so that they can give exactly what corresponded with my topic. However, during this research I realized from my interviewees that women who were outstanding in such societies were looked at villains since traditionally women were supposed to be calm, humble and submissive.