The study of symbolic representation of Acholi proverbs among the Acholi people in Northern Uganda

Abstract

Although Acholi proverbs of the Luo-speaking people of Uganda are creatively crafted speeches with beautiful and rich values that make lengthy statements short; and spoken in a cultured way for communication of traditional values, the influx of foreign languages in Uganda has contributed to the rapid decline in the standards of this cherished Luo indigenous linguistics. These proverbs embody deep symbolic and socio-cultural values of the Acholi people of the Acholi culture. This paper showcases 50 visual symbols created from the selected proverbs by the researchers of selected Acholi proverbs with the aim of making them regain their past glory and to promote visual literacy. In highlighting the significance of these selected proverbs, the study employed art-based technique of a qualitative research approach to represent them graphically. based upon the findings of the socio-cultural values embedded in these proverbs, this paper recommends that more symbols should be created using the numerous proverbs and wise sayings that are in existence in our local languages to salvage the declining image of those proverbs as an important component of African art for communication.