Song of Lawino & Song of Ocol
Who is Okot p'Bitek?
Okot p'Bitek was a Ugandan poet, who achieved wide international recognition for Song of Lawino and Song of Ocol, a poem dealing with the tribulations of a rural African wife whose husband has taken up urban life and wishes everything to be westernized.
What are some observable behaviors and practices of culture?
Food, dress, music, visual art, drama, crafts, dance, literature, language, celebrations
What is Language Ideology?
Language Ideology is a concept used within cross-cultural studies to characterize any set of beliefs or feelings about languages as used in their social worlds.
How do the students at Sandra’s school treat her because of her skin color? Give specific examples.
Sandra suffers endless torment from her intolerant classmates because of her skin color. As she was accepted into the all-white boarding school, she soon becomes the object of racist remarks and constant stares, she was despised and excluded her as a freak just because her skin is dark.
What is the MAJOR theme in SOL & SOO?
One of the major themes in Song of Lawino and Song of Ocol is tradition versus modernization, the loss of culture at the expense of progress.
What are the manifestations of culture?
Symbols, values, heroes, and rituals are the visual aspects of the practices of culture. The true cultural meaning of the practices are intangible and revealed only when the practices are interpreted by the insiders.
Name the FOUR categories of languages in Africa
1. Afro-Ethnic
2.Afro-Islamic
3.Western
4. Afro-Western
What role does Robert Katende play in Queen of Katwe?
Robert is a man who uses his knowledge and skills of chess to mentor and nurture character in disadvantaged youth. He is the mentor and man behind the success of Phiona Mutesi.
How does Lawino differ from Ocol?
Lawino is a traditional African woman, who is strong and proud of her heritage.
Why is Culture similar to an Iceberg?
Like an iceberg, there are things about a particular culture that we can see and describe easily. However, there are also many deeply rooted ideas that we can't visibly see. The only way to understand is by analyzing values, studying institutions, and in many cases, reflecting on our own core values.
What are the triple linguistic heritages of Africa? Give detail about each one.
1. Indigenous Africa- languages stemming from native African ethnic groups before external contact or influence
2. Islamic Traditions-languages that Africa inherited from Arab domination
3. Western Contribution- languages that Africa uses based on social, political, and historical reasons
Why does Sandra's father burn all pictures and clothes?
She caused a divide in her family when she decided to marry a black man and birth his children.
Why does Ocol think he is superior to Lawino and his tribe?
Ocol calls himself a modern, progressive, civilized man, who has read extensively and widely. Being under the service of British ruling, the newly learned language English and its power over the continent make him feel proud of it. He regards English language as a subject of knowledge. Ocol's discards his language, religion, society and also his wife for the Western way of life.
Identify FOUR different layers of culture
1. The gender level
2. The generational level
3. The social class level
4. The corporate level
Why is Africa a microcosm of the linguistic world?
1. Africa has a wide range of languages than any other continent
2. Africa can be credited with inventing human language
Why does Sandra want to be reclassified as “Coloured” after her parents had fought for her to be classified as “white”?
Sandra was classified as white by the law and would not be allowed to keep her children unless she was reclassified "coloured".
What real-life scenario does Okot P'Bitek mimic with Song of Lawino and Song of Ocol?
Okot uses Song of Lawino and Song of Ocol to address issues of Africa's liberation through gender. Song of Lawino and Song of Ocol contribute to the debate over the future of Africa.
Identify cultural characteristics of the Acholi people
Acholi dances are used to retell important events that happened in the past, celebrate ceremonies, and to transfer cultural knowledge and tradition from generation to generation
Why are many African languages almost exclusively oral?
The telling of stories was critical to Afro-ethnic languages. Signing songs were part of the Afro traditions. The songs were to be sung communally nad passed on intergenerational.
What gender issues were presented in the Queen of Katwe?
1. Phiona is submerged around environmental issues of poverty, sexism, and sexual violence.
2. Because of her gender, Phiona isn’t automatically granted the same opportunities as males and constantly has to prove herself and capabilities.
3. Aggressiveness is an attribute that is discouraged in young women, particularly in societies that hold on to traditional male and female role value systems.