Aesthetic Values in Kamba Children’s Play Songs

Abstract

The involvement of children in the creation and performance of children’s songs creates the aesthetic beauty and the comprehension of themes. However, oral literature has been stereotyped as a rural concept and few scholars have given it serious literary attention to children’s creative expression. Therefore, this study examines the aesthetic value and performance in Kamba children’s play songs. The study employed Hymes (1991) ethnopoetic theory. The study employed ethnographic research design. Data was collected using participant observation. The findings of the study reveal that the songs are embedded on concrete textual traditions of Kamba society and they carry the aesthetic values of friendship and unity, aesthetic value of responsibility, aesthetic value of environmental issues, aesthetic value of Kinship System, aesthetic value of traditional food and the aesthetic value of hard work and condemn the vice of laziness. The study concludes that there are important aesthetic values in Kamba Children play Songs.