Doroth Mosha and Shani Omari: Fundamentally, Children's Play Songs are a Treasure Trove of Content To Build Ecological Awareness in Children and Society

Dortha Mosha and Dr. Shani Omari, lecturers and researchers at the University of Dar es Salaam

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KISWAHILI

[Madondoo yaliofuatia kutoka kwa utafiti wa Doroth Mosha na Shani Omari uliochapishwa katika Jarida la Kioo cha Lugha kama “Dhima ya nyimbo za Kiswahili za watoto katika kujifunza mazingira” (2023).]

“Nyimbo ni fani kongwe na ya mwanzo kabisa ya fasihi simulizi kutumiwa na binadamu katika kupambana na mazingira yake. Kwa ujumla, nyimbo ni fani ya fasihi simulizi ambayo hutumika katika hatua na nyanja mbalimbali za maisha ya binadamu. Mojawapo ya vipera vyake ni nyimbo za watoto. Nyimbo hizo, pamoja na mambo mengine, zina hazina kubwa ya mafunzo katika kuyaelewa mazingira ya jamii husika….

“Mazingira ni dhana bainifu na halisi na kwa hiyo, yanamulika mazingira dhahiri na rahisi ya mtoto (Lankford, 2010). Kupitia usawiri wa mazingira katika fasihi ya watoto, udadisi wao unawafanya kuyachunguza zaidi mazingira yao….

“Nyimbo hizi, pamoja na mambo mengine, zina dhima ya kuyachunguza, kuyadadisi na kuyafahamu mazingira ili kujua faida na tabia zake na hivyo kuyatunza, kuyahifadhi, kuyathamini, kuyalinda dhidi ya uharibifu wowote, kuyahudumia na kuyafurahia…. Kimsingi, nyimbo za michezo ya watoto ni hazina yenye maudhui ya kujenga uelewa wa kiikolojia kwa watoto na jamii.”

- Doroth Mosha ni mhadhiri kwenye Chuo Kikuu cha Dar es Salaam. Ameandikwa na kuchangia karatasi za kitaaluma kadhaa. Maslahi yake yanahusisha fasihi na mazingira, jinsia, na fasihi simulizi na maandishi ya Kiafrika.

- Dk. Shani Omari ni mhadhiri mkuu na profesa mshirika kwenye Chuo Kikuu cha Dar es Salaam. Ni mwandishi au mchangiaji wa machapisho yaliyozidi thelathini kuchanguza njia panda za muziki, utamaduni wa vijana, na jinsia kweneye fasihi ya simulizi na andishi ya Kiswahili.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

[Excerpts from academic research by Doroth Mosha and Shani Omari published in the Kioo cha Lugha Journal as “The Role of Children’s Swahili Songs in Learning About the Environment.” (2023)]

“Songs are the oldest and earliest form of oral literature used by humans to engage with their environment. In general, songs are a form of oral literature that is used in various stages and aspects of human life. One of its products is children’s songs. These songs, among other things, contain innumerable lessons to comprehend the environment of the relevant society….

“The environment is a distinct and tangible concept and, therefore, illuminates the clear and simple environment of the child (Lankford, 2010). Using the depiction of the environment in children's literature, their curiosity drives them to explore their environment further.

“These songs, among other things, have the role of investigation, inquiry, and understanding about the environment in order to appreciate its benefits and characteristics and, therefore, to care for it, preserve it, value it, protect it from destruction, to serve it and enjoy it…. Fundamentally, children's play songs are a treasure trove of content to build ecological awareness in children and society.”

- Doroth Mosha is a lecturer at the University of Dar es Salaam. She has written and contributed to several academic papers. Her interests include literature and environment, gender, and African oral and written literature.

- Dk. Shani Omari is a senior lecturer and associate professor at the University of Dar es Salaam. She is the author or contributor to over thirty publications on the intersections of music, youth culture, and gender in Swahili oral and written literature.

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Chanzo (source): Mosha, Doroth and Shani Omari. “Dhima ya nyimbo za Kiswahili za watoto katika kujifunza mazingira.” [“The Role of Children’s Swahili Songs in Learning About the Environment.”] Kioo cha Lugha, vol. 20, no. 2 (2022): 184-197. Kioo cha Lugha ni jarida la Taasisi ya Taaluma za Kiswahili, Chuo Kikuu cha Dar es Salaam. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/kcl.v20i2.3. Article published on African Journals Online (AJOL) on May 23, 2023 at https://www.ajol.info/index.php/kcl/issue/view/22338.