A sociolinguistic exploration of the pedagogical value of children's oral art forms on a kaleidoscopic cultural terrain: a case of Shona

Abstract

The study is a sociolinguistic exploration of the pedagogical value of Shona children’s oral art forms on a changing cultural terrain to situate them within contemporary classroom pedagogy. Critical Discourse Analysis, Afrocentricity and Constructivism are theories that informed the analysis of the Shona children’s oral art forms. The study is conducted within the qualitative paradigm as a descriptive study. Data was gathered through observartions, standardised open-ended interviews, focus group interviews, questionnaires and document analysis. The study established that Shona children’s oral art forms have responded positively to the changing environment in which they are performed in terms of form and content. While this is a positive development, this should be done with caution to ensure that indigenous knowledge systems that are the backbone of African societies are not abused on the global stage. The study has also affirmed that Shona children’s oral art forms are useful pedagogical tools for information dissemination and knowledge creation. It is also evident from the findings that the oral art forms are an embodiment of human factor values that enhance development education. Findings from this study established that Shona children’s oral art forms are reservoirs of values and norms cherished by the Shona as a people and can be reconstructed for teaching various concepts across the primary school curriculum. Evident from this study is that both teachers and learners are knowledgeable of the various traditional Shona children’s oral art forms although new creations are coined to adapt to the changing environment. This shows that the traditional forms are able to withstand the challenges of globalisation, and this resilience is a positive development since it creates an opportunity for researchers to document these in their unadulterated form for posterity. Since findings from the study highlighted threats to the children’s oral art forms due to the advent of technology and globalisation, there is need to act so that they are not pushed to the periphery as was the case during the colonial era. There is need for concerted efforts at packaging them and meaningful infusion of these into all aspects of children’s education for visibility within the changing environment to guard against their demise in an era of globalisation which may impact negatively on the Shona culture.