Abstract:
Praise poetry is an ambiguous genre in Kiswahili Literature. This is portrayed in its definition and
manner in which it is used to create and maintain hegemonic masculinities. Although praise poetry is
classified as a genre of Oral Literature, the language used captures the linguistic aspects that portray
masculinity in various ways. The Isukha praise poetry that is chanted during the Shilembe ritual and
the indigenous sport of Mayo is one of the ways in which masculinity is portrayed during bullfighting
in this community. In this praise poetry, stylistic devices have been used to convey information using
the semantic approach in context. This article highlights application of the masculinity theory and
critical discourse analysis theory in the analysis of the stylistic devices used in praise poetry during
the ritual of Shilembe and the indigenous sport of Mayo to portray masculinity. Though there are also
other types of genre that portray masculinity in this community, but praise poetry is peculiar and
distinct in this context, as it involves bullfighting.
