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Language ideology and kadongo kamu flow

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 September 2016

David Pier
David Pier*
Affiliation:
College of Arts and Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA Email: dpier@email.unc.edu
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Abstract

Kadongo kamu is a Ugandan guitar-based genre recognisable by its dense storytelling lyrics in Luganda language. This article offers a close analysis of kadongo kamu musical style, focusing on the interface between speech rhythm and musical rhythm. The style's poetic-musical ‘flow’ to be structurally analysed is interpreted with reference to a historically evolved language ideology which construes Luganda to be exceptionally ‘rich’ and ‘deep’. I show how specific musical techniques are used to foreground aspects of Luganda that speakers prize as elegant and learned. This musical artistry enhances listeners’ impressions of the proverb-rich ‘deep Luganda’ poetry for which kadongo kamu singers are famous.

Type
Articles
Information
Popular Music , Volume 35 , Issue 3 , October 2016 , pp. 360 - 379
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2016 

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