Mchango wa Fasihi ya Watoto katika Uwasilishaji wa Hisia

Abstract

Swahili

Makala hii ililenga kubainisha jinsi hisia za watoto zinavyowasilishwa katika fasihi ya watoto ya Kiswahili, kwa kuzingatia mchango wa mazingira ya kifamilia na kijamii katika kuathiri hisia hizo. Fasihi ya watoto ni nyenzo muhimu ya kuakisi hali halisi ya maisha ya watoto. Hususan hisia wanazopitia katika mazingira yao ya kifamilia na kijamii. Mtazamo wa awali ulichukulia fasihi ya watoto kama chombo cha burudani na ufundishaji wa lugha. Fasihi ya kisasa inawakilisha kwa upana ulimwengu wa mtoto. Fasihi inaweka wazi changamoto, uzoefu na hisia mbalimbali katika maisha ya watoto. Kuna haja ya kuchunguza hisia  zinazotokana na mazingira ya familia. Makala haya yalilenga kutathmini jinsi hisia za watoto zilivyowasilishwa katika fasihi ya watoto ya Kiswahili. Uchambuzi uliongozwa na Nadharia ya Uhalisia, ambayo ilisisitiza uwasilishaji wa maisha jinsi yalivyokuwa bila kupiga chuku. Kupitia nadharia hiyo, ilibainika kuwa waandishi waliwasawiri watoto wakipitia hisia kama vile furaha, huzuni, hofu, hasira, upweke, upendo na wasiwasi. Hisia hizo zilichochewa na mazingira ya kifamilia, uhusiano na wazazi, hali ya kiuchumi, migogoro ya ndoa, mazingira ya shule na mwingiliano wao na jamii. Utafiti huu ulitumia mbinu ya kimaelezo na uchanganuzi wa matini. Data ilikusanywa kutoka kwa novela zifuatazo:  Ahaa! Roda, Mshale wa Matumaini na Siri ya Baba Yangu. Novela hizi ziliteuliwa kimakusudi. Uchambuzi ulionyesha kuwa familia ni mazingira muhimu katika kujenga na kuathiri ustawi wa kihisia wa watoto. Makala haya yalihitimisha kuwa fasihi ya watoto ya kisasa imechangia kuhalalisha hisia za watoto. Fasihi inaelimisha watoto kuhusu hali zao za kisaikolojia. Kwa msingi huo, makala haya yalipendekeza kuwa hisia za watoto zitambuliwe na zipewe uzito katika familia, shule na jamii ili kuimarisha ustawi wao wa kihisia, kijamii na kisaikolojia.

English

This article aimed to evaluate the representation of children’s emotions in Swahili children’s literature. Children’s literature is an important tool that depicts the realistic lives of children. It particularly shows the emotions that children experience within family and social set-ups. Previous research shows that children’s literature was a tool for entertainment and language teaching. Modern literary work, however, represents the broader world of a child. It shows children's challenges, experiences and diverse emotions in their lives. It is therefore important to examine the emotions that arise amongst children based on family interactions. The analysis was guided by Realism theory, which emphasises the representation of life as it is without exaggeration. Based on this theoretical perspective, the article established that writers portrayed children experiencing emotions such as happiness, love, sadness, anxiety, fear, loneliness, and anger. These emotions were intensified by family circumstances, relationships with their parents, economic situations, marital conflicts, and interactions within the school and society. This research used a descriptive research design in which the texts were analysed. The data were collected from the following children's novellas: Ahaa! Roda, Mshale wa Matumaini and Siri ya Baba Yangu. Purposive sampling was used to select the novellas, as each one of them used children as the main actors and depicted family themes. The outcomes revealed that families shaped children's emotional well-being. The article established that contemporary Swahili children’s literature validates children’s emotions and is therefore useful in educating them about emotional and psychological experiences. The article recommends that children's emotions within family set-up should be given attention. This will enhance their emotional, social and psychological well- being.

Key words: Child, children’s literature, emotions, family.