Shona Traditional Poetry

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Periodical article

Title:	Shona Traditional Poetry
Author:	Fortune, G.
Year:	1971
Periodical:	Zambezia
Volume:	2
Issue:	1
Period:	December
Pages:	41-60
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Zimbabwe
Subjects:	Shona oral poetry (form) Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups) Literature, Mass Media and the Press
External link:	https://journals.co.za/doi/abs/10.10520/AJA03790622_654
Abstract:	Treats a number of aspects of traditional oral poetry, which was recited widely in Shona society. Some poetic devices of traditional poetry are described For instance there is the principle of repetition, applied to lines and stanzas, which may be the relative positions of the two repeated items. Besides, there is parallelism, which involves a repetition of two units, which are similar in their grammatical construction. Finally, there are alliteration and assonance, based on a repetition of class affixes, in order to create unity of form to lines and stanzas. In describing the various types of oral poetry, the author distinguishes praise poetry, didactic poetry, critical poetry. All mentioned forms and types are illustrated with examples of original Shona poets, translated in English. Notes, ref.