Let’s sing our heroes: A comparison of biographical series for children in Kenya and South Africa

In this article two series of biographies written for children, and dealing with prominent personalities in Kenya and South Africa, are compared. In the line of argumentation developed the aim is to examine the main features in these biographies, and to indicate the importance of biographies in the...

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Main Author: C.K. Muriungi
Format: Article
Language:Afrikaans
Published: AOSIS 2004-07-01
Series:Literator
Subjects:
Online Access:https://literator.org.za/index.php/literator/article/view/269
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author C.K. Muriungi
author_facet C.K. Muriungi
author_sort C.K. Muriungi
collection DOAJ
description In this article two series of biographies written for children, and dealing with prominent personalities in Kenya and South Africa, are compared. In the line of argumentation developed the aim is to examine the main features in these biographies, and to indicate the importance of biographies in the general field of children’s literature. By examining a sample text from each series the specific ways in which the authors mould these personalities into heroes of their countries are scrutinised. Furthermore the way in which gender is represented in the two series is also examined and it is argued that both men and women form part of any country’s gallery of heroes. Underlying the main argument of the article is the contention that biographies are important in perpetuating the stories of the two countries’ heroes: also in teaching the history of each country to the young. A general motif of hard work resonates in these works, and therefore it is asserted that individuals’ biographies can be used as anecdotes to communicate with and to inspire and encourage young readers. The authors of the biographies actually intervene by presenting children with role models. Furthermore these role models are not abstract fictional characters but real human beings who made great sacrifices for their countries – people with whom children are thus able to identify.
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spelling doaj.art-286a8be9dca944a18c4828788b49db4c2022-12-21T22:24:41ZafrAOSISLiterator0258-22792219-82372004-07-0125318119810.4102/lit.v25i3.269241Let’s sing our heroes: A comparison of biographical series for children in Kenya and South AfricaC.K. Muriungi0Department of African Literature, University of the WitwatersrandIn this article two series of biographies written for children, and dealing with prominent personalities in Kenya and South Africa, are compared. In the line of argumentation developed the aim is to examine the main features in these biographies, and to indicate the importance of biographies in the general field of children’s literature. By examining a sample text from each series the specific ways in which the authors mould these personalities into heroes of their countries are scrutinised. Furthermore the way in which gender is represented in the two series is also examined and it is argued that both men and women form part of any country’s gallery of heroes. Underlying the main argument of the article is the contention that biographies are important in perpetuating the stories of the two countries’ heroes: also in teaching the history of each country to the young. A general motif of hard work resonates in these works, and therefore it is asserted that individuals’ biographies can be used as anecdotes to communicate with and to inspire and encourage young readers. The authors of the biographies actually intervene by presenting children with role models. Furthermore these role models are not abstract fictional characters but real human beings who made great sacrifices for their countries – people with whom children are thus able to identify.https://literator.org.za/index.php/literator/article/view/269Biography As Literary GenreThe Representation Of History Of The NationKenyan And South African National HeroesRole Models For ChildrenHero Figures
spellingShingle C.K. Muriungi
Let’s sing our heroes: A comparison of biographical series for children in Kenya and South Africa
Literator
Biography As Literary Genre
The Representation Of History Of The Nation
Kenyan And South African National Heroes
Role Models For Children
Hero Figures
title Let’s sing our heroes: A comparison of biographical series for children in Kenya and South Africa
title_full Let’s sing our heroes: A comparison of biographical series for children in Kenya and South Africa
title_fullStr Let’s sing our heroes: A comparison of biographical series for children in Kenya and South Africa
title_full_unstemmed Let’s sing our heroes: A comparison of biographical series for children in Kenya and South Africa
title_short Let’s sing our heroes: A comparison of biographical series for children in Kenya and South Africa
title_sort let s sing our heroes a comparison of biographical series for children in kenya and south africa
topic Biography As Literary Genre
The Representation Of History Of The Nation
Kenyan And South African National Heroes
Role Models For Children
Hero Figures
url https://literator.org.za/index.php/literator/article/view/269
work_keys_str_mv AT ckmuriungi letssingourheroesacomparisonofbiographicalseriesforchildreninkenyaandsouthafrica