Swahili modern proverbs: the role of literary writers and social network users

Proverbs are one of the important oral literary genres in various cultures. Though in many societies and for a long time proverbs are regarded as succinct fixed artistic form, and authoritative which contain a general truth, wisdom and experience of the society and its creators are elders or anonymous, these characteristics are increasingly challenged today. This paper, therefore, intends to examine how Swahili literary writers and social network users participate in the creation and spread of Swahili modern proverbs in Tanzania. Data of this study were collected from Swahili literary works and websites. The findings reveal that the need to address and cope with today’s environment and change of worldview of the present generation are among the important factors to the emergence of the modern proverbs. It is also noted that modern Swahili proverbs are not only found among the Kiswahili literary writers and social network users, but also other people and avenues. Methali ni moja ya utanzu muhimu wa fasihi simulizi katika tamaduni mbalimbali. Ingawa katika jamii nyingi na kwa muda mrefu methali zimekuwa zikichukuliwa kama usemi mfupi wa kisanaa, wenye mamlaka, ukweli, maarifa na tajiriba ya jamii, na watungaji wake ni wazee au hawajulikani, sifa hizi siku hizi zinazidi kudadisiwa. Makala hii, kwa hiyo, inalenga kuchunguza namna waandishi wa fasihi ya Kiswahili na watumiaji wa mitandao ya kijamii wanavyoshiriki katika uundaji na usambazaji wa methali za kileo za Kiswahili nchini Tanzania. Data za makala hii zilikusanywa kwa kupitia kazi mbalimbali za fasihi ya Kiswahili na kutembelea tovuti. Matokeo ya data yanaonesha kuwa haja ya kuakisi mazingira ya sasa na mabadiliko ya kimtazamo kwa kizazi cha leo ni miongoni mwa sababu zinazochangia katika kuibuka kwa methali za kileo. Aidha, methali za kileo za Kiswahili si tu zinapatikana miongoni mwa wanafasihi wa Kiswahili na watumiaji wa mitandao ya kijamii, bali pia zinatumika na watu na miktadha mbalimbali.