Leen Kavulavu - Profile on Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Leen Kavulavu
International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science
This paper investigates the effects of cremation on African traditional celebrations of the livin... more This paper investigates the effects of cremation on African traditional celebrations of the living dead in Kenya. The study examines bereavement and mourning practices in communities, with a particular focus on traditional modes of mourning, grieving, and remembering the living dead. According to the study, African traditions, the spread of Christianity, the influence of the Hindu culture, and Islamic beliefs all conflict with the changing culture that is slowly embracing cremation. The methodology for this study involved secondary data. The conclusion drawn from the study is that even as the scarcity of land pushes societies to consider the option of cremation, cultural and religious perceptions have painted the practice unethical and term it “un-African.” In Kenya, the majority of the population still opts to bury their dead in their ancestral homes in order to perform ritual and religious burial rites.
INTRODUCTION Women empowerment, connotes that women shall enjoy human rights in practice regardle... more INTRODUCTION Women empowerment, connotes that women shall enjoy human rights in practice regardless of gender. This prompts women agency and economic vibrancy in the realization of their full potential as productive workers, (Kardam & Kardam, 2017) especially in the sugar industry of western Kenya. Empowerment is, therefore, a process by which “oppressed” persons agentively gain control over their lives individually & collectively. Globally, cash crop farming as epitomized by sugarcane provides employment in the areas of production to stimulate economic returns to the labourers in the industry, hence the temptation by a large number of women to provide labour in the sugarcane plantations in western Kenya. The increased number of women providing labour in the sugarcane plantation is provoked by the women’s agentive utility response instincts (Anderson, 2002) to the family subsistence needs with an endeavour to utilize their labour and time maximally to their advantage in securing the...
Church and culture: a case study of church of god among the Idakho, Kakamega County, Kenya, 1890-1972
International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 2019
This study examined the centrality of bridewealth payment in Isukha marriage before the establish... more This study examined the centrality of bridewealth payment in Isukha marriage before the establishment of colonial rule and missionaries activities. Bridewealth guaranteed stability in Isukha marriage. The study argues that colonialism was responsible for the changes that took place in Isukha marriage. In addition, Christianity impacted on marriage tastes and choices. To them bridewealth made marriage a mere mercantile transaction and they resolved to discourage the practice among baptized Christians as far as possible. In this effort however, they were not very successful for Christian continued to receive and give bridewealth, given the important symbolic role placed on it by the people of Isukha. What determined and shaped Isukha marriage bridewealth was the economic stresses suffered by the people when it came to using cattle to pay taxes. This meant a total loss of bridewealth. Methodology for this study involved data collected from secondary and primary data derived from archival and field research. This study findings argues that colonial and missionary penetration disrupted the social fabric which weaved and kept moral and responsible behaviours in marriage relations in a state of equilibrium. It did this in several ways, for instance through imparting western cultural attributes to the Isukha, in attempt to undermine their culture by targeting features such as bridewealth exchange. The consequences of this was gradual and systematic transformation of Isukha marriage.
US-China Education Review B, 2015
This study examined the contribution of Western education as provided by Christian missionaries o... more This study examined the contribution of Western education as provided by Christian missionaries on the changing roles of Idakho women. The spread of Christianity and Western education in Idakho had a broad approach to reinforce evangelization and to win converts. Education, thus, became part of the new value system less identified with transmitting Christian values and belief and more with providing access to new occupational and social status. The colonial authority further introduced hut taxes and cash economy. Thus, the colonial economy forced men in Idakho to seek employment in European economic ventures and took them away from the labour responsibilities they used to have in the traditional economy. With frequent absence of men, who left their villages to seek paid employment in urban areas or settler's farms, and the decline of traditional institutions and uncertainty arising from changes in society, more and more women joined the church in search of new vision of the world as well reassurance. Women who went to school initiated the beginning of a wage-earning class of women among the Idakho and it reflected the widening transformative impact of Christianity and its agencies. Methodology for this study involved data collection from secondary sources and primary data derived from field research. Moreover, the early success of education and other programs, like health, led to the liberation of women who became agents of transforming Idakho society.
Sociology and Anthropology, 2017
This study attempted to broaden our understanding of the Idakho culture during pre-colonial perio... more This study attempted to broaden our understanding of the Idakho culture during pre-colonial period. The main aim of the research was to examine and unravel the past history pattern, cultural practices of Idakho people, to come up with written reference materials, to promote culture and enhance its contribution to community empowerment. The research used both secondary and primary data derived from field research. On completion, the data of this study has established facts such as determining the historical background of Idakho people and their migration to their first settlement in East Africa and assessed an extent at which the cultural and traditional practices have supported the Idakho community to this date.
Journal of Advances in Social Science and Humanities, 2016
This study seeks to examine how the Idakho interacted with Christian values by focusing on Church... more This study seeks to examine how the Idakho interacted with Christian values by focusing on Church of God Mission. The end product of the rapid acceptance of Christianity among the Idakho was broader social and economic transformation. Education as taught by missionaries of Church of God became an avenue for accumulation of wealth, through employment as teachers and government employees as well as through involvement in commercial activities. The specific objective of the study is to analyze the role of Church of God mission in Idakho societal transformation. The initiatives and the struggles of the Idakho for betterment of their educational status are given special attention. Methodology for this study involved data collection from secondary sources and mostly primary data derived from archival and field research. The study concludes that the difficult financial situation that had faced Church of God missionary board hindered the expansion of the church in Idakho. Therefore the survival of the Church of God depended on the influence of the teacher-evangelist and the educated elite. Moreover, the early success of education and other programs like health and agriculture led to the development of the educated elite who became agents of transformation.
International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science
This paper investigates the effects of cremation on African traditional celebrations of the livin... more This paper investigates the effects of cremation on African traditional celebrations of the living dead in Kenya. The study examines bereavement and mourning practices in communities, with a particular focus on traditional modes of mourning, grieving, and remembering the living dead. According to the study, African traditions, the spread of Christianity, the influence of the Hindu culture, and Islamic beliefs all conflict with the changing culture that is slowly embracing cremation. The methodology for this study involved secondary data. The conclusion drawn from the study is that even as the scarcity of land pushes societies to consider the option of cremation, cultural and religious perceptions have painted the practice unethical and term it “un-African.” In Kenya, the majority of the population still opts to bury their dead in their ancestral homes in order to perform ritual and religious burial rites.
INTRODUCTION Women empowerment, connotes that women shall enjoy human rights in practice regardle... more INTRODUCTION Women empowerment, connotes that women shall enjoy human rights in practice regardless of gender. This prompts women agency and economic vibrancy in the realization of their full potential as productive workers, (Kardam & Kardam, 2017) especially in the sugar industry of western Kenya. Empowerment is, therefore, a process by which “oppressed” persons agentively gain control over their lives individually & collectively. Globally, cash crop farming as epitomized by sugarcane provides employment in the areas of production to stimulate economic returns to the labourers in the industry, hence the temptation by a large number of women to provide labour in the sugarcane plantations in western Kenya. The increased number of women providing labour in the sugarcane plantation is provoked by the women’s agentive utility response instincts (Anderson, 2002) to the family subsistence needs with an endeavour to utilize their labour and time maximally to their advantage in securing the...
Church and culture: a case study of church of god among the Idakho, Kakamega County, Kenya, 1890-1972
International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 2019
This study examined the centrality of bridewealth payment in Isukha marriage before the establish... more This study examined the centrality of bridewealth payment in Isukha marriage before the establishment of colonial rule and missionaries activities. Bridewealth guaranteed stability in Isukha marriage. The study argues that colonialism was responsible for the changes that took place in Isukha marriage. In addition, Christianity impacted on marriage tastes and choices. To them bridewealth made marriage a mere mercantile transaction and they resolved to discourage the practice among baptized Christians as far as possible. In this effort however, they were not very successful for Christian continued to receive and give bridewealth, given the important symbolic role placed on it by the people of Isukha. What determined and shaped Isukha marriage bridewealth was the economic stresses suffered by the people when it came to using cattle to pay taxes. This meant a total loss of bridewealth. Methodology for this study involved data collected from secondary and primary data derived from archival and field research. This study findings argues that colonial and missionary penetration disrupted the social fabric which weaved and kept moral and responsible behaviours in marriage relations in a state of equilibrium. It did this in several ways, for instance through imparting western cultural attributes to the Isukha, in attempt to undermine their culture by targeting features such as bridewealth exchange. The consequences of this was gradual and systematic transformation of Isukha marriage.
US-China Education Review B, 2015
This study examined the contribution of Western education as provided by Christian missionaries o... more This study examined the contribution of Western education as provided by Christian missionaries on the changing roles of Idakho women. The spread of Christianity and Western education in Idakho had a broad approach to reinforce evangelization and to win converts. Education, thus, became part of the new value system less identified with transmitting Christian values and belief and more with providing access to new occupational and social status. The colonial authority further introduced hut taxes and cash economy. Thus, the colonial economy forced men in Idakho to seek employment in European economic ventures and took them away from the labour responsibilities they used to have in the traditional economy. With frequent absence of men, who left their villages to seek paid employment in urban areas or settler's farms, and the decline of traditional institutions and uncertainty arising from changes in society, more and more women joined the church in search of new vision of the world as well reassurance. Women who went to school initiated the beginning of a wage-earning class of women among the Idakho and it reflected the widening transformative impact of Christianity and its agencies. Methodology for this study involved data collection from secondary sources and primary data derived from field research. Moreover, the early success of education and other programs, like health, led to the liberation of women who became agents of transforming Idakho society.
Sociology and Anthropology, 2017
This study attempted to broaden our understanding of the Idakho culture during pre-colonial perio... more This study attempted to broaden our understanding of the Idakho culture during pre-colonial period. The main aim of the research was to examine and unravel the past history pattern, cultural practices of Idakho people, to come up with written reference materials, to promote culture and enhance its contribution to community empowerment. The research used both secondary and primary data derived from field research. On completion, the data of this study has established facts such as determining the historical background of Idakho people and their migration to their first settlement in East Africa and assessed an extent at which the cultural and traditional practices have supported the Idakho community to this date.
Journal of Advances in Social Science and Humanities, 2016
This study seeks to examine how the Idakho interacted with Christian values by focusing on Church... more This study seeks to examine how the Idakho interacted with Christian values by focusing on Church of God Mission. The end product of the rapid acceptance of Christianity among the Idakho was broader social and economic transformation. Education as taught by missionaries of Church of God became an avenue for accumulation of wealth, through employment as teachers and government employees as well as through involvement in commercial activities. The specific objective of the study is to analyze the role of Church of God mission in Idakho societal transformation. The initiatives and the struggles of the Idakho for betterment of their educational status are given special attention. Methodology for this study involved data collection from secondary sources and mostly primary data derived from archival and field research. The study concludes that the difficult financial situation that had faced Church of God missionary board hindered the expansion of the church in Idakho. Therefore the survival of the Church of God depended on the influence of the teacher-evangelist and the educated elite. Moreover, the early success of education and other programs like health and agriculture led to the development of the educated elite who became agents of transformation.