Ambivalent ecolinguistic narratives in indigenous music

Abstract

This study presents an ecolinguistic analysis of the Ekegusii song “Engamia ya Nyasae” by Henry Sagero through both critical and positive discourse analysis lenses. Drawing on Stibbe’s (2015, 2021) concept of “the stories we live by”, the study categorizes the discourses in the song as positive, negative, or ambivalent. It further explores the intersection of language, culture, and environmental ethics within the Abagusii worldview. The analysis reveals a dual narrative: on one hand, the song advocates for animal rights and respect for the non-human world; on the other, it upholds superstitious beliefs that blame the camel for infertility and madness. Grounded in an ecosophical framework, the study provides insights into the sociocultural values embedded in indigenous music and calls for a critical reconsideration of beliefs that hinder ecological coexistence.