Poetic meaning implied in suprasegmental features in selected segments of the song “Gongo la Mboto” by Diamond Platnumz and Mrisho Mpoto.

Abstract

This paper employs Deconstruction and Relevance theories to read literary meanings in the song “Gongo la Mboto” by Diamond Platnumz and Mrisho Mpoto. The paper focuses on suprasegmental features that mark the artistes ’ voice. This is because the style of singing andmanner of articulation in songs and performance of oral poetry significantly shapes the meaningconveyed by the artiste in Bongo music. The analysis involves application of four basic steps;identification of the message, examination of how voice production techniques are appliedduring song production to shape the intended meaning, application of the theories to deduceimplied meanings in the song, and finally explication of the literary value the song encompassesat audio level. This analysis responds to the growing concern to transcend literary criticism of songs as literary genres beyond the basic surface meaning. To focus on the meanings, the soundand melody determines the interpretation of the lyrics. This is a current trend which takes theadvancement in media technology to define new vistas of criticism of literary meaning resulting from technologizing production and mediation of songs as literary discourses. Traditionallyliterary criticism of songs has tended to focus on the message conveyed in the lyrics with littleattention to the sound and the effect it has on literary meaning