Stylistic choices in three Bongo Flava songs: “Rita”, “Pii Pii” by Marlaw, and “Nikifa Kesho” by Diamond Platnumz

Abstract

This article employs relevance theory to examine literary meaning encompassed in the stylistic use of language in the songs "Pii Pii", "Rita" by Marlaw, and the song "Nikita Kesho" by Diamond Platnumz. These meanings result from how the artist use language artistically  at a lyrical level, to construct the message discernible in the songs. It is surmised that the two artists use embellished  language for a variety of reasons. Such reasons include entertainment, to elicit emotions, to conflate meanings, to mention a few. The  paper is significant because it serves as a stepping-stone through which the research establishes connections and relationships between  the literary meanings conveyed in stylistic use of language. This helps in bringing out the implied meanings, which Bongo Flava artists  conflate and suggest in how they appropriate language artistically. This is because, despite Bongo Flava being too figurative in nature,  highly stylistic, and poetic—what may be construed as mere artistic use of language for embellishment purposes not only serve an  entertainment value. In addition, function to convey very meaning. The surface meaning that bears entertainment value as the article  shows function as a masking technique. This is because it defamiliarizes the serious meaning implied in the songs as the criticism of  these features reveal in this article. Stylistic choices in this context serve as Defamiliarization tools. In this context stylistic use of language  veil sensitive meanings because of the sensitivity, such meanings can have on the audiences’ emotions. This argument is  based on the cognitive and emotional effect, which unveiled language could have on the effects manner of expression has on the  audiences.