Christianity and rural community literacy practices in Uganda
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Date
2007
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of Research in reading
Abstract
This article is based on a wider ethnographic study1 of local literacy practices in
Bweyale, a rural community in Uganda. The general aim of the larger study was to
understand, recognise and give value to how rural people use literacy in their everyday
lives, to identify the most prominent literacy domains in rural community life and make
recommendations as to how understanding of local literacy practices can contribute to
more meaningful adult literacy programmes for rural people. The wider study revealed
that one of the main areas in which literacy use features prominently in rural community
life is in Christian religious practices. Unlike literacy practices in other significant areas
such as education and commerce, religious literacy practices are often overlooked,
possibly because they do not relate directly to national development concerns and can
also be negatively associated with colonialism and evangelism.
As a result of national development concerns, adult literacy programmes for rural
communities in Uganda, as in most African countries, have tended to focus on economic
activities in areas such as agriculture, general household and community livelihoods and
on more general development outcomes such as improved health (see Carr-Hill et al.,
2001; Fiedrich & Jellema, 2003; Oxenham, Diallo, Katahoire, Mwangi & Sall, 2001;
Wagner, 1995). In spite of some important studies revealing the influence of Christianity
on rural literacy practices (Kulick & Stroud, 1993; Probst, 1993), religious literacy
practices are not generally regarded as significant in informing adult literacy education
curricula for rural people. This study confirms that the Christian religion provides the
impetus for many literacy activities that occur in rural communities like Bweyale.
Description
Keywords
Christianity, Rural community literacy practices, Uganda
Citation
Openjuru, G. L., & Lyster, E. (2007). Christianity and rural community literacy practices in Uganda. Journal of Research in reading, 30(1), 97-112. DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9817.2006.00325.x