The Role of Cultural Evolution in the Construction of Modern Gĩkũyũ Romance: An Analysis of Selected Gĩkũyũ Popular Songs

This paper contains a postcolonial reading of selected Gῖkũyũ popular songs evaluating how cultural evolution, change and transition influences, affects and complicates the modern Gῖkũyũ romance structure. The data for analysis has been obtained from selected Gῖkũyũ popular songs andthe selection was done using purposive sampling. The research employed qualitative research design and it was guided by postcolonial theory through the reflexive reading approach in the analysis of the songs. The study revealed that some of the cultural factors that affect, influence and complicate the construction of Gῖkũyũ romance include postcolonial patriarchy manifested in polygamy, division of labour, alcoholism and male chauvinism. Christianity is also an influential factor in the construction of modern Gῖkũyũ romance. Change and transition is manifested through the emergence of shifting gender ideologies that promote tolerance for gender balance and women empowerment leading to reversal of gender roles, erosion of culture and emergence of the career woman. The process of this cultural evolution causestragi-romance while cultural diversity and traditional patriarchy produces for productive romantic relationships.