Types of Folk Songs

Naming Folk Songs

They are sung to Celebrate the birth of a child

They are performed to:-

1. Welcome a new member to the world

2. Thank God for birth of a new born

3. Congratulate the parents for bringing a baby

4. Educate the parents on how to take care of the baby

2. Worship Folk Songs

They are performed during religious Ceremonies 

They are performed to:-

1. Educate believers about God

2. Praise God

3. Entertain the worshippers

4. Encourage and give hope to the believers

3. Marriage Folk Songs

They are performed during Marriage Ceremonies 

They are performed to:-

1. Praise the bride and the groom

2. Educate the newly weds on values i.e Love

3. Entertain people present in the ceremonies

4. Initiation Folk Songs

They are performed during transition from childhood to adulthood 

They are performed to:-

1. Educate the initiate on morals

2. Promote good behavior among initiates

3. Encourage initiates to be brave

4. Teach initiates on traditions of the community

5. Entertain people during the ceremony

5. Work Folk Songs

They are performed when people are doing different types of work eg. Farming, Grazing, building etc

They are performed to:-

1.Encourage and motivate the workers

2.They entertain the workers

6. Funeral Folk Songs

They are performed when mourning the death of a loved one.

They are performed to:-

1. Come together to celebrate the death of a loved one

2. Console the bereaved family

3. Help people heal from the pain of loosing a loved one

7. Solo Folk Songs

They are performed by one person

1. They are accompanied by dancing and musical instruments i.e drums, flutes, shakers etc

2. The performer can wear appropriate costumes and decorate his or her body with adornments and ornaments