THE INFLUENCE OF PARALINGUISTIC RESOURCES ON THE AESTHETICS OF SINMILALAMA ANNUAL LUNGUDA FESTIVAL PERFORMANCE

Abstract

This study investigates the role of paralinguistic resources in shaping the aesthetics of the Sinmilalama annual festival performance of the Lunguda people. Drawing on fieldwork, the research employed participant observation and interviews with elders, traditional council members, performers, and audience members to collect data. The analysis identified key paralinguistic features including facial expressions, gestures, costumes, implements, musical instruments, and dramatization and examined their aesthetic and cultural functions within the performance. Findings demonstrate that the artistic appeal of the festival lies not only in verbal expression but in the dynamic interplay between words and non-verbal elements. Yet, these resources are frequently overlooked by performers and audiences alike. By foregrounding their significance, this study underscores the need for greater scholarly attention to paralinguistic dimensions of African oral performances, particularly within the understudied Lunguda cultural context.