Ukuphononongwa kokushiywa nokubuyelwa ziinkumbulo kwababhali abachongiweyo kwiincwadi zeothobhayografi KaMtuze nomagona
- Authors: Stemela, Nozuko Precious
- Date: 2024-04
- Subjects: Mtuze, Peter Tshobiso , Xhosa literature -- History and criticism , Authors, Xhosa -- Biography
- Language: Xhosa
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/63529 , vital:73385
- Description: Olu phando lugxile ekuphononongeni ukukhumbula nokulibala kwii-othobhayografi ezibhaliweyo ekaMagona (1995) noMtuze (1976). Ii-othobhayografi eziza kusetyenziswa luphando zithi: Indlel’ Ebhek’ Enkundleni ngokukaPeter Mtuze (1976) nethi, Kubantwana Babantwana Bam ngokukaSindiwe Magona (1995). Xa kusenziwa uphando kuza kuhlalutywa amanqanaba okukhumbula nokulibala ukusukela ebuntwaneni ukuya kutsho ebudaleni kubabhali bee-othobhayografi. Uhlalutyo luza kube lugxininise ekujongeni iinkumbulo zababhali, luhamba nabo ngokwamanqanaba okukhula kwabo, amanqanaba okukhumbula nokulibala njengoko bekhula. Uphando luza kungqiyama ngengcingane yokukhumbula nokulibala eyasungulwa nguEbbinghaus (1885) kuphando lwakhe awayelwenza. Iinjongo zikaEbbinghaus ongumsunguli wengcingane zokuzisa ulwazi ngengcingane yokukhumbula nokulibala kukubonisa indlela ukulibala okwenzeka ngayo. UEbbinghaus uye wasebenzisa ikhevu yokulibala ukuvelisa banzi ingcingane. Lo msunguli wale ngcingane yokukhumbula nokulibala uthi, le khevu yokulibala ibonisa ukwehla kwezinga lokukhumbula okanye iqondo lokukhumbula xa luthe ulwazi lwalahleka ngenxa yokungenziwa kwamatiletile okulugcina nokukhunjulwa ngumninilo. Oku uEbbinghaus (1885) ukucacisa kwincwadi yakhe ethi Memory (1850-1909). Uphando njengokuba lubandakanya okwenzeka kwingqondo luza kube lukhatshwa yingcingane yokuqonda. Ingcingane yokuqonda yingcingane enkulu nengcingane ethe yajongwa kakhulu ziingcali ezininzi, ikwaphuhliswa ziingcaphephe ezininzi nezifundiswa. Uphando lukhethe ukuvelisa uEbbinghaus ukubonisa ingcingane yokukhumbula nokulibala, kodwa yona iphefumlelwe ziingcaphephe ezininzi mandulo. NgokukaGuyer (1998:1) enye yeengcaphephe abhale ngayo ethetha ngengcingane yokukhumbula nokuqonda nguKant (1724-1804) owaziwa ngomsebenzi wakhe othi: The Critique of Pure Reason. Lo msebenzi ucatshulwe apha kulapho uKant (1724-1804) athetha ngendlela yokuqonda ulwazi nokuzisa izizathu. Emva koko iingcali ezininzi ziye zaqhuba nengcingane yokuqonda ukuza kuthi ga kule mihla. Oku kuquka ingcali uChart (2017) obhale ngengcinane yokuqonda ngokwale mihla. Uphando luza kuvelisa ingcingane yesini njengengcingane ekhaphayo. Ingcingane yesini iza kusetyenziselwa ukuthelekiswa kwababhali bee-othobhayografi kujongwa indlela yokukhumbula nokulibala kugudlwe isini. Ngonyaka we-1955 uMoney (1955) waye wapapasha iphepha kunye nabo asebenza nabo kwiSebe lezeNgqondo uJoan G. Hampson nomyeni wakhe uJohn L. Hampson apho babeqala ukwazisa ngenkquleqhu yendima yesini besithi: Zonke izinto azithethayo okanye azenzayo umntu ukuze azichaze njengenkwenkwe okanye indoda, intombazana okanye ibhinqa, ngokulandelelanayo, zibizwa ngokuba ziindima zesini. Kulapho uMoney (1955) wathi wasungula khona le ngcingane yesini eza kuthi ithathe inxaxheba kolu phando ngokubonisa ukukhumbula nokulibala kwisini. Olu phando luza kuthi lwenziwe ngohlobo olubizwa ngokuba yintyilazwi. Intyilazwi ilunge kakhulu kolu hlobo lophando kuba luphando olufundisayo njengokuba luvelisa unobangela wokukhumbula nezizathu zokulibala. Intyilazwi iyagqitha ize ijonge amava ababhali, indlela abazicacise ngayo iinkumbulo zabo nendlela abazibhale ngayo iiothobhayografi zabo bechaza iziganeko zokukhula kwabo. Olu hlobo luza kube lungajongi zigrafu okanye manani kodwa lujonga kakhulu indlela yokuhlalutya oko kubhaliweyo. Iincwadi ezisetyenziswa kuphando ziza kushwankathelwa zibuye zihlalutywe ngokwendlela yokuhlola iziganeko zokukhumbula nokulibala kwababhali. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Langauge, Media and Communication, 2024
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- Date Issued: 2024-04
Satire in J.J. R. Jolobe's literary works : a critique in relation to contemporary South Africa
- Authors: Benayo, Xolela
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Jolobe, James J. R. , Xhosa literature -- History and criticism , Xhosa poetry -- History and criticism , Humor in literature , Xhosa literature -- Humor , Xhosa language
- Language: English , Xhosa
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/161762 , vital:40667
- Description: J.J.R. Jolobe is regarded as one of the individuals who made a valuable contribution to the development of isiXhosa literature through his works, notably in his poetry (Ilitha, Umyezo; Jolobe 1936). His poetry ranges from abstract subjects to more philosophical matters. This study is aimed at decoding the manner in which he employs satire to conscientise African people of the then horrible situation that they were facing. With that said, poetry will not be the only work that this thesis analyses in the process of evaluating Jolobe’s satire; his essays will also be examined (Amavo; Jolobe 1940). Based on the writings of various authors specialising in the subject, satire has been deemed to be a style of literary writing, one which involves invective satire. For the researcher, that statement will be rebutted, as it will be argued that the mode of satire need not be wholly invective. Jolobe’s light-hearted satire not only showcases the amusing side of his writings, but also indicates the seriousness with which they were intended. Themes covered in Jolobe’s satire have inspired the researcher to evaluate these literary texts in relation to modern contexts, especially when it comes to the relationship between the lines of the author’s experience and the public. With that said, the social role of satire is something that one cannot deny. One could therefore say that there is an urgent need for African satirists to face the existing social and economic reality as authentically as possible. The voice of a satirist should also echo the voice of their society as a whole. Satirical study in post-colonial Africa, in South Africa in particular, is useful due to the idea that the works of the likes of Jolobe may diminish in significance due to neo-colonialism. In fact, this is the point which is considered in this study of Jolobe’s satire. This study also examines stages afforded to the development of satire in Africa, especially in the post-colonial era. The purpose is to identify the effects of satire that are related to socio-political as well as religious factors. These factors are often seen as those that play a vital role is one’s personal morals, and those that are meant to shape the whole community. Jolobe addresses imperialism and the class struggle, which speaks to the society’s loyalties regarding the mobilization toward realizing the dream of being independent. This speaks to the works analysed, revealing protests against oppression and exploitation by imperialists; such works show how inhumane people could be against those who they deem to be beneath their standards. Researchers like Mahlasela (1973), Sirayi (1985), Kwetana (2000) and Khumalo (2015) are amongst those who have made it a point to study Jolobe to ensure that these works are kept alive, along with their significance. Other prospective researchers can follow suite in researching the great Jolobe. In ensuring that the aims of this study come to light, the researcher will be using socialist realism as a way of seeing that the works of Jolobe are realistic in nature. With that said, there will be an exploration of allegoric satire. Satiric allegory will be evaluated with regard to the view that it represents a unique slant on satire, whereby it deems satire to be more than just a supportive method of literary criticism. This allows the researcher to hold the view that satire should not be a restrictive framework when dealing with African literature. Satire as a modern form of criticism can be viewed as having an element of humanism, which would result in the satirist doing all he can to make sure that what is satirized is not isolated from the struggle of the community. It is for the above-mentioned reasons that we see a big challenge in the future development of satiric discourse in African literature.
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- Date Issued: 2020
A historical sociolinguistic study on the conceptualisation and application of justice and law kwisizwe samaXhosa as documented in and extracted From SEK Mqhayi And W.W. Gqoba’s selected writings
- Authors: Ntshingana, Sanele
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Gqoba, William Wellington , Mqhayi, S. E. K. , Xhosa literature -- History and criticism , Law in literature , Justice in literature
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/115339 , vital:34115
- Description: This study seeks to investigate the original meanings contained in lexical terms relating to law (umthetho) and justice (ubulungisa) and their application in the precolonial Xhosa social society as they make appearance in SEK Mqhayi’s novel Ityala lamawele (1914) and WW Gqoba’s Isizwe esinembali, (1873-188/2015). Both of these works were written and initially published at the early point of contact of amaXhosa with the art of writing, and so are set in a ‘traditional’ setting (in the case of Mqhayi) and at early contact with European societies in Eastern Nguni region. This academic endeavour is undertaken by employing critical discourse theoretical framework. The purpose is to investigate the conceptualisation of law and justice amongst amaXhosa, and the extent to which this conceptualisation reflects the philosophical worldview of amaXhosa, as embedded in their language. The paper makes inferences about conceptualisation of law and justice in precolonial Xhosa social settings, and offers proposals on what this conceptual understanding could mean if its potential contribution to the contemporary understanding and application of law and justice in South Africa could be tapped into. The motivation for this study emanates from the current intellectual contestations in higher education that today’s curricula present western knowledge systems as universal while marginalising indigenous epistemologies in teaching, learning and research practices. At the centre of these debates is how research, social and scientific thinking in humanities, is profoundly shaped by imported, racist, western “canonical” texts and theories. The arguments presented by various scholars argue that this enterprise firmly roots the collective imagination of students about the past and present in racist Eurocentric schematic frames, thus creating a problem of identity loss, and an intentional distortion of historical truths. The space for knowledge systems and experiences reflecting African memory and imagination is not only neglected, but distorted too. In this context, the study seeks to delve deeper into how African languages can be used to reconstruct knowledge systems that reflect African ways of understanding society as part of creating a curriculum that depicts “multiversal” ways of knowing (Tisani 2000; Santos, 2014). This study makes several findings, chief amongst which is that the legal and justice systems of the precolonial Xhosa society was both corrective as opposed to today’s punitive court system that South Africa inherited, largely from the West. It seeks to prove that AmaXhosa’s precolonial legal and justice system was focused more on reintegrating the offender back into society. The study further will show how the precolonial amaXhosa justice system was embedded in the concepts of ubulungisa (correct and re-intergrate) and isohlwayo (that which brings one to basics). Through discourse analysis of the early literary isiXhosa texts, the thesis discovers that the application of ubulungisa amongst amaXhosa back then was consistent with the philosophies embedded in the concepts. By exposing the collaboration networks between the white missionaries and the colonial administrators of the nineteenth century, the thesis will show how conspiracies were directed at erasing and displacing these indigenous epistemologies and to replacing them with colonial memories. To this end, missionary accounts, explorer diary entries and reports and early lexicographic material were produced and archived. Furthermore, this study makes a proposition that early written Xhosa texts be entrenched in the today’s curricula in order inform the process of making sense of the social experiences and knowledge systems of the indigenous people of South Africa, from the precolonial-past to the present. Throughout the study, the thesis presents a proposition these early Xhosa texts be studied in relation to their intellectual contributions. This, it is hoped, will boldly challenge the canonised knowledge and racist assumptions about the African knowledge systems and experiences.
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- Date Issued: 2019
The life and literary works of Peter Tshobiso Mtuze: a critical analysis
- Authors: Mafrika, Andile Ernest
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Mtuze, P T -- Criticism and interpretation , Mtuze, P T -- UDingezweni , Mtuze, P T -- Alitshoni lingaphumi , Mtuze, P T -- Amathol’ eendaba. , Authors, Xhosa , Xhosa literature -- History and criticism
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/4400 , vital:20658
- Description: This thesis is an exploration of the concept of Mphahlele’s African Humanism, against the backdrop of the life and work of Peter Tshobiso Mtuze, well-known author of isiXhosa books, critic, academic and spiritual leader. Mtuze’s commitment to the collective rather than the individual is clearly illustrated in the thesis, suggesting that his early life of struggle, his belated development as an acclaimed academic, as well as his spiritual growth are all intertwined and underpinned by African Humanism and an Afrocentric ethos.The thesis consists of six chapters with each chapter focusing on a particular aspect of the research topic. Chapter One deals with the introduction to the research topic. Part of the introductory material consists of conventional preliminaries such as a research statement, aim of study, methodology, main assumptions of the study and the significance and benefit of the study. Chapter Two is the theoretical foundation of the thesis. It covers the origin of African Humanism as consciousness and as a system of society, oral and written literature in Africa and the early Xhosa literary humanism. Chapter Three is an overview of the biographical background of Peter Tshobiso Mtuze, his Pass Law battles in different towns of South Africa, how he joined the African National Congress (ANC) and his working life and writing life. Chapter Four analyses two major novels, UDingezweni and Alitshoni lingaphumi, and a short story book, Amathol’ eendaba. The analysis aims at revealing African consciousness and African way of life with specific reference to Xhosa people. Chapter Five deals with Xhosa spirituality, its aspects and symbols, Mtuze’s Spirituality and Anglicanism and his writings. Chapter Six is a general conclusion that highlights the main aspects of the thesis, the African personality and the prospects of African humanism in today’s world.
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- Date Issued: 2017
Uhlalutyo ngokwesithako sobunzululwazi nkcubeko-ntlalo yaseAfrika kwinoveli yesiXhosa: Inkululeko isentabeni
- Authors: Bali, Nolundi Monica
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Xhosa literature -- History and criticism
- Language: Xhosa
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/9077 , vital:26462
- Description: Kule ngxoxo kuqwalaswele indlela amasiko nezithethe asetyenziswe ngayo kwincwadi kaSaule, ethi, Inkululeko isentabeni. Le ngxoxo ijolise ekuncomeni indlela lo kaSaule awasebenzise ngayo amasiko kunye nezithethe zakwaNtu ukwakha isizwe esimnyama. Konke oku kudandalazisa ukubaluleka kokusetyenziswa kwawo ukwakha isizwe. Injongo yolu phando kukuphendla indlela umtshato, isithembu, ulwaluko, imbeleko, intonjane, ukufa, ukukhapha, ukubuyisa nokungenwa ezaziqhutywa ngayo nezizathu zoko. Le ngxoxo iza kuphonononga ixhaswe ngezithako eziziimbono zeengcali zohlalutyo kwintlalo kaNtu. Ingxoxo le yahlulwe yazizahluko ezintandathu. Isahluko sokuqala sivula ngentshayelelo, ze sidandalazise intsusamabandla yolu phando, kushukuxwe imbangeli yophando, ze kwenziwe uphengululo lweencwadi zeengcali kwisithako sobuNzululwazi Nkcubeko-Ntlalo. Isahluko sesibini, siqwalasela ukuxabiseka kolwendo ngokwengcinga yesiNtu kwincwadi kaSaule. Indlela isiko lokuthwala lalisenziwa ngalo mandulo xa kuthelekiswa kweyangoku, nemiceli-mngeni elijamelene nalo eli siko. Isahluko sesithathu, sijongene nesithembu, iimeko ezazinyanzelisa ukuthathwa komfazi wesibini nangaphezulu nemiceli-mngeni ekhoyo kwesi sithethe. Isahluko sesine, singolwaluko ngemihla yamandulo size sithelekiswe nale mihla siphila kuyo. Iingxaki ezikhoyo kweli siko ezibangelwa kukungakhathali kwengcibi, namakhankatha. Esesihlanu, isahluko singamasiko nezithethe, iindlela ezazisaya kusetyenziswa mandulo kuthelekiswa nezeli xesha lokhanyo ekwenzeni la masiko nezi zithethe. Isahluko sesithandathu, sesokuphetha, siyintyilazwi yeengxoxo ezikolu hlalutyo, kuxilongwa ubuzaza besithako sobunzululwazi nkcubeko-ntlalo.
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- Date Issued: 2016
Uphando ngokuphononongwa kwabalinganiswa ngokobume bengqondo kwiincwadi ezikhethiweyo zikaSaule u'Vuleka mhlaba no Umthetho kamthetho'
- Authors: Sokiya, Liliswa
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Saule, N. -- Criticism and interpretation , Xhosa literature -- History and criticism
- Language: Xhosa
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/8585 , vital:26409
- Description: Impatho-mbi nabalinganiswa iba ngunobangela wokuphazamiseka kwengqodo zabalinganiswa. Umlinganiswa uthi nokuba uhleli azibone sele enezinye iingcinga, ngcinga ezo ziphazamisa ubomi bakhe. Izinto eziphazamisa umlinganiswa ebalini kukutyholwa ngezinto angazaziyo. Iyashiyana indlela abalinganiswa abachaphazeleka ngayo ngenxa yolu phazamiseko, loo nto ikhokelele ekubeni benze izinto ezingafaniyo.
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- Date Issued: 2015
Uphononongo ngokwesithako sobunzululwazi-sakhono kwiinoveli ezimbini zesiXhosa : (Ukhozi olunamaphiko noLwadilik' udonga)
- Authors: Jaxa, Nontembiso Patricia
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Xhosa literature -- History and criticism , Xhosa language -- Grammar , Figures of speech
- Language: Xhosa
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8483 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020981
- Description: Kule ngxoxo kuqwalaselwa indlela ulwimi njengesakhono olusetyenziswe ngayo kwincwadi kaSaule, ethi, Ukhozi Olumaphiko kunye nobuchule bukaBongela ekubhaleni kwincwadi yakhe ethi, Lwadilik’ Udonga, yona eluguqulelo lwencwadi kaChinua Achebe, ethi, Things Fall Apart. Kule ngxoxo akuthelekiswa aba babhali babini koko kujongwe nje kunconywa ubuchule babo ekusebenziseni ulwimi ngendlela ephakamisa umgangatho weencwadi zabo. Oko, kudandalazisa ukubaluleka kokuqatshelwa kolwimi njengesakhono, ngababhali. Injongo yolu phando kukuba, ababhali bakuthathele ingqalelo ukubaluleka kokukhulisa nokukhuthaza ukusetyenziswa kolwimi ngokukubonisa oko kwiincwadi abazibhalileyo, ukuze, nakubafundi nootitshala ezikolweni, kube lula ukufunda nokufundisa ulwimi, kuphumezeke iinjongo zeNkcazelo yePolisi yeKharityhulam noHlolo (2011), yona ebethelela ukufundiswa kolwimi ngendlela ephucula nekhulisa umfundi kulwimi. Le ngxoxo ke ixhaswa ngezithako ngezithako zeengcali kwisakhono noguqulelo. Ingxoxo le yahlulwe yazizahluko ezihlanu. Isahluko sokuqala sivula ngentshayelelo, ze sidandalazise intsusamabandla yolu phando, kushukuxwe ingxubakaxaka elundululeyo, ze kwenziwe uphengululo lweencwadi zeengcali kwizithako zesakhono nezokuguqulela. Isahluko sesibini, siqwalasela indlela uSaule asebenzise ngayo iindidi zezivakalisi, kanti neendidi zezivakalisi ezidiza isakhono ngobuchule, ukuze kuphuhle amandla akhe ekubaliseni kuhlobo loncwadi alubhalileyo, nokuvakalisa iingcinga neengcamango zakhe, edlulisa nolwazi kwabo bafunda incwadi. Isahluko sesithathu, siyaqhuba nokusetyenziswa kolwimi njengesakhono sokubhala kwakwincwadi kaSaule, kodwa kujongwe ukusetyenziswa kwezifanekisozwi, izifaniso, uchongo-magama nentsingiselo kunye noburharha bombhali. Isahluko sesine sona sihlalutya isimbo sikaBongela ekubhaleni nasekuguquleleni kwincwadi yakhe ethi, Lwadilik’ udonga. Isahluko sesihlanu sesokuphetha, siyintyilazwi yeengxoxo ezikolu hlalutyo, kuxilongwa ubuzaza besithako sobunzululwazi-sakhono nokubaluleka kwaso ekuphuhliseni uncwadi jikelele. Ukusetyenziswa kolwimi kuko okungundoqo wokuphila koncwadi.
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- Date Issued: 2013
Uphononongo lokubunjwa kobume bengqondo yabalinganiswa kwiincwadi ezikhethiweyo zesiXhosa
- Authors: Netjies, Nomalanga Primrose
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Xhosa literature -- History and criticism , South African literature
- Language: Xhosa
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8474 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1011847 , Xhosa literature -- History and criticism , South African literature
- Description: Olu phando luza kugxila kuphononongo lobume bengqondo ephazamisekileyo, lujonge izimo zabalinganiswa nendlela abacinga nabenza ngayo izinto. Kuza kube kugocwagocwa ubume bengqondo yabalinganiswa abakwezi ncwadi zintathu zilandelayo: Incwadi kaTamsanqa ethi, „Buzani Kubawo,‟ ekaJordan ethi, „Ingqumbo Yeminyanya‟ neka Jongilanga ethi, „Ukuqhawuka Kwembeleko.‟Apha kuza kukhokela intshayelelo equlathe izinto ezininzi eziquka amagama amatsha aza kusetyenziswa, indlela oza kuma ngayo umsebenzi kunye nembali ngababhali. Oku kulandelwa yingcingane eza kuthi ibe sisiseko solu phando, ingcingane yobume bengqondo, ingcingane yemeko engaqhelekanga kunye nezayamileyo; ingcingane yokuqonda kunye nengcingane yenkcubeko nentlalo. Kuza kuthi kutyhilwe iimeko abantu abaphila phantsi kwazo emakhaya nasentlalweni ngokubanzi. Iingcali zophando zizamile ukuza neendlela ezizizo zokwazi unobangela wokuphazamiseka kwengqondo ukuze zikwazi ukuza nonyango oluchanekileyo. Ekugqibeleni kuza kuthi kushwankathelwe wonke lo msebenzi, kuvezwe namacebo anokunceda abafundi nababhali kuncwadi. Kuza kucetyiswa ababhali ukuze babethelele ingcamango yokuba kubekho uncedo okanye unyango kubalinganiswa abanesimo sengqondo esiphazamisekileyo, xa kuphononongwa le ngcingane yesimo sengqondo.
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- Date Issued: 2012
Normative value systems as portrayed by V.N.M. Swaartbooi and V. Magadla
- Authors: Zideba-Thomas, Cynthia Daniswa
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Xhosa literature -- History and criticism , Xhosa (African people) -- South Africa -- Social life and customs -- 20th century , Language and culture -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8441 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/650 , Xhosa literature -- History and criticism , Xhosa (African people) -- South Africa -- Social life and customs -- 20th century , Language and culture -- South Africa
- Description: This study will focus on norms and value systems as portrayed by two female Xhosa writers. The aim of this study is to show how normative value systems are represented by two female Xhosa female writers. It also aims to show the effects of these systems on women. The method of research will be based on survey of Xhosa literature focusing on the following two books, Inzol ‘enkundleni, by V. Magadla and UMandisa by V.N.M. Swaartbooi.
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- Date Issued: 2007
Transcribing tales, creating cultural identities an analysis of selected written english texts of Xhosa folktales
- Authors: Naidu, Samantha
- Date: 2000
- Subjects: Tales -- South Africa , Folklore -- South Africa , Xhosa literature -- History and criticism
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2187 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002229 , https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9456-8657 , Tales -- South Africa , Folklore -- South Africa , Xhosa literature -- History and criticism
- Description: This thesis maps a marriage of postcolonial theory and folklore studies. The progeny of this marriage is an analytic tool which can suitably and effectively tackle the subject of written folktale texts, whether they be part of a nineteenth century colonialist discourse, or a twenty-first century nationalist discourse. First, GM Theal's collection of folktale texts, Kaffir Folklore (1882), is analysed as part of his specific colonialist discourse. Theal formulated for himself, and for the Xhosa peoples, identities which consolidated the colonialisms he supported. I argue that these folktale texts, although a part of Theal's colonialist discourse, are hybrid, containing the voices of both coloniser and colonised. Second, the position of contemporary written folktales in a neo-colonialist and >new nationalist discourse=, is examined. The optimistic belief of scholars and authors, that folktales are a means of bridging cultural gaps, is questioned. Finally, it is shown that authors of folktale texts can synthesise diverse literary traditions in a hybrid artform. This synthesis, to some extent, embodies the >new nationalist= aim of a unified national cultural identity in South Africa. The central value of recognising the role of folktale texts in colonialist and nationalist discourses lies in the awareness that this type of literary activity in South Africa is a cross-cultural practice. The confluence of voices which constitutes these folktale texts, reveals that our stories are intertwined. In the past, the discourses of colonialism and apartheid controlled the formation of the diverse and hierarchised cultural identities of South Africa. But this is not to say that alternative stories of self-fashioning and cultural self-determination did not exist. In the folktale texts of writers such as Mhlope, Jordan, and even in Theal's colonial collection, different mediums, literary heritages and styles converge to create narratives which speak of cross-cultural interaction and the empowerment of the black voice. In post-apartheid South Africa, there is even greater opportunity to reshape stories, to recreate selves, and to redefine intercultural relations. This thesis has outlined how some of those stories, which use folktale texts as their central trope, are constructed and commodified. Not only do these reinvented folktale texts embody the heterogeneous cultural influences of South Africa, they also have the potential to promote, first, the understanding of cultural differences, and second, the acceptance of the notion of cultural hybridity in our society.
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- Date Issued: 2000