A survey of Xhosa drama
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Date
1978
Authors
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Publisher
University of Zululand
Abstract
This study is an attempt to give a survey of indigenous Xhosa dramatic
expressions. The writer hopes to show that traditional Xhosa drama
shares certain elements of this art with other cultures. In ether
words, there appears to be certain universals that identify all
dramatic art.
Although the study mainly concerns itself with the analysis of
indigenous forms of dramatic expression as found in oral tradition
some literary forms of Xhosa drama are also discussed. The intention
is to show how the literary forms have evolved or deviated from the
oral tradition.
The survey covers all the Xhosa speaking people of the Ngqika, Ndlambe,
Gcaleka, Thembu, Bomvana as well as Mpondo, Mpondomise, Hlubi and Bhaca ,
Although the Mpondo, Mpondomise, Hlubi and Bhaca have distinct dialectal
differences with the other Xhosa groups linguistically they, nevertheless ,
share Some common traditions with them because there is social interaction.
They attend the same schools where Xhosa is taught irrespective of the
dialect of the area. Intergroup marriages have also resulted in the
intermingling of traditions. Basically all the rituals are common in
all the groups except Umhlwayelelo (a health and fertility ritual) which
is not practised by the Mpondo, Mpondomise, Hlubi and Bhaca. The
“ingcubhe” (first fruit ritual) has not been discussed because it is only
practised by the Bhaca.
Description
A study submitted to the Faculty of Arts in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in the Department of General Linguistics formerly known as Bantu Languages at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 1978.