General Linguistics

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A survey of Xhosa drama
(University of Zululand, 1978) Jafta, Dorcas Nompumelelo; Nkabinde, A.C.
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.