DOCSLIB.ORG

Gender, Race, Power and Religion

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

Gender, Race, Power and Religion: Women in the Methodist Church of Southern Africa in Post-apartheid Society Inauguraldissertation zur Erlangung des Grades eines Doktors der Philosophie dem Fachbereich Gesellschaftswissenschaften und Philosophie der Philipps-Universität Marburg vorgelegt von Uta Theilen (geb. Möllhoff) aus: Trier Eingereicht: 2003 Vom Fachbereich Gesellschaftswissenschaften und Philosophie als Dissertation angenommen am 25.09.2003 Tag der Disputation: 25.09.2003 Gutachter: Prof. Dr. Michael Pye / HD Dr. Peter J. Bräunlein Acknowledgements I should like to thank all the South African men and women who shared their stories with me and made me feel welcome in their homes, homesteads and churches ... ... the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Cape Town, foremost the professors Dr. David Chidester, Dr. John de Gruchy and Dr. Chirevo Kwenda for helping me with their expertise ... ... Prof. Dr. Theo Sundermeier (Faculty of Theology, University of Heidelberg) who helped me with his profound knowledge of South Africa and who made sure that I followed up on this project once I had returned to Germany – in spite of many obstacles ... ... the University of Heidelberg, the German Academic Exchange Program and the PSP Publishing Foundation (Basel, Switzerland) for funding parts of the fieldwork and research ... ... Daniela Guggenheim, Elizabeth Hagen, Rose & Ulrich Harrison, Gail Miller, Prof. Dr. Jill Morford and Christopher Triplett for proofreading and editing ... ... my parents Horst & Ilse for helping in many ways, my mother-in-law Tekla for babysitting, my husband Volker for his moral and technical support ... ... my daughter Lara for being a faithful companion during our South African “two-women adventure.” To human kindness Contents Introduction.........................................................................................................................................................1 Main Part ..........................................................................................................................................................10 1 British Methodism and its Mission in South Africa 11 1.1 Orientation ....................................................................................................................................11 1.2 John Wesley and the beginnings of the Methodist movement.....................................................13 1.3 History of the Methodist Church in South Africa...........................................................................21 1.4 Demography, education and gender ............................................................................................29 1.5 Post-apartheid aims of the Methodist Church ..............................................................................33 2 Women’s organisations 42 2.1 Orientation ....................................................................................................................................42 2.2 The Manyano................................................................................................................................46 2.3 The Women’s Auxiliary.................................................................................................................52 2.4 The Women’s Association ............................................................................................................57 2.5 The Women’s Fellowship .............................................................................................................60 2.6 The Women’s Network .................................................................................................................61 2.7 Reflections ....................................................................................................................................63 3 Methodist Women in leadership positions 66 3.1 Introduction to some case studies................................................................................................66 3.2 Mrs. J., Circuit Steward ................................................................................................................68 3.3 Ethel Sanjanja, Lay Minister .........................................................................................................72 3.4 Nomsa Mpambo, Founder of Women’s Fellowship......................................................................76 3.5 Pamela Delport, President of the Women’s Association..............................................................78 3.6 Peggy Attwell, former President of the Women’s Auxiliary ..........................................................83 3.7 Jean Fisher, member of the Women’s Network ...........................................................................87 3.8 Reflections ....................................................................................................................................91 4 African traditions in post-apartheid South Africa 93 4.1 Orientation ....................................................................................................................................93 4.2 A description of the contemporary situation .................................................................................95 4.2.1 The South African government's African Renaissance ........................................................95 4.2.2 African traditional religion at UCT.......................................................................................100 4.2.3 The Methodist Church and African traditions .....................................................................104 4.2.4 African traditions from Methodist students’ point of view ...................................................108 4.2.5 African traditions from the Manyano’s point of view...........................................................111 4.3 African traditions and customs – a survey..................................................................................121 4.3.1 Birth and puberty ritual .......................................................................................................122 4.3.2 Ancestor veneration and traditional healing .......................................................................126 4.3.3 Customary law and gender equality ...................................................................................136 4.4 Reflections ..................................................................................................................................143 5 Conclusions 145 Appendices.....................................................................................................................................................155 1 Abbreviations 156 2 Structures of the MCSA 157 3 Rules & Regulations of the Manyano 160 4 List of Interview Subjects 164 5 List of Manyano Members (Questionnaires) 165 6 Thabo Mbeki’s speech on the adoption of the new constitution 168 Bibliography....................................................................................................................................................172 Preamble of the South African Constitution We, the people of South Africa, Recognise the injustices of our past; Honour those who suffered for justice and freedom in our land; Respect those who have worked to build and develop our country; and Believe that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, united in our diversity. We, therefore, through our freely elected representatives, adopt this Constitution as the supreme law of the Republic so as to Heal the divisions of the past and establish a society based on democratic values, social justice and fundamental human rights; Lay the foundations for a democratic and open society in which government is based on the will of the people and every citizen is equally protected by law; Improve the quality of life of all citizens and free the potential of each person; Build a united and democratic South Africa able to take its rightful place as a sovereign state in the family of the nations. May God protect our people. Nkosi Sikelel’iAfrika. Morena boloka setjhaba sa heso. God seen Suid-Afrika. God bless South Africa. 1 Mudzimu fhatutshedza Afurika. Hosi katekisa Afrika. 1 Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 3 Introduction The setting The official release of Nelson Mandela in 1990, the mostly peaceful overthrow2 of the apartheid3 government in 1994 and the making of a democratic South Africa with one of the most modern constitutions worldwide has filled South Africans and the international audience with admiration and enthusiasm.4 Expectations were high that the political change would finally bring the long desired equality of South Africans regardless of their ethnic background, as well as the improvement of the social and economic situation of black and coloured South Africans - ; the parts of South African society that had been the most disadvantaged during colonial and apartheid rule. The preamble of the new constitution of 19965 gives vivid evidence of this dream of a new and more just South Africa. The challenges facing the “new South Africa”6 are manifold: reconciliation between the victims of apartheid and their perpetrators, proper education and public health care for all South Africans, development of disadvantaged communities and (gender) equality – to name only a few. The mentioned challenges also concern the former mission churches. Whilst they had increasingly engaged in the struggle for political liberation since the
Recommended publications

  • Malibongwe Let Us Praise the Women Portraits by Gisele Wulfsohn

    Malibongwe Let us praise the women Portraits by Gisele Wulfsohn In 1990, inspired by major political changes in our country, I decided to embark on a long-term photographic project – black and white portraits of some of the South African women who had contributed to this process. In a country previously dominated by men in power, it seemed to me that the tireless dedication and hard work of our mothers, grandmothers, sisters and daughters needed to be highlighted. I did not only want to include more visible women, but also those who silently worked so hard to make it possible for change to happen. Due to lack of funding and time constraints, including raising my twin boys and more recently being diagnosed with cancer, the portraits have been taken intermittently. Many of the women photographed in exile have now returned to South Africa and a few have passed on. While the project is not yet complete, this selection of mainly high profile women represents a history and inspiration to us all. These were not only tireless activists, but daughters, mothers, wives and friends. Gisele Wulfsohn 2006 ADELAIDE TAMBO 1929 – 2007 Adelaide Frances Tsukudu was born in 1929. She was 10 years old when she had her first brush with apartheid and politics. A police officer in Top Location in Vereenigng had been killed. Adelaide’s 82-year-old grandfather was amongst those arrested. As the men were led to the town square, the old man collapsed. Adelaide sat with him until he came round and witnessed the young policeman calling her beloved grandfather “boy”.
  • Re-Creating Home British Colonialism, Culture And

    Re-Creating Home British Colonialism, Culture And

    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by South East Academic Libraries System (SEALS) RE-CREATING HOME BRITISH COLONIALISM, CULTURE AND THE ZUURVELD ENVIRONMENT IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY Jill Payne Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Arts Supervisor: Professor Paul Maylam Rhodes University Grahamstown May 1998 ############################################## CONTENTS LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS ..................................... p. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...................................... p.iii PREFACE ................................................... p.iv ABSTRACT .................................................. p.v I: INTRODUCTION ........................................ p.1 II: ROMANCE, REALITY AND THE COLONIAL LANDSCAPE ...... p.15 III: LAND USE AND LANDSCAPE CHANGE .................... p.47 IV: ADVANCING SETTLEMENT, RETREATING WILDLIFE ........ p.95 V: CONSERVATION AND CONTROL ........................ p.129 VI: CONCLUSION ........................................ p.160 BIBLIOGRAPHY ............................................ p.165 i ############################################## LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Figure i. Map of the Zuurveld ............................... p.10 Figure ii. Representation of a Bushman elephant hunt ........... p.99 Figure iii: Representation of a colonial elephant hunt ........... p.100 ii ############################################## ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My grateful thanks must go firstly to Professor Paul Maylam. In overseeing
  • From Mission School to Bantu Education: a History of Adams College

    From Mission School to Bantu Education: a History of Adams College

    FROM MISSION SCHOOL TO BANTU EDUCATION: A HISTORY OF ADAMS COLLEGE BY SUSAN MICHELLE DU RAND Thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Arts in the Department of History, University of Natal, Durban, 1990. TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Page i ABSTRACT Page ii ABBREVIATIONS Page iii INTRODUCTION Page 1 PART I Page 12 "ARISE AND SHINE" The Founders of Adams College The Goals, Beliefs and Strategies of the Missionaries Official Educational Policy Adams College in the 19th Century PART II Pase 49 o^ EDUCATION FOR ASSIMILATION Teaching and Curriculum The Student Body PART III Page 118 TENSIONS. TRANSmON AND CLOSURE The Failure of Mission Education Restructuring African Education The Closure of Adams College CONCLUSION Page 165 APPENDICES Page 170 BIBLIOGRAPHY Page 187 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express my gratitude to my supervisor, Paul Maylam for his guidance, advice and dedicated supervision. I would also like to thank Michael Spencer, my co-supervisor, who assisted me with the development of certain ideas and in supplying constructive encouragement. I am also grateful to Iain Edwards and Robert Morrell for their comments and critical reading of this thesis. Special thanks must be given to Chantelle Wyley for her hard work and assistance with my Bibliography. Appreciation is also due to the staff of the University of Natal Library, the Killie Campbell Africana Library, the Natal Archives Depot, the William Cullen Library at the University of the Witwatersrand, the Central Archives Depot in Pretoria, the Borthwick Institute at the University of York and the School of Oriental and African Studies Library at the University of London.
  • Ebook » Freedom in Our Lifetime the Collected Writings of Anton

    Ebook » Freedom in Our Lifetime the Collected Writings of Anton

    VVA0GVUOVU Freedom In Our Lifetime The Collected Writings Of Anton Muziwakhe Lembede Mayibuye... // PDF Freedom In Our Lifetime The Collected Writings Of Anton Muziwakhe Lembede Mayibuye Books History Literature By Anton Muziwakhe Lembede Ohio University Press. Hardcover. Book Condition: New. Hardcover. 223 pages. Dimensions: 9.2in. x 6.2in. x 0.8in.When a group of young political activists met in 1944 to launch the African National Congress Youth League, it included the nucleus of a remarkable generation of leaders who forged the struggle for freedom and equality in South Africa for the next half century: Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisulu, Jordan Ngubane, Ellen Kuzwayo, Albertina Smith, A. P. Mda, Dan Tloome, and David Bopape. It was Anton Lembede, however whom they chose as their first president. Lembede, who had just begun practicing law in Johannesburg, was known for his sharp intellect, fiery personality, and unwavering commitment to the struggle at hand. The son of farm laborers from the district of Georgedale, Natal, Lembede had worked tirelessly to put himself through school and college, and then to qualify for the bachelor of laws degree. When he began law practice in 1943, he had also earned the respect of his fellows, not only for his intellectual achievements (which were many), but also for his dedication to the cause of freedom in South Africa. I am, he explained, Africas own child. His untimely death in 1947 at the... READ ONLINE [ 1.46 MB ] Reviews This publication is very gripping and intriguing. It is among the most awesome book we have go through.
  • From the Chair

    From the Chair

    AASR B ULLETIN 24 (November 2005) 1 Elom Dovlo University of Ghana FROM THE CHAIR It is about a year since the new executive for the AASR was elected at Tokyo. It has been a year of brainstorming to see how best we can move the AASR forward as can be seen in the report of the AASR General Secretary, Dr. Afe Adogame. He has managed to arrange meetings where some of us were able to meet and share ideas. We hope that having Afe and Jim Cox at Edinburgh will contribute to our decision making process and smooth organization. Please let us have your ideas especially regarding our sugges- tions in the Secretary General’s report. We hope this year we will be able to move beyond ideas into actions. I am happy to note the good efforts being made by Kathleen Wicker to get the North American mem- bership reorganized, enlarged and active! We hope that other groups especially in Afri- ca will become equally active and look forward to announcements of in-country pro- grammes in the next AASR Bulletin. I also wish to stress the need for us to have a paid up membership to support the organizational and other expenses of the Association. The Bulletin itself has seen much transformation and we note with anticipation the move towards including short articles and reviews. Our many thanks to Dr. Jan Platvoet and Prof. Matthews Ojo and for this! Jan and his team have also managed to improve our communication and image with the AASR Website at little cost to the AASR.
  • The Religious Lifeworlds of Canada's Goan and Anglo-Indian Communities

    The Religious Lifeworlds of Canada's Goan and Anglo-Indian Communities

    Brown Baby Jesus: The Religious Lifeworlds of Canada’s Goan and Anglo-Indian Communities Kathryn Carrière Thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies In partial fulfillment of the requirements For the PhD degree in Religion and Classics Religion and Classics Faculty of Arts University of Ottawa © Kathryn Carrière, Ottawa, Canada, 2011 I dedicate this thesis to my husband Reg and our son Gabriel who, of all souls on this Earth, are most dear to me. And, thank you to my Mum and Dad, for teaching me that faith and love come first and foremost. Abstract Employing the concepts of lifeworld (Lebenswelt) and system as primarily discussed by Edmund Husserl and Jürgen Habermas, this dissertation argues that the lifeworlds of Anglo- Indian and Goan Catholics in the Greater Toronto Area have permitted members of these communities to relatively easily understand, interact with and manoeuvre through Canada’s democratic, individualistic and market-driven system. Suggesting that the Catholic faith serves as a multi-dimensional primary lens for Canadian Goan and Anglo-Indians, this sociological ethnography explores how religion has and continues affect their identity as diasporic post- colonial communities. Modifying key elements of traditional Indian culture to reflect their Catholic beliefs, these migrants consider their faith to be the very backdrop upon which their life experiences render meaningful. Through systematic qualitative case studies, I uncover how these individuals have successfully maintained a sense of security and ethnic pride amidst the myriad cultures and religions found in Canada’s multicultural society. Oscillating between the fuzzy boundaries of the Indian traditional and North American liberal worlds, Anglo-Indians and Goans attribute their achievements to their open-minded Westernized upbringing, their traditional Indian roots and their Catholic-centred principles effectively making them, in their opinions, admirable models of accommodation to Canada’s system.
  • The Religious Foundations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission August 2013

    The Religious Foundations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission August 2013

    BERKLEY CENTER for Religion, Peace & World Affairs GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY Religion and Conflict Case Study Series South Africa: The Religious Foundations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission August 2013 © Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs http://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/resources/classroom 4 Abstract 5 This case study explores the religious underpinnings of South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, a governmental body established to facili- 7 tate the peaceful transition from the apartheid government to a truly demo- cratic society by exposing human rights violations and administering both 8 justice and forgiveness. The case study looks at the commission and its cul- tural bases through three questions: What are the historical origins of apart- heid in South Africa? How did religious themes inform the truth and recon- ciliation process? How important were international religious and political forces? Additionally, the case study also includes a timeline of key events, a summary of relevant religious, political, and nongovernmental organizations, and a list of recommended further readings. About this Case Study This case study was crafted under the editorial direction of Eric Patterson, visiting assistant professor in the Department of Government and associate di- rector of the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs at George- town University. 14 This case study was made possible through the support of the Henry Luce 16 Foundation and the Luce/SFS Program on Religion and International
  • Mlsslo Ei.· Koinonia and Br

    Mlsslo Ei.· Koinonia and Br

    111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 060041664R North-West University Mafil<eng Campus Library A dialogue between Africa philosophy and • • mlSSlO ei.· koinonia and ubuntu P. 0. Marumo BTh, Hons BA (Theology) Dissertation submitted as partial fulfilment of the requirements for Master ofArts in Theology (Missiology) at the North-West University (Mafikeng Campus) br Supervisor: Dr. Hannes JJ Knoetze . Date: October 2013 DECLARATION I declare that this mini-dissertation is my own unaided work. All citations, references and bolTowed ideas have been appropriately acknowledged. The mini-dissertation is being submitted for the Masters of Arts Degree in Theology (Missiology) in the Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, in the Department of Theology of the North West University: Mafikeng Campus, South Africa. None of the present work has been submitted previously for any degree or examination in any other University. ~ P.O.Mar \o Date ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 1. Dedicated to my late father and mother (Rev Samuel J Marumo and Mrs Nomaliso Euphemia Marumo): I hope I made you proud. 2. My brothers, Kealeboga and Kago Marumo, for your unwavering support: Thank you guys, stay blessed, God loves you. 3. Prof Sarel Vander Merwe, my spiritual and social father, mentor and inspiration throughout all my academic years: May God bless and keep you and your family for the wonderful work you have done in shaping my life, making me what I am today through God's grace and guidance. Thanks, Prof, you have made it, even if we are not there yet. 4. Dr Johannes Knoetze, my supervisor, for the insight, guidance, understanding and knowledge that were shared throughout this research, which was not an easy ride: You were excellent, extraordinary and supportive.
  • Education and Training, Health and Science and Technology

    Education and Training, Health and Science and Technology

    1 ANC Today VOTE ANC 33 VOICE OF THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS DAYS LEFT 05 -11 April 2019 Conversations with the President Guest Feature: Cde Naledi Pandor Minister of Higher Education Education and Training, Health and Science and Technology e ready ourselves to celebrate available to our government and country. and commemorate many It provides details of how we will further fallen heroes, heroines and Throughout this manifesto improve the lives of South Africans with your stalwarts of our movement. full support and mandate. We extoll several leaders we have emphasised that When the President of the African National who fell in April. Their Congress, Comrade Cyril Ramaphosa, launched memory and contribution are imprinted on our ours is your plan. It is by the 2019 ANC National Election Manifesto movement’sW history. They are and will always at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in eThekwini be leaders of the African National Congress on Saturday, 12 January, he described the and we shall mark their undying contribution all of us and about all of manifesto as A People’s Plan for a Better throughout the month of April. Life for All! We recall Comrade Oliver Reginald Tambo, us, South Africans, Black We are here today to speak to you and to the Cde Chris Hani, Cde Mama Charlotte Maxeke, nation about this People’s Plan with special Comrade Winne Mandela, Cde Braam Fisher, and White, young and old, focus on Basic Education, Higher Education Cde Molefi Sefularo and many others. and Training, Health Science and Technology. The election manifesto of the ANC makes the rural and urban.
  • The Power in Lilian Ngoyi and Fannie Lou Hamer

    The Power in Lilian Ngoyi and Fannie Lou Hamer

    Georgia State University ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University History Theses Department of History 8-10-2009 Relays in Rebellion: The Power in Lilian Ngoyi and Fannie Lou Hamer Cathy LaVerne Freeman Georgia State University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/history_theses Part of the History Commons Recommended Citation Freeman, Cathy LaVerne, "Relays in Rebellion: The Power in Lilian Ngoyi and Fannie Lou Hamer." Thesis, Georgia State University, 2009. https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/history_theses/39 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Department of History at ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University. It has been accepted for inclusion in History Theses by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. RELAYS IN REBELLION: THE POWER IN LILIAN NGOYI AND FANNIE LOU HAMER by CATHY L. FREEMAN Under the Direction of Michelle Brattain ABSTRACT This thesis compares how Lilian Ngoyi of South Africa and Fannie Lou Hamer of the United States crafted political identities and assumed powerful leadership, respectively, in struggles against racial oppression via the African National Congress and the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee. The study asserts that Ngoyi and Hamer used alternative sources of personal power which arose from their location in the intersecting social categories of culture, gender and class. These categories challenge traditional disciplinary boundaries and complicate any analysis of political economy, state power relations and black liberation studies which minimize the contributions of women. Also, by analyzing resistance leadership squarely within both African and North American contexts, this thesis answers the call of scholar Patrick Manning for a “homeland and diaspora” model which positions Africa itself within the historiography of transnational academic debates.
  • Faith-Inspired Organizations and Global Development Policy a Background Review “Mapping” Social and Economic Development Work

    Faith-Inspired Organizations and Global Development Policy a Background Review “Mapping” Social and Economic Development Work

    BERKLEY CENTER for RELIGION, PEACE & WORLD AFFAIRS GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY 2009 | Faith-Inspired Organizations and Global Development Policy A Background Review “Mapping” Social and Economic Development Work in Europe and Africa BERKLEY CENTER REPORTS A project of the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs and the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University Supported by the Henry R. Luce Initiative on Religion and International Affairs Luce/SFS Program on Religion and International Affairs From 2006–08, the Berkley Center and the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service (SFS) col- laborated in the implementation of a generous grant from the Henry Luce Foundation’s Initiative on Religion and International Affairs. The Luce/SFS Program on Religion and International Affairs convenes symposia and seminars that bring together scholars and policy experts around emergent issues. The program is organized around two main themes: the religious sources of foreign policy in the US and around the world, and the nexus between religion and global development. Topics covered in 2007–08 included the HIV/AIDS crisis, faith-inspired organizations in the Muslim world, gender and development, religious freedom and US foreign policy, and the intersection of religion, migration, and foreign policy. The Berkley Center The Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs, created within the Office of the President in March 2006, is part of a university-wide effort to build knowledge about religion’s role in world affairs and promote interreligious understanding in the service of peace. The Center explores the inter- section of religion with contemporary global challenges.
  • Umehani Khan Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for The

    Umehani Khan Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for The

    A CRITICAL STUDY OF THE LIFE OF SIBUSISIWE MAKANYA AND HER WORK As EDUCATOR AND SOCIAL WORKER IN THE UMBUMBULU DISTRICT OF NATAL 1894-1971 Umehani Khan Submittedin partial fulfilmentof the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts (Women's Studies), Universityof Natal, Durban. 1995 ABSTRACT Thisis a study of thelife of Sibusisiwe Makanya and her work as an educator and social worker in Umbumbulu, a peri urban area on thesouth coast of Natal. In this construction of her lifeI have referred to the Makanya Papers, housed in the Killie Campbell Africana Library; the RheinhalltJones papers and theBantu Youth League papers, housed in theSouth African Institute of Race Relationspapers at the University of the Witwatersrand's Historical Papers Collection;the Forman Collection at the University of Cape Town; and thepapers of theSecond Annual Conference of theZulu Society housed in theNatal Archives, Pietermaritzburg. There are no direct kith or kin alive today who could be interviewedto provide detailed perspectives about the life of Sibusisiwe. However, threepeople, who had known her, have been interviewed for information thatsheds more light on the life and timesin which she lived. Sibusisiwe Makanya's life demonstratesan interestingdeparture from what was generally perceived to be the status and role of women inAfrican rural society in the early years of thiscentury. To a considerable extent, she was among a vanguard--challenging an array of traditionaland sexist array of forces blocking her path. Throughthis she created a space for other women to renegotiateor avoid theroles thattheir society had determined for them. This thesis is divided into six chapters: Chapter One positionsSibusisiwe Makanya in her historical period and attempts to answer some issues relatingto representationand the nature of biographical writingas it has arisen in.