DOCSLIB.ORG

In Search of Indigenous Knowledge Systems for Ecological Justice: a Gendered Ecological Reading of Genesis I-3 in the Context of the Tonga People of Zambia

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
In Search of Indigenous Knowledge Systems for Ecological Justice: a Gendered Ecological Reading of Genesis I-3 in the Context of the Tonga People of Zambia IN SEARCH OF INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS FOR ECOLOGICAL JUSTICE: A GENDERED ECOLOGICAL READING OF GENESIS I-3 IN THE CONTEXT OF THE TONGA PEOPLE OF ZAMBIA by Jonathan Kangwa Submitted in fulfilment of the academic requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Gender and Religion (Biblical) in the School of Religion, Philosophy and Classics in the College of Humanities, University of KwaZulu–Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. Supervisor: Professor Sarojini Nadar December 2014 [i] DECLARATION This dissertation, unless specifically indicated in the text is my original work. I therefore declare that I have not submitted this work to any other institution for examination apart from this University. …………………………… …….17/ 12/2014……... Jonathan Kangwa Date As the supervisor I acknowledge that this dissertation is ready for submission ………………… . ………17/12/2014…… Professor Sarojini Nadar Date [ii] DEDICATION I dedicate this dissertation to my family and the victims of climate change both in the global north and the global south. The souls of the victims of climate change are the seeds (somos semillas) which have power to help us grow a new and safer world. [iii] ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to acknowledge the meticulous supervision of Professor Sarojini Nadar who helped me to clarify my thinking and who didn’t give up on giving me guidance. This dissertation would not have been possible without her guidance and motivation. I would like also to acknowledge the support of my wife Chileshe Kambikambi and my son Mulumbo Kangwa who constantly reminded me to read and check the emails from my Professor. Special thanks go to the synod of the United Church of Zambia (UCZ) and the members of staff at UCZ University College for the support they rendered to me during my studies. Special mention go to the Synod Bishop Rev. Mutale Mulumbwa, the General Secretary Rev. Dr. Peggy Kabonde, Dr. Musonda Bwalya and Rev. Kapembwa Kondolo. Thanks to my family and friends who have always stood with me even when things were difficult. Your support and encouragement made it possible for me to complete my studies. Special mention go to Rev. Dr. Bishop Maimbo Mudolwa of Tanga Diocese of the Anglican Church in Tanzania, Professor. Brian Stanley of University of Edinburgh, Bishop Dr. Tengatenga of the Anglican Church in Malawi, Rev. Ian May of South Leith Parish Church, Jenny Williamson Chinembiri, Carol Finly, Arthur Mathieson, Dr. Lillian Siwila, Indileni Hilukilua and Nampa Utuna Hamutumwa of University of Namibia. Finally I would like to acknowledge the support I received from the World Mission Council of the Church of Scotland and the 10th Leith Boys Brigade to visit the Dynamic Earth in Scotland. The insights I got really stimulated my thinking. To all those that I have not mentioned due to limited space, I say Bravo! Mwabombeni! Ala umwana ni nsokolobe shilya noushatoleleko. [iv] ABSTRACT The emergence of climate change and the current ecological crisis in recent decades has prompted research on the role of religious and cultural traditions as well as sacred texts in either supporting or discouraging human responsibility to the natural world. With regard to the use of sacred texts such as the bible, numerous techniques have been employed in the task of interpretation, moving away more recently from attempts to identify the text’s original community and its functions therein, towards an examination of its literary, rhetorical structure. This study sought to explore what insights an indigenous gendered ecological reading of Genesis 1-3 can provide in the context of the current ecological crisis. This objective was achieved in the following steps. First, the study examined indigenous Tonga culture and the biblical myths of origin. Critical examination of both worldviews uncovered their complementary emphases on human responsibility toward ecological wellbeing. Further, both worldviews uncovered leadership roles of women in social and religious rituals which promoted ecological wellbeing. Second, the interconnectedness of the elements of the universe in African cosmologies was explored through the Tonga people of Zambia. It was found that in Africa an interdependent, participatory relationship exists between humans, nonhuman forms of life and the creator God. In discussing Tonga cultural rituals and the Leza cult, the study explored gendered and ecological values of African indigenous culture. Such rituals illustrated the involvement of women, ancestors and the creator God in maintaining ecological wellbeing. Third, a gendered ecological reading of Genesis 1-3 was offered. Across Genesis 1-3, it was [v] found that the myths emphasise the value of life and the interrelatedness of human beings and nonhuman forms of life. Further, the myths exhibited the belief that the equality of man and woman is from God. The study found that a complementary reading of the biblical myths of origin that supports the equality of man and woman and the interrelatedness of humans and nonhuman forms of life can foster human responsibility to the Earth. Fourth the study showed that such gendered and ecological cultural concepts in indigenous African culture should be retrieved to advocate for ecological emancipation. Fifth, the study recognised that over many centuries the motifs in the biblical myths of origin have been altered to promote the patriarchal interests of the writers and editors. An indigenous African gendered ecological interpretive framework, woven together with gendered and ecological values in African culture was presented as a means to counter the dominant patriarchal interpretations of the text. The study concluded that a biblical interpretive model informed by ecological and gendered values in African culture can promote human responsibility to the natural world and help alleviate the impact of the current ecological crisis. [vi] TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION .......................................................................................................................................... ii DEDICATION ............................................................................................................................................. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ......................................................................................................................... iv ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................................. v TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................................................ vii LIST OF ABREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ...................................................................................... xii CHAPTER ONE ......................................................................................................................................... 13 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................................... 13 1.1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 13 1.2. BACKGROUND AND MOTIVATION ........................................................................... 15 1.2.1. MOTIVATION ....................................................................................................................... 15 1.2.2. SKETCHING THE ECOLOGICAL CRISIS .................................................................................. 17 1.3. LITERATURE REVIEW .................................................................................................. 19 1.3.1. Literature on a gendered and ecological reading of Genesis 1-3 ....................................... 20 1.3.2. Literature on ecology from a theological perspective ........................................................ 23 1.3.3. Literature on ecological concepts among the Tonga people of Zambia ............................. 26 1.3.4. Literature on African feminist biblical hermeneutics ......................................................... 31 1.3.5. Research gap, significance and justification of the study ................................................... 34 1.4. RESEARCH PROBLEM, QUESTIONS AND OBJECTIVES ........................................ 35 1.4.1. Research problem ............................................................................................................... 35 1.4.2. Research question ............................................................................................................... 35 1.4.3. Key questions to be asked .................................................................................................. 35 1.4.4. Research objectives ............................................................................................................ 35 1.5. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK ..................................................................................... 36 1.6. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY, DESIGN AND APPROACH ...................................... 39 1.6.1. Library research .................................................................................................................. 40 1.6.2. Data Analysis ....................................................................................................................... 41 1.6.3. The pole of the world of the ANE ....................................................................................... 43 1.6.4.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Living Heritage of Traditional Names in Postcolonial Zambia
    Osward Chanda PORTABLE INHERITANCE: THE LIVING HERITAGE OF TRADITIONAL NAMES IN POSTCOLONIAL ZAMBIA MA Thesis in Cultural Heritage Studies: Academic Research, Policy, Management. Central European University Budapest June 2020 CEU eTD Collection PORTABLE INHERITANCE: THE LIVING HERITAGE OF TRADITIONAL NAMES IN POSTCOLONIAL ZAMBIA by Osward Chanda (Zambia) Thesis submitted to the Department of Medieval Studies, Central European University, Budapest, in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the Master of Arts degree in Cultural Heritage Studies: Academic Research, Policy, Management. Accepted in conformance with the standards of the CEU. ____________________________________________ Chair, Examination Committee ____________________________________________ Thesis Supervisor ____________________________________________ Examiner CEU eTD Collection ____________________________________________ Examiner Budapest June 2020 PORTABLE INHERITANCE: THE LIVING HERITAGE OF TRADITIONAL NAMES IN POSTCOLONIAL ZAMBIA by Osward Chanda (Zambia) Thesis submitted to the Department of Medieval Studies, Central European University, Budapest, in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the Master of Arts degree in Cultural Heritage Studies: Academic Research, Policy, Management. Accepted in conformance with the standards of the CEU. ____________________________________________ External Reader CEU eTD Collection Budapest June 2020 PORTABLE INHERITANCE: THE LIVING HERITAGE OF TRADITIONAL NAMES IN POSTCOLONIAL ZAMBIA by Osward Chanda (Zambia) Thesis submitted
    [Show full text]
  • Bibliography
    BIBLIOGRapHY ARCHIVaL MaTERIaL National Archives of Malawi (MNA), Zomba. National Archives at Kew (Co.525 Colonial Office Correspondence). Society of Malawi Library, Blantyre. Malawi Section, University Library, Chancellor College, Zomba. PUBLISHED BOOKS aND ARTICLES Abdallah, Y.B. 1973. The Yaos (Chikala Cha Wayao). Ed. M. Sanderson. (Orig 1919). London: Cass. Adams, J.S. and T. McShane. 1992. The Myth of Wild Africa. New York: Norton. Allan, W. 1965. African Husbandman. Edinburgh: Oliver & Boyd. Alpers, E.A. 1969. Trade, State and Society Among the Yao in the Nineteenth Century J. Afr. History 10: 405–420. ———. 1972. The Yao of Malawi in B. Pachai (ed) The Early History of Malawi pp 168–178. London: Longmans. ———. 1973. Towards a History of Expansion of Islam in East Africa in T.O. Ranger and N. Kimambo (eds) The Historical Study of African Religion pp 172–201. London: Heinemann. ———. 1975. Ivory and Slaves in East-Central Africa. London: Heinemann. Anderson-Morshead, A.M. 1897. The History of the Universities Mission to Central Africa 1859-96. London: UNICA. Anker, P. 2001. Imperial Ecology: Environmental Order in the British Empire. Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press. © The Author(s) 2016 317 B. Morris, An Environmental History of Southern Malawi, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-45258-6 318 BiblioGraphy Ansell, W.F.H. and R.J. Dowsett. 1988. Mammals of Malawi: An Annoted Checklist and Atlas. St Ives: Trendrine Press. Antill, R.M. 1945. A History of Native Grown Tobacco Industry in Nyasaland Nyasaland Agric. Quart. J. 8: 49–65. Baker, C.A. 1961. A Note on Nguru Immigration to Nyasaland Nyasaland J.
    [Show full text]
  • Language Shift Among the Tonga of Mkoka? Assessing Ethnolinguistic Vitality in Gokwe South
    Language Shift among Tonga of Mkoka? Assessing Ethnolinguistic Vitality in Gokwe South Shumirai Nyota Curriculum Studies Department, Great Zimbabwe University E-mail- [email protected] Abstract This paper gives a first evaluation of the ethnolinguistic vitality of the Tonga community of Mkoka in Gokwe South with focus on the Tonga language. In comparison to the other Tonga communities of Zimbabwe who like them were displaced from the Zambezi valley to make way for the construction of the Kariba dam in the 1950s, the Tonga in Gokwe South have received little attention from researchers if any. This research focuses on the way the Tonga of Mkoka in Gokwe South use their mother-tongue, Tonga (L1), and the second language, Shona, in the primary home/family domain and the secondary domains of language use. Results show that Tonga vitality is based on social status, demographic and informal support variables while its economic, socio-historical and formal support vitality was very low. The Tonga mainly use their (L1) in the family/home domain with interlocutors who are family, friends and neighbours for everyday language use and as they undertake social activities in their environments while for the secondary language use domains, they shift to Shona, the economically more powerful language in the area. Shona was, however, found to be creeping into some Tonga homes but reasons for this encroachment could not be concluded in this paper. Background to the Study The Tonga language of Zimbabwe being examined here falls under what Guthrie (1948/67/71) classifies as M64. It is under the Lenje-Tonga (M60) group.
    [Show full text]
  • A Christian Approach to Traditional Male Circumcision Customs in Malawi
    Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Dissertation Projects DMin Graduate Research 1999 A Christian Approach to Traditional Male Circumcision Customs in Malawi Harry Godfrey Mtike Andrews University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin Part of the Practical Theology Commons Recommended Citation Mtike, Harry Godfrey, "A Christian Approach to Traditional Male Circumcision Customs in Malawi" (1999). Dissertation Projects DMin. 584. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin/584 This Project Report is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Research at Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertation Projects DMin by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ABSTRACT A CHRISTIAN APPROACH TO TRADITIONAL MALE CIRCUMCISION CUSTOMS IN MALAWI by Harry Godfrey Mtike Adviser: Jon Dybdahl ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH Dissertation Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary Title: A CHRISTIAN APPROACH TO TRADITIONAL MALE CIRCUMCISION CUSTOMS IN MALAWI Name of researcher: Harry Godfrey Mtike Name and degree of faculty adviser: Jon Dybdahl, Ph.D. Date completed: May 1999 Problem The Lorn we and Yao tribes in Malawi practice traditional male circumcision rituals which are damaging the Malawian society. While these rituals have value and fill key functions in society, they are at the same time troublesome. The lack of proper medical equipment and training in performing actual circumcision, as well as accompanying teachings which encourage sexual promiscuity, makes these ceremonies physically, spiritually, and morally dangerous. The AIDS epidemic in Malawi can also be partly traced to these rituals.
    [Show full text]
  • Chiefdoms/Chiefs in Zambia
    CHIEFDOMS/CHIEFS IN ZAMBIA 1. CENTRAL PROVINCE A. Chibombo District Tribe 1 HRH Chief Chitanda Lenje People 2 HRH Chieftainess Mungule Lenje People 3 HRH Chief Liteta Lenje People B. Chisamba District 1 HRH Chief Chamuka Lenje People C. Kapiri Mposhi District 1 HRH Senior Chief Chipepo Lenje People 2 HRH Chief Mukonchi Swaka People 3 HRH Chief Nkole Swaka People D. Ngabwe District 1 HRH Chief Ngabwe Lima/Lenje People 2 HRH Chief Mukubwe Lima/Lenje People E. Mkushi District 1 HRHChief Chitina Swaka People 2 HRH Chief Shaibila Lala People 3 HRH Chief Mulungwe Lala People F. Luano District 1 HRH Senior Chief Mboroma Lala People 2 HRH Chief Chembe Lala People 3 HRH Chief Chikupili Swaka People 4 HRH Chief Kanyesha Lala People 5 HRHChief Kaundula Lala People 6 HRH Chief Mboshya Lala People G. Mumbwa District 1 HRH Chief Chibuluma Kaonde/Ila People 2 HRH Chieftainess Kabulwebulwe Nkoya People 3 HRH Chief Kaindu Kaonde People 4 HRH Chief Moono Ila People 5 HRH Chief Mulendema Ila People 6 HRH Chief Mumba Kaonde People H. Serenje District 1 HRH Senior Chief Muchinda Lala People 2 HRH Chief Kabamba Lala People 3 HRh Chief Chisomo Lala People 4 HRH Chief Mailo Lala People 5 HRH Chieftainess Serenje Lala People 6 HRH Chief Chibale Lala People I. Chitambo District 1 HRH Chief Chitambo Lala People 2 HRH Chief Muchinka Lala People J. Itezhi Tezhi District 1 HRH Chieftainess Muwezwa Ila People 2 HRH Chief Chilyabufu Ila People 3 HRH Chief Musungwa Ila People 4 HRH Chief Shezongo Ila People 5 HRH Chief Shimbizhi Ila People 6 HRH Chief Kaingu Ila People K.
    [Show full text]
  • A Socio-Semantic Analysis of Selected Tumbuka Anthroponyms
    A SOCIO-SEMANTIC ANALYSIS OF SELECTED TUMBUKA ANTHROPONYMS BY CHOLA MUSONDA A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF ZAMBIA IN PARTIAL FUFILLMENT OF THE RESEARCH REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF THE MASTER OF ARTS IN LINGUISTIC SCIENCE THE UNIVERSITY OF ZAMBIA 2018 AUTHOR’S DECLARATION I, CHOLA Musonda, do hereby declare that “A Socio-semantic Analysis of Selected Tumbuka Anthroponyms”, a) Represents my own work; b) Has not previously been submitted or presented for any qualification at this university or any other institution; c) Does not contain any other published works of other people except those that have been acknowledged accordingly. Author‟s signature: ……………………………………………. Date: ………………………...…………………………………. Supervisor‟s signature: ………………………………………… Date: ……………………....…………………………………… ii COPYRIGHT DECLARATION ©CholaMusonda2018. All rights reserved. No part of this dissertation may be altered, reproduced, stored in any retrieval system and/or transmitted in any form by electronic, photocopying, recording or otherwise before seeking permission from the author or the University of Zambia. iii APPROVAL This dissertation written by CHOLA MUSONDA is approved as fulfilling in part the requirements for the award of the degree of Master of Arts in Linguistic Science at the University of Zambia. Examiner 1 Name: ……………..………………………………………………………………………………… Signature: ……………………………………….. Date: ...………………………………………... Examiner 2 Name: ………………..………………………………………………………………………………. Signature: ……………………………………….. Date: ...…………………………………………. Examiner 3 Name: ………………..…………………………………………………………………………........
    [Show full text]
  • Male Circumcision Situation Analysis Report Template
    Situation analysis of male circumcision in Malawi April 2010 A report prepared by the College of Medicine Joseph Mfutso Bengo, PhD Kondwani Chalulu, MBBS, FCSECSA Jobiba Chinkhumba, MBBS, MSc Lawrence Kazembe, MSc, PhD Kenneth M Maleta, MBBS, PhD Francis Masiye, BA Don Mathanga, MBBS, MSc, PhD Situation analysis of Male Circumcision in Malawi Page 2 of 136 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .......................................................................................................... 5 ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ..................................................................................... 6 GLOSSARY OF TERMS .............................................................................................................. 7 LIST OF TABLES ......................................................................................................................... 8 LIST OF FIGURES ..................................................................................................................... 10 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................................................... 11 ..................................................................................................................................................... 14 1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................ 15 OBJECTIVES OF THE SITUATION ANALYSIS .................................................................... 19 2.1 MAIN OBJECTIVE ...............................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • The Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Malawi, 1900-1980
    Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Master's Theses Graduate Research 1987 The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Malawi, 1900-1980 Jaspine D. Bilima Andrews University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/theses Recommended Citation Bilima, Jaspine D., "The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Malawi, 1900-1980" (1987). Master's Theses. 30. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/theses/30 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Research at Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Master's Theses by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Thank you for your interest in the Andrews University Digital Library of Dissertations and Theses. Please honor the copyright of this document by not duplicating or distributing additional copies in any form without the author’s express written permission. Thanks for your cooperation. INFORMATION TO USERS This reproduction was made from a copy of a document sent to us for microfilming. While the most advanced technology has been used to photograph and reproduce this document, the quality of the reproduction is heavily dependent upon the quality of the material submitted. The following explanation of techniques is provided to help clarify markings or notations which may appear on this reproduction. 1. The sign or “target” for pages apparently lacking from the document photographed is “Missing Page(s)”. If it was possible to obtain the missing page(s) or section, they are spliced into the film along with adjacent pages. This may have necessitated cutting through an image and duplicating adjacent pages to assure complete continuity.
    [Show full text]
  • 11111111111111111111111111 Ill 0099900018 ©Malawi National Commission for UNESCO 2011
    11111111111111111111111111 Ill 0099900018 ©Malawi National Commission for UNESCO 2011 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages. For information address: Malawi National Commission for UNESCO P. 0 Box 30278 Lilongwe 3 MALAWI ISBN ................. .. Printed and bound by .............................. .. TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 1. INTRODUCTION 2. THE 9 TARGET GROUPS .............................................. 2.1 Chewa 2.2 Lambya 2.3 Lomwe 2.4 Ngonde 2.5 Ngoni 2.6 Sena 2.7 Tonga 2.8 Tumbuka 2.9 Yao 3. COMMON INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE ........... 3.1 ORAL TRADITIONS AND EXPRESSIONS 3.2 PERFORMING ARTS 3.3 SOCIAL PRACTICES, RITUALS AND FESTIVALS ... 3.4 KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICES CONCERNING NATURE 3.5 TRADITIONAL CRAFTSMANSHIP APPENDIX .......................................................................... 2 PREFACE The importance of preserving one's culture cannot be overemphasized. A nation is identified by its cultural values, beliefs, customs and tradition. Cultural practices are meant to preserve, unite and develop the practicing community. While culture is dynamic as it drops outdated practices and picks up new and sometimes foreign ones, this process must happen without complete loss of the identity of a people. Elderly people are dying, thereby taking with them important cultural knowledge. We need to preserve these for the sake of future generations. Original dances, therapy, spiritual and harvesting festivities, marriages, funerals, initiations, installation, birth ceremonies, just to mention some, have to be documented and made known to the public.
    [Show full text]
  • Epistemic Entanglements in an Age of Universals: Literacy, Libraries and Children’S Stories in Rural Malawi
    Epistemic entanglements in an age of universals: literacy, libraries and children’s stories in rural Malawi Thandeka Julia Siobhan Cochrane Magdalene College · This dissertation is submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy · Department of Social Anthropology University of Cambridge January 2020 DECLARATION This dissertation is the result of my own work and includes nothing which is the outcome of work done in collaboration except as declared in the Preface and specified in the text. It is not substantially the same as any that I have submitted, or, is being concurrently submitted for a degree or diploma or other qualification at the University of Cambridge or any other University or similar institution except as declared in the Preface and specified in the text. I further state that no substantial part of my dissertation has already been submitted, or, is being concurrently submitted for any such degree, diploma or other qualification at the University of Cambridge or any other University or similar institution except as declared in the Preface and specified in the text. It does not exceed the prescribed 80 000 word limit for the Archaeology, Anthropology and Sociology Degree Committee. ABSTRACT This thesis examines the spread and impact of the universal of literacy in rural Malawi, through the lens of globally circulating Anglophone children’s story books and the emergence of village libraries. While Africa in the twenty-first century is being seen as an emerging global player, many African countries are, however, still struggling to provide the basics of a quality education for their children. One approach to solving this problem taken up by many development organisations and governments is the heavy promotion of literacy programmes in primary schools.
    [Show full text]
  • THE REVITALISATION of ETHNIC MINORITY LANGUAGES in ZIMBABWE: the CASE of the TONGA LANGUAGE by Submitted in Accordance With
    THE REVITALISATION OF ETHNIC MINORITY LANGUAGES IN ZIMBABWE: THE CASE OF THE TONGA LANGUAGE by ISAAC MUMPANDE Submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS in the subject SOCIOLINGUISTICS at the UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA SUPERVISOR: PROF L. A. BARNES FEBRUARY 2020 DECLARATION Student Number: 61101273 I declare that Revitalisation of ethnic minority languages in Zimbabwe. The case of the Tonga language is my own work. All the sources that have been used and quoted have been indicated and acknowledged by means of complete references. __________________ Isaac Mumpande Date: 03 February 2020 ii ABSTRACT This dissertation investigates the revitalisation of Tonga, an endangered minority language in Zimbabwe. It seeks to establish why the Tonga people embarked on the revitalisation of their language, the strategies they used, the challenges they encountered and how they managed them. The Human Needs Theory propounded by Burton (1990) and Yamamoto’s (1998) Nine Factors Language Revitalisation Model formed the theoretical framework within which the data were analysed. This case-study identified various socio-cultural and historical factors that influenced the revitalisation of the Tonga language. Despite the socio-economic and political challenges from both within and outside the Tonga community, the Tonga revitalisation initiative was to a large extent a success, thanks to the speech community’s positive attitude and ownership of the language revitalisation process. It not only restored the use of Tonga in the home domain but also extended the language function into the domains of education, the media, and religion. Keywords Broad-focused language revitalisation models, Language ecology, Language endangerment, Language shift, Language revitalisation, Narrow-focused language revitalisation models, Tonga.
    [Show full text]
  • Our Gods Never Helped Us Again... 99 the Tonga People Describe Resettlement and Its Aftermath
    “Our gods never helped us again... 99 The Tonga people describe resettlement and its aftermath P 0Panos Southern Africa 2005 This booklet was compiled and writtenby Elisabeth Thomson, then curator of the BaTonga Museum, Binga, Zimbabwe, and Olivia Bennettof the Panos Oral Testimony Programme (OTP), with help from Mercy Khozi, Duncan Millar and Siobhan Warrington. David Mainza produced the Ci-Tonga version. Editing was undertaken by Sebastian Mainza, who edited the Ci- Tonga version, and Prof. Fackson Banda, Simon Mulumbi and Maambo Malawo of Panos Southern Africa who efficiently edited the final copy, coordinated Ci-Tonga translations and supervised the printing process.The project was funded primarily by the Department for International Development, UK, with additional support from NORAD and Sida. Mercy Khozi and PennyYon coordinated the interviewing teams in Zambia and Zimbabwe respectively. Interviewers were Isaac Mumpande, Beauty Zimbili, Leonard Mudimba, Ellen Mangoro and Mathias Munsaka in Zimbabwe; and David Mainza, Crodia Syabbalo, Nkombo Kalima, Jacob Muchimba and Lubobya Mooya in Zambia. Panos Institute Southern Africa is an independent, regional information and communication organisation that seeksto cultivate an enabling environment for marginalised people to participate actively in informed and inclusive public and policy debates and decision making processes by generating information and creating effective communication channels. Partners: Panos Southern Africa P. 0. Box 39163 Leopards Hill Road Plot 32A, Woodlands Lusaka, Zambia and The Oral Testimony Programme Panos London 9 White Lion Street London N19PD, UK , With help from the BaTonga Museum, Binga, Zimbabwe; andthe Kunzwana Trust, Harare, Zimbabwe. Cover design, typesetting and printing by Aquila Printers Ltd, P.O.
    [Show full text]