PERCEIVED OPPRESSION OF WOMEN IN ZULU FOLKLORE: A FEMINIST CRITIQUE by NORMA MASUKU submitted in accordance with the requirement for the degree of DOCTOR OF LITERATURE AND PHILOSOPHY in the subject AFRICAN LANGUAGES at the UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA PROMOTER: PROF. C.T MSIMANG NOVEMBER 2005 DECLARATION I declare that PERCEIVED OPPRESSION OF WOMEN IN ZULU FOLKLORE: A FEMINIST CRITIQUE is my own work and that all the source that I have used or quoted have been indicated and acknowledged by means of complete references ……………………. …………………… SIGNATURE DATE NORMA MASUKU ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I sincerely wish to express my deepest gratitude to the following persons: ii ¾ Prof. C.T Msimang, my promoter, for his superb guidance, insight and constructive criticism. Without him, this study would not have been successful. Thabizolo! ¾ My colleagues in the Department of African African Languages, too many to mention by name, for their support and encouragement. ¾ Mrs Hleziphi Napaai, our subject librarian, for compiling a full bibliographic list of books and periodicals. ¾ Mr Solomon Mudau for his expertise in organizing the layout, design and typesetting. ¾ My friend Mr Kolekile Galawe, for his support and encouragement when this project was taking its toll on me. ¾ My children, Lindokuhle and Nhlanhla for their constant encouragement and support. ¾ My sisters, Lindiwe and Sibongile Hlatshwayo, for their enthusiasm. ¾ My late father, Moses Hlatshwayo, who always believed in me and also taught me to believe in myself. ¾ Last, but not least, my dear mother, Thokozile Beauty Hlatshwayo, who not only taught me how to persevere in life but also that some of our schemes are wrought by prayer and humility. iii DEDICATION This thesis is dedicated to my late grandmother and father EDITH THAFILE KEKANA and MOSES HLATSHWAYO. ABSTRACT PERCEIVED OPPRESSION OF WOMEN IN ZULU FOLKLORE: A FEMINIST CRITIQUE In this thesis, the research focuses on the role and presentation of women in Zulu iv traditional literature. Employing feminism as a literary canon, the research investigates whether the perceived oppression of Zulu women is reflected in such Zulu folklore. The research aims to establish whether or not folklore was used as a corrective measure or avenue of correcting gender imbalances. This dissertation proceeds from the premise that the traditional Zulu society or culture attached to women certain stereo-typical images which projected them as witches, unfaithful people, unfit marriage partners on the other hand or brave care givers, loving mothers and upright members on the other hand. Using feminism as a scientific approach, the study investigates whether these projections were not oppressive on Zulu women. The study is scientifically organised into various chapters dealing with various subjects e.g. the feminist theory (chapter 2), portrayal of Zulu women in folktales (chapter3), in proverbs (chapter 4) and praise-poetry (chapter 5). The study concludes that the traditional Zulu woman felt depressed by this patriarchal discrimination especially in the marriage situation. In the day and age of African Renaissance, the study recommend that it is imperative for women to mould their children, especially their sons to adapt to the idea that women have changed, they have rights and priviledges which could intimidate their male ego. v KEY TERMS Feminism, Womanism, Stiwanism, Africana Womanism, Zulu culture, folklore, folktales, proverbs, praises, baby praises (izangelo), marriage, rights, virtue, patriarchy, women, young girls, oppression, society, stereotypes. TABLE OF CONTENT Content Page CHAPTER INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................ 1 1.1 PREAMBLE ..................................................................................................... 1 1.2 AIM OF THE STUDY ....................................................................................... 1 1.3 SCOPE OF THE STUDY................................................................................. 3 1.4 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY........................................................................ 5 1.5 DEFINITION OF TERMS................................................................................. 6 vi 1.5.1 Folklore ............................................................................................................ 6 1.5.2 Feminism ......................................................................................................... 8 1.5.3 Womanism....................................................................................................... 9 1.5.4 Folktales ........................................................................................................ 10 1.5.5 Proverbs ........................................................................................................ 12 1.5.6 Izibongo (Praises).......................................................................................... 14 1.5.7 Culture ........................................................................................................... 16 1.5.8 Stereotype ..................................................................................................... 17 1.6 LITERATURE REVIEW ................................................................................. 18 1.7 CONCLUSION............................................................................................... 22 CHAPTER 2 THE FEMINIST THEORY ........................................................................................ 23 2.1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................... 23 2.2 FEMINISM ..................................................................................................... 23 2.3 BLACK FEMINISM ........................................................................................ 27 2.4 WOMANISM IN AN AMERICAN CONTEXT.................................................. 32 2.5 AFRICANA WOMANISM ............................................................................... 37 2.6 FEMINISM IN AN AFRICAN CONTEXT........................................................ 46 2.7 WOMANISM IN AN AFRICAN CONTEXT..................................................... 54 2.8 CONCLUSION............................................................................................... 61 CHAPTER 3 THE PORTRAYAL OF WOMEN AND GIRLS IN THE ZULU FOLKTALE.............. 62 3.1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................... 62 3.2 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE FOLKTALE AND THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN ITS PERFOMANCE ............................................................................................. 62 3.3 THE DOMESTIC ROLE OF WOMEN IN THE TRADITIONAL ZULU BACKGROUND............................................................................................. 64 3.4 DISCUSSION OF FOLKTALES..................................................................... 65 3.4.1 Summary of folktale: UDemane noDemazane............................................... 65 3.4.2 Application ..................................................................................................... 66 3.4.3 Marriage......................................................................................................... 70 3.4.4 Traditional background on marriage .............................................................. 70 3.4.5 Summary of folktale: UMamba kaMaquba..................................................... 70 3.4.6 Application ..................................................................................................... 71 3.5 WITCHCRAFT............................................................................................... 75 3.5.1 Introduction .................................................................................................... 75 3.5.2 Traditional background .................................................................................. 75 3.5.3 Summary of folktale: UMabhejane................................................................. 76 3.5.4 Application ..................................................................................................... 76 3.5.5 Summary of “USiwelewele intokazi eyabe iyogana”...................................... 77 3.6 TABOOS........................................................................................................ 79 3.6.1 Traditional background.................................................................................. 79 3.6.2 Summary of folktale: UMkhwekazi namasi .................................................... 80 3.6.3 Application ..................................................................................................... 80 3.7 PROCREATION ............................................................................................ 83 3.7.1 Traditional background.................................................................................. 83 3.7.2 Summary of folktale: UNyumbakatali............................................................. 85 vii 3.7.3 Application ..................................................................................................... 85 3.8 COURAGE .................................................................................................... 87 3.8.1 Summary of folktales: UNanana Boselesele and Umfazi nemamba ............. 88 3.8.2 Application ....................................................................................................