Department of African Studies

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http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11837/749

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Browsing Department of African Studies by Author "Botha, C R"

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    A critical analysis of the screen adaptation of Saule’s Unyana womntu
    (University of Fort Hare, 2012) Mbatsha, Thembisa; Botha, C R
    This research will concentrate on various aspects of the screen adaptation of “Unyana womntu” (Saule, 1989). This study comprises of six chapters. In Chapter 1 of this study, the research aims and objectives are formulated. The research methods that are to be followed will involve a thorough reading of the written text, as well as a comprehensive repetitive viewing of all the episodes of the screen version. In the final part of Chapter 1, background information is provided on the personal life of the author as well as on his contributions to the African literary tradition. Background information on the production of the screen version is also provided. In the Chapter 2, the theoretical aspects of the phenomenon of literary adaptation are discussed. This discussion provides a framework for the analysis of the adaptation of “Unyana womntu” (Saule, 1989) in the remaining chapters of this study. The aim of this chapter is to identify and discuss the most important principles which come into play when the written text is adapted into a screen production. Since the screen production belongs to the genre of the performing arts, this chapter is introduced with a discussion on the performing arts and on the drama, in particular. The section will be concluded with a discussion on the different sub-types of the drama which can be found, including the screen production. The main emphasis is on an analysis of the basic features and principles of the drama in screen format. Since the screen play Unyana Womntu (1998) is based upon a novel by the same title, the literary features of the novel are to be discussed here as well. The specific features of the Xhosa novel will also receive attention.
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    Customary marriage and family practices that discriminate against amaXhosa women: a critical study of selected isixhosa literary text
    (University of Fort Hare, 2019) Mbatyoti, Pheliwe Yvonne; Botha, C R; Surname, Firstnames
    In many parts of Africa, the cultural practices and customs that were in use over the ages are still largely in place today. Many of these practices discriminate against individuals and compromise their human rights, particularly the rights of African women. The aim of this investigation is to study customary marital practices among the amaXhosa in order to establish their effect on modern amaXhosa society. In addition, this includes other discriminatory practices, such as the diminished status of wedded women. Within the study, the social status of women before and after 1994 is dealt with as depicted in the selected texts. The study further determines the current social status of married women under the current dispensation and finds out whether the rights of married women are sufficiently recognised in the texts under discussion. It is clear therefore that whilst Africa has made good progress on the political front, the same cannot be said for some of the cultural values that are still adhered to in the present age. This applies in particular to the rights of women in an African society. Globally, women and girls suffer the harmful and life-threatening effects of discriminatory traditional and cultural practices that continue under the guise of social, cultural and religious ceremonies. In the democratic South Africa, there is growing concern and awareness that some cultural practices are harmful to women and girls. The study analyses a number of texts namely, novels and drama, that were published before and after the 1994 era in South Africa with aims and objectives being outlined in Chapter 1. Chapter 2 is devoted to the theoretical framework, which includes the general theory pertaining to the status of women, feminism and human rights. Secondly, it deals with African theory pertaining to the status of African women as well as their rights; finally, it reflects on the role of women in societies where traditional marriage custom is still in use. Chapter 3 analyses the depiction of customary marriage as a theme in isiXhosa prose before and after 1994. Chapter 4 examines the depiction of customary marriage in v isiXhosa drama before and after 1994 and focuses more on human rights elements. Chapter 5 summarises the arguments distilled from the analysed works. The researcher came to the conclusion that the practice of forced marriage does not occur in amaXhosa society only but it is also found on a wider scale on the rest of the African continent and beyond. The study was concluded with a set of recommendations that were made to combat the scourge of anti-feminism that is found in modern society.
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    An investigation of strategies used by Ndebele translators in Zimbabwe in translating HIV/AIDS texts: a corpus-based approach
    (University of Fort Hare, 2012) Ndhlovu, Ketiwe; Botha, C R; Kruger, A
    In Zimbabwe, translation studies is yet to be recognized as a discipline worthy of study in its own right, hence, not much research has been carried out into the theory and practice of translation. Furthermore, there is no tertiary institution that offers professional translation courses. In light of this information most translations are carried out by untrained/partially trained translators with only a few translators who have gained experience over time. The aim of this study was to investigate strategies used by Ndebele translators in the translation of specialized terms and cultural taboos in selected HIV/AIDS texts, as well as factors that can be used to improve the translation situation of Zimbabwe. Three main theoretical approaches were used in a complementary fashion, namely Descriptive Translation Studies (DTS), Cultural Studies and Corpus-based Translation Studies (CTS). DTS provided the researcher with a theory to understand the Ndebele translations in their wider environment; Cultural Studies provided the researcher with the means by which to understand Ndebele culture and taboos; Corpus-based Translation Studies (CTS) provided the researcher with the methodological tools and analytical techniques to analyse the corpus of texts. An English-Ndebele Parallel Corpus (ENPC) was created using fourteen English source texts and their corresponding Ndebele translations. The ENPC was interrogated by means of ParaConc, a parallel concordancing program. The study found that when translating specialised terms, Ndebele translators used strategies such as a general or neutral word, cultural substitution, paraphrasing and omission. The strategy of omission was misused in most cases because Ndebele translators omitted valuable information which did not reach the target readers. With regards to translation strategies that contributed to term creation, it was found that Ndebele translators relied on external as well as internal resources. The translators used strategies such as pure loan words; pure loan words preceeded by an explanation and indigenised loan words. From the Ndebele language itself, the translators resorted to semantic shift, compounding, coinage and paraphrasing, among others. From the ENPC it is clear that Ndebele translators did manage to transfer the message from English to Ndebele to an extent. However, the ENPC has to be used with caution by other researchers since the translations included in the corpus are full of errors such as misinterpretations of the source texts, mistranslations, incorrect terms and incorrect orthography. This factor points to a dire need to establish translation as an academic discipline and profession in Zimbabwe so as to elevate the quality of translations and offer better translation services to all users.
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    Theme and protest in the South African post-apartheid novel: a case study of the writings of three black South African novelists
    (University of Fort Hare, 2021-06) Moyo, Mbongeni https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2256-9671; Botha, C R
    This study analyses a selected cohort of black South African novelists‟ depiction of the real burning issues of the post-Apartheid South Africa. The ideas that the study is concerned with in the novel under study, are based on the aspect of theme and how it is utilised by the respective authors to address the social, economic and political issues in the post-Apartheid South Africa. The study is an investigation of the extent to which black South African novelists have depicted the aforementioned issues. The research highlights those issues that the novels under study addressed and continues by revealing how the authors depict these issues in their texts. Moreover, the study concludes that literature has a role to play in the society and recommends that it should be reliable and useful to the society. It further recommends that literature should not ignore societal issues and should be corrective in its approach. The study is comprised of six chapters: Chapter One functions as an introduction to the study. It provides information on the aims and objectives of the study, the background information on the novels under study and South African literature itself. The chapter also outlines the method and the theories, which will be used in the study. It concludes by addressing the significance of the study. Chapter Two provides a detailed analysis of the theories, which will be used in the study. This includes the Marxism and Realism theory, Afrocentric theory and the Feminist Literary theory. It also defines the concept of theme and outlines its characteristics. It discusses post-colonial literature and its development in Africa. The chapter will conclude with a disclosure of the role of theme and of the author in the African novel. Chapter Three addresses the depiction of burning issues in Mpe‟s novel “Welcome to Our Hillbrow”. It discusses the real post-colonial challenges confronting the society during the post-Apartheid South Africa. It determines whether the novel under study adequately addresses these issues. Chapter Four identifies and addresses the depiction of burning post-colonial issues in Magona‟s novel “Beauty‟s Gift”. It unveils the themes that are dealt with in the novel under study thereby linking them effectively to the current situation in the new South Africa. Chapter Five unveils the central themes in Mahala‟s Novel “When a Man Cries” and it illustrates how the author protests against the ills of post-Apartheid South Africa. Chapter Six serves as the conclusion of the study and brings out the findings and recommendations of the study.,Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2021
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    Uhlalutyo lwenoveli kamahala ethi: yakhal’ indoda (2010).
    (University of Fort Hare, 2020) Nyiki, Phumelela Sibahle; Botha, C R
    The aim and scope of this study is to analyse the novel Yakhal’ Indoda (2010) written by Siphiwo Mahala. Since this book was written in the period known as the modern times in the new South Africa, it therefore tends to focus on the issues that disturb the peace of the citizens of South Africa exactly in this period of democratic South Africa. For that reason, the objective of this study is to associate the factors which Mahala has written about with those that are found in the contemporary South Africa which are regarded as issues disturbing the lives of South Africans at present. As it is of importance before the researcher deals with the central issue, there has to be a thorough knowledge of the theory of the subject that is being discussed at hand. The Literature Review with regard to this study takes into account the books written by Satyo, Duka, Brooks and Warren, to mention just a few. These authors, from their different academic perspectives, do their best on explaining the theory of the issues that will be discussed in this study. The Theoretical Framework that will be used in this study consists of the views of the writers who fought for a better political dispensation in the countries that were previously colonized. In this regard, the views of Ngùgì wa Thiong’o, and those of Steve Biko will be assessed in this study. The method that will be used in conducting this research is none other than that of Text Analysis. This simply means the researching student will focus mainly on the books found at the UFH library and other libraries. The chapter titles and their relevant outlines follow below: Chapter One is an introduction for this entire research. This chapter focuses more on the aims of this study, the importance or significance, limitations, methodology to be followed. Furthermore, this chapter gives a brief background of the author of the novel that will be analysed as well as the background of the novel. Chapter Two focuses on the theory of this research. This will be done through two theories. The researcher will first present a theory of the novel, as well as the Postcolonial theory. Under the novel theory, the researcher will discuss some vii features of the novel. However, the researcher’s emphasis will be on the theme that underlies in Mahala’s novel, Yakhal’ Indoda (2010). Chapter Three focuses on the theme of this research. The researcher will analyse the way Mahala portrays crime, corruption, unemployment and poverty in his novel. The researcher then will validate Mahala’s point of view against other authors with regards to the identified problems. Chapter Four focuses on the problems found in the Department of Education as well as rights of women as depicted in Mahala’s novel, Yakhal’ Indoda (2010). This will be accomplished through validation of the experienced and witnessed events in the new South Africa. Chapter Five focuses on the factors and events that are commonly associated with the Departments of Health and in Local Government, which are life threatening to society. This will be done by the researcher, pointing out some problems that Mahala in his book Yakhal’ Indoda (2010) attributes to the mentioned departments. Chapter Six is the general conclusion and exegesis on the study. This chapter gives a brief summary of the previous chapters, the findings regarding this study.