Abstract
The main goal of this study is to critically analyse the culture power over women’s rights. The study makes use of literary works namely, Isiko Nelungelo (2011) which a drama book and Umkhokha (2021) which is a telenovela. These literary works were published in the post-independent era, and they serve as a reflection of what is happening within societies. This study focuses on the oppression of women by culture power and the negative impact that culture power has on women. It also analysis culture as a result of gender-based violence in different forms. The collected data had been analysed using the qualitative method. Literary theory is explained as this study uses the African Feminism theory as the study focuses on the oppression of women. The study findings shows that even though women know their rights, but they are still oppressed, and culture is one of the main factors that oppress women. It also reveals that culture power also contributes to violence against women. The conscientizes women about their rights which may be violated by culture power. It also hopes to educate the society that women can willingly participate in cultural practices without being forced. Enforcing women to participate in any cultural practice that they are against off, results into violating their rights. In addition, this study may encourage the upcoming scholars to investigate if culture power does oppress men when they are instructed to partake to cultural practices such as ukungena umfazi (levirate marriage) and find out if their rights are violated. Also to find out if they are in favour of or against participating in those cultural practices.