Abstract
M.A.
This is a survey of the use of imagery in both traditional and modern Zulu praise poetry. For the purposes of this corpus, emphasis will be placed on izibongo (praise poems) of the Zulu kings, chiefs, prominent figures, and also minor characters. The following are the main figures of speech which are worth mentioning in this study: metaphor, personification, symbolism, metonymy, simile, and hyperbole. The definitions of the aforementioned images by various critics will be given in this chapter. The study does not involve a stylistic analysis of izibongo as a whole; its primary focus is to assess the utilization of certain animals, objects and natural phenomena, as the basis of metaphors. In this study, I will confine myself to two texts. These are IZIBONGO ZULU PRAISE-POEMS, by T. Cope and MUSHO! ZULU POPULAR PRAISES, edited by L. Gunner and M. Gwala. The former contains mostly traditional praise poems of kings, chiefs, headmen, and two promiment women: Mnkabayi kalama and Nandi kaMbengi; the latter consists of izibongo of political figures and of anyone who was deemed praise-worthy. In recent years political leaders have become very prominent. Gunner and Gwala (1991: 11) acknowledge this when they state that, "the freed leaders will be honoured like kings ... and one of the country's most gifted izimbongi (praisers) wants to make sure the released men hear the story of the people's suffering". Often, at political gatherings, where leaders of the different parties are present, praises are recited which are fit for kings. Take the case of the inauguration of Dr Nelson Mandela, where one witnessed the presence of two izimbongi, who were reciting the praises of Mandela. Images of fierce battles and heroism dominate traditional praises, while images of nostalgia and the verbal war characterise modern praises. Most of the images used however, imitate those used in the praises of traditional kings. There are also the izibongo of the ancestors. Such praises are related to clan praises. These are rich in images, for imagery is the essence of poetry:
URadebe! uMthimkhulu! uBhungane!
uMashwabada
Owashwabadela inkomo nezimpondo!
UMafuza afulele njengefu lemvula! (Mzolo, 1977: 190)
(Radebe! Mthimkhulu! Bhungane!
Mashwabada Swallower of a cow and its horns!
The stripper and thatcher just like a cloud of rain!)
For the purpose of this study however, only the praises of kings, chiefs, political . leaders, prominent figures, and other people in traditional and modern poetry in Zulu will be examined. As mentioned earlier, the figures of speech employed in traditional praises are characterised by images of battle prowess, especially during the Shakan era. In contrast, in modern praise poetry, there is a shift from the idea of physical war. The modern praises do recount deeds performed in the heat of battle, but only as a sentimental memory of things in the past. To a large extent the imbongi incorporates the praises of the praised one's predecessors. Albert Luthuli's izibongo are a case in point:
U-u-uDlungwane kaNdaba
Odlung' emanxulumeni
kwaze kwasa arnanxuluma ebikelana
(Gunner and Gwala, 1991: 81.) (Fe-e-erocious One, of Ndaba Who raged among the crowded kraals until dawn and the news spread through the large villages.) Thus Luthuli and Shaka share similar praises; Shaka is:
UDlungwane kaNdaba!
UDlungwane womBelebele,
Odlung' emanxulumeni,
Kwaze kwas' amanxulum' esibikelana (Nyembezi, 1958: 19.) (Ferocious one of Ndaba, Ferocious one of the Mbelebele brigade, Who raged among the crowded kraals, until dawn the huts were being turned upside-down.) King Shaka and Chief Luthuli are both known for their heroic actions, hence they share the same praises. The absorption of part of Shaka's izibongo in Luthuli's praises shows that Luthuli like Shaka, was striving to unify various nations. Like King Shaka, he died before he could complete this mission. This corpus has been broken down into five chapters so that one can look more fully
at images. Chapter one focuses on the aims and scope of the study. The definitions of the images are given and other related concepts are discussed. Chapter two is concerned with the metaphor, while chapter three focuses on the simile. Chapter four
discusses personification, symbolism, and hyperbole, which are dealt with concurrently. Chapter five compares the use of imagery in traditional and modern praise poetry in Zulu and features a general conclusion which states the significance
of the study, restates the main idea, unifies the discussion and impresses the main points discussed in the preceding chapters.