Abstract
Lolu cwaningo luhlola iqhaza elibanjwa amadlozi nabelaphi bendabuko eNingizimu Afrika ekhululekile njengoba kuvezwe encwadini kaM.E. Ngcobo ethi ‘Kwashiyana Ukwenza’. Luhlola ubumqoka bamasiko, inkolo yama-Afrika, kanye nezindlela zokwelapha zendabuko ezisaqhubeka nokubaluleka ezimpilweni zomphakathi wamaZulu yize sekubusa izinkolelo zaseNtshonalanga. Ngokusebenzisa injulalwazi yama-Afrika (Afrocentric), lolu cwaningo lugcizelela ukubaluleka kokubheka amasiko nemikhuba yama-Afrika ngeso lama-Afrika hhayi ngokubheka ngezinye izinkolelo zaseNtshonalanga. Indlela yokucwaninga yekhwalithethivu, ikakhulukazi ukuhlaziywa kwezinto ezisemqoka (textual analysis), isetshenziselwa ukuhlola izindikimba ezibalulekile ezifana namandla amadlozi, umsebenzi wezangoma, abathandazi, nezinyanga, kanye nokuphikisana phakathi kwezindlela zokwelapha ngokwendabuko nezindlela zaseNtshonalanga. Imiphumela iveza ukuthi abelaphi bendabuko babamba iqhaza ebalulekile kakhulu hhayi ekwelapheni umzimba kuphela kodwa nasekulondolezeni amasiko, nokugcina izimiso zokuziphatha emphakathini. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ucwaningo luveza ukubabuleka kwemikhuba yendabuko bese luphakamisa ukuthi ibeyingxenye ezinhlelweni zezempilo kanye nakwezemfundo. Ekugcineni, lolu cwaningo lunikeza umnikelo ocacile engxoxweni ejulile yokulondolozwa kwamasiko, ukuthuthukiswa kwamasiko ase-Afrika, eNingizimu Afrika elikhululekile.
This study explores the role played by ancestors and traditional healers in post-apartheid South Africa, as represented in M.E. Ngcobo’s novel Kwashiyana Ukwenza. It investigates how African spirituality, culture, and indigenous healing practices continue to influence the lives of contemporary Zulu communities despite the dominance of Western ideologies. Using the Afrocentric theoretical framework, the research emphasises the need to view African traditions and beliefs from an African-centred perspective rather than through Eurocentric interpretations. The qualitative research method, particularly textual analysis, was employed to examine key themes such as the power of ancestral spirits, the functions of diviners, prophets, and herbalists, as well as the coexistence and conflict between traditional and Western healing systems. The findings reveal that traditional healers play a humongous role not only in physical healing but also in maintaining spiritual balance, preserving cultural identity, and sustaining moral values within society. Furthermore, the study highlights the resilience of indigenous knowledge systems and ...