Abstract
The portrayal of women in literature is often challenged by issues of underrepresentation and misrepresentation, which have a negative impact on the attitudes and perceptions of readers towards women and female leadership. This study qualitatively explores selected texts on a prominent female Zulu leader, Mkabayi KaJama, in order to establish how male authors, portray her in their literary works. A sample of five published texts have been selected purposively which are Zwelibanzi kaMagendane Sibiya’s book titled Mkabayi KaJama: The Zulu Museum: The Musical (2011), Christian Themba Msimang’s ; Buzani KuMkabayi (1982), Inkunzi Isematholeni (1997) by Meshack, M. Masondo and Ilanga LaseLangeni (1991) by Donnie B. K. Mhlongo and data analysis done through thematic analysis. The study employs feminism and the historical theoretical framework theories to inform the study. The use of feminism was to analyse how the character in the works is portrayed. The historical theory has the researcher to contextualise the analysis in the historical time frame that Mkabayi existed and also to influence the position of knowledge as an element that can be mined in history and used to shape the future. The study has discovered that writers portray Mkabayi as a woman who was capable of leading just as man could do. Literally scholars even document Mkabayi’s praise from the cultural traditions. The researcher also discovered that the authors in the analysed texts vindicate Mkabayi’s position but do not fully paint a clear picture of the patriarchal context in which she existed. Most of the authors ignore the fact that the events in history occurred in the pre-feminist era and that they need to include the context and advocate for female leadership, if the texts are to be inspiring to young people. The findings indicate that male writers portray Mkabayi as an effective leader, regardless of her female gender. However, it is also noted that the authors lack an advocacy voice in their narratives, a concept which is common in writings by women. This study recommends that policy changes are implemented to encourage more women to engage in writing. Furthermore, the study recommends gender-sensitivity awareness courses for male writers in order to improve the advocacy element in their writings.
M.A. (African Languages)