Abstract
D.Litt. et Phil.
Approaches to folklore/oral forms have evolved from an interest in things (texts are included here) to an interest in process, of which performance studies is a prime example.
A performance orientation seeks to restore an activity (or a text as part of an activity) to
its proper place - not as an extracted, reified entity, but as discourse created by performers in particular circumstances. These circumstances, or context, are detail-rich and have influences on a text, and, in turn, a text is a detail that influences other aspects of the total performance. These theoretical issues are dealt with in chapter I. Ndebele praise poetry manifests itself in many situations as it forms part of a larger oral culture, as can be seen in many regular and ad hoc Ndebele ceremonies. The extent of the oral culture is illustrated in chapter 2. Gunner and Gwala (1991: 7) have remarked that praise poetry 'has been and still is extremely open to appropriation by those who had or wished to have access to political power and influence'. This was particularly evident in the way praise poetry was performed during 1988 at political campaigns. This year was part of the period of political unrest in Ndebele history which started in 1985 when central government announced that Moutse would be incorporated into the former Kw'aNdebele and that KwaNdebele would become independent on 11 December 1986. At the 6 political meetings, during which the anti-independent royalists campaigned against independence, praise poetry was utilised extensively. This background is dealt with in chapter 3. At these meetings praise poetry functioned not only to amuse the crowd, but to
introduce speakers, underscore their legitimacy and to lend authority to what speakers
were saying. Needless to say, while some iimbongo were 'context ready', others were
recontextualised to have something to say about the issues prevailing at the time. The
praises that grew from contemporary circumstances were those of the `ama-radicals', as
they were called, namely, the princes, sons of Mabhoko, the Ndzundza-Ndebele chief
(Ingwenyama) at that time. The praises of Mabhoko himself were largely those of
Mabhoko I, who lived between 1800 and 1865. But although these iimbongo originated at
that time, they were highly relevant to the circumstances prevailing at the time so that the
process of recontextualisation was quite natural. Contextual issues such as these are
described in chapter 4. The value of the performance approach is that, while a text is seen as part of a process, it is also recognised as language on display, language presented for enjoyment and as a display of communicative competence. Bauman and Briggs (1990) refer to this process as entextualisation. Language as display, or artistic language use, is characterised by numerous devices. In the Ndebele praise poems the metaphor can be seen to be the privileged trope, occurring more frequently than any other device. Contemporary Ndebele praise poets operate at a time when orality is being
replaced by literacy. Very often praise poets document their own poetry, thus allowing for
others to learn these praises through the medium of the written word. How does this affect
creativity? These issues are addressed in chapter 5. Jimbongo as instances of 'master creative discourse' are meant to influence listeners and achieve practical ends in a time when there are so many other contending types of discourse and means of communication. The study concludes by briefly considering the role of this oral art form in contemporary Ndebele society.