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This study is an analysis of Raditladi’s poetry with special emphasis on three aspects, namely, social, cultural and the historical perspectives. Raditladi blends indigenous African and Western influenced themes and forms to portray the common and shared ethos, beliefs and practices of the Batswana. He depicts artistic and edifying mechanisms of his people’s culture in remarkable styles. In addition to containing history and historical figures, his poetry also addresses social issues that are of particular significance to Africans who for so long have negotiated and navigated a world of contrasting social norms and values. For example, Selelo sa morati or a ‘A Lover’s Lament’ highlights the tensions and conflict between traditional, Batswana versus modern, Western practices of love and marriage. The poem also raises the deep-seated problem of tribalism, and by extension, racism. In the poem, an attempt to harmonise contrasting ways of living, loving and composing poetry, that resonates with contemporary Africans, and their quest for social change is a recurrent preoccupation. Many modern Batswanas continue to attempt to harmonise their cultural values and norms with what they feel to be useful and relevant from so the called modern norms and values. It is a journey beset with fearful odds. Raditladi’s poetry speaks to these everyday struggles we call life in the post-colonial and post-apartheid setting. An important aspect of Batswana cultural identity that emerges from a reading of Raditladi’s collection Sefalana sa Menate is the frequency of allusion to the significance of cattle. Thes significance that is manifested in considerable number of the poetic allusions or metaphors suggest a common view of cattle as nurture, sustenance, comfort, and possession of wealthy. Traditionally, cattle provided for the everyday needs of the Batswana, and in fiction as in real life, represent wealth and well-being. A strong relationship exists between cattle and the Batswana sensibilities. This strong identification with cattle by those who through countless generations have been shepherds is evidenced in cattle allusions carried forward in language, proverbs and poetry. Historical figures and events are conveyed through poetic aestheticism. These historical events constitute: • Leadership Lessons from the House of Kgama • Teaching Batswana Poetry: an African paradigm • South Africans in European Wars: Re-writing History and setting the record straight Raditladi’s work is based on life, lived as firsthand in the communal experiences of milking and caring for cattle as a child and this is viewed in the Batswana society as providing the foundation for understanding the Batswana sensibilities. There is a gap in in Setswana literary criticism regarding a critical exploration of the three themes mentioned above been analyzed.It is hoped that this research study will go a long way to address this gap / African languages / D Litt. et Phil.

Text in Afrikaans / In die proefskrif word gepoog om die Namibies-Afrikaanse literatuur wat gepubliseer is sedert die twintigerjare (met die verskyning van die eerste Afrikaanse gedigte in Afrikaanse koerante) tot met die onafhanklikwording van die land in Maart 1990, bymekaar te bring, en aan te toon hoe die land en al sy mense daarin na vore kom. Daar is hoofsaaklik gekonsentreer op werke wat by gevestigde Suid-Afrikaanse uitgewerye verskyn het. Altesaam 146 bundels prosa, 35 bundels poesie, twee dramas, en 46 gedigte wat in koerante en tydskrifte verskyn het, geskryf deur 92 skrywers en uitgegee deur 26 uitgewerye-, word in die proefskrif geidentifiseer en bespreek. Talle kenmerke van die land en sy mense vind neerslag in bogenoemde werke. Die meeste werke speel in die noorde van die land en die Namib-woestyn af, en die inheemse bevolkingsgroep wat die sterkste na vore kom, is die Boesmans; klem word veral geplaas op hul gewoontes en gebruike. Die hoofkarakters in die verhale is oorwegend plattelandse blanke boeremense. Die tipiese landsomstandighede sedert die einde van die vorige eeu, toe bloedige stamgevegte in die land gewoed het, tot en met die grensoorlog wat met onafhanklikwording beeindig is, word in die literatuur gereflekteer. Wat die invloed van die land op die mens betref, is dit die ontbering en lyding, maar veral die geestelike verryking wat die land die mens hied, wat na vore kom. In die algemeen openbaar die skrywers 'n oorweldigende positiewe gesindheid teenoor die land en sy mense, hoewel ander nuanserings van gesindheid ook voorkom / In this dissertation an attempt is made to bring together Namibian-Afrikaans literature published since the twenties (when the first Afrikaans poems appeared in the Afrikaans papers), until the independence of the country in March 1990, and to illustrate how the country and its people come to the fore as revealed in the literature. Stress is given mainly to works that were published by established South African publishers. A total of 146 anthologies of narrative prose, 35 anthologies of poetry, two dramatic works, and 46 poems which appeared in papers and periodicals, written by 92 authors and published by 26 publishers, are identified and discussed. Hundreds of features of the country and its people are revealed in the abovementioned literature. Most works take place in the northern regions and the Namib desert and the indigenous people that predominate are the Bushmen; stress is mainly laid on their customs and their habits. The main characters in the narratives are to a large extent white rural people. The literature reflects the typical political circumstances of the country since the end of the previous century when bloody tribal conflicts raged, until the border war that ended with independence. As far as the influence of the country on the people is concerned, it is mainly the hardships and suffering, but above all the spiritual enrichment that the country offered that are ascertained. In general the authors reveal an overwhelmingly positive attitude towards the country and its people / English Studies / D.Litt. et Phil. (Afrikaans)

published_or_final_version / Comparative Literature / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy