Chapter is an exploration of the meanings which may underly the title of this novel. I have tried initially to establish what kind of "expedition" is undertaken, and have come to the conclusion that "expedition" has a multidimensional meaning, that it implies a search, an expedition into different things: an expedition to the city of rose-quartz; the slave woman's expeditions from the baobab tree and back; an inner expedition to gain self-knowledge; an expedition into womanhood; an expedition into the history of Africa, into religion, into language. The second part of the chapter examines the nature of "baobab", since this tree, like the "Tree of Life", is regarded as one growing upside-down. It is this upside-down nature of the tree which led me to believe that many existing stereotypes and myths are turned upside-down in the novel: about slaves, about woman, language, the Afrikaans literary tradition, the "traditional" structure of the novel, culture transcending nature, the slave woman's language. In chapter 2 I have examined only one of these expeditions, viz. the slave woman's inner expeditions consisting of her experiences as a slave and her journeys of reminiscence. These journeys at the same time embrace all the other expeditions. Her inner expeditions are signified by a number of codes, which fulfil literally the function of processes of knowledge, of self- knowledge, as well as of systems in which meaning is contained. By undertaking this inner expedition, the woman gains greater clarity of vision concerning her own existence and the existence of man/woman in general. Chapter 3 deals mainly with the concept of possession/ownership, which results in two diametrically opposed groups: the owner class and the owned class. The peculiar institution of slavery has given rise to these two irreconcilable groups, and therefore a brief history of slavery is included in this chapter. The slave woman is initially one of the owned class, but through indoctrination, she too aspires to become a member of the owner class. In the second half of the chapter, then, the woman is discussed as owner. Her position becomes a reflection of the position of her owners, to illustrate the peculiarity of the capitalist system in which there will always be the rulers and the subjects, the oppressor and the oppressed, the owner and the owned.

Magister Artium (Development Studies) - MA(DVS) / This research places in context a proposed case study of land and property rights of a dispossessed Stockenström (Eastern Cape) community forcibly removed to Friemersheim (Western Cape) during the apartheid era, between 1985 and 1986. This dispossessed community has yet to receive appropriate compensation for that expropriation in the form of restoration of their property rights. This study examines the specifics of the legislative framework, which underpinned the circumstances of their land expropriation, as well as the pattern of land dispossession in South Africa during this era. To this end, it examines the impact of land-related apartheid legislation, which directly and indirectly influenced this community. It focuses on discussions, many of the parliamentary proclamations and statutes such as those passed in 1913, and beyond, which provided the legal context for large-scale land grabs, and contrasts these with the post-1994 land reformation programme. Finally, this research examines the practical implementation of the 1994 land reform programme, especially the component of restitution, with particular reference to the displaced Stockenström community who find themselves facing huge challenges in a democratic South Africa, even after they applied the new rights accorded to them in the land reform programme. It outlines the significance of the new legislative rights conferred on those dispossessed and tracks their land claims successes and failures.

Thesis (M.A. (Afrikaans and Dutch))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

This research focused on the metaphor of space as used by Afrikaans female poets in South Africa in the period 1994-2005, both space as an environment and as an abstract space in which the poets find themselves. In this period, South Africa got a new democratic dispensation and women were de-marginalised. As a background to the study, a brief overview was given of the work of various Afrikaans poetesses, but the main focus was on the work of two contemporary poetesses, namely Use van Staden and Wilma Stockenstrom, to observe whether the new role of women in society is reflected in the work of these two poetesses. In the study, the theory of Pierre Bourdieu, a French culture-sociologist, was used, namely that no text is ever "free", but that there is a close relation between text and context. Because only the work of female writers was studied in this research, and because the poetesses give a voice to the spatiality of women, theories of feminism as well as postcolonialism were also involved in the study. The spatial metaphors in the texts of the poetesses were also analysed, because they use metaphors to portray their spatiality. These spatial metaphors also lead to the exploitation of other relevant themes. In the investigation of the representation of spatial metaphors used by Afrikaans poetesses, and in particular Use van Staden and Wilma Stockenstrom, it was found that the spaces in which women find themselves play a prominent role in their lives. It was also observed that there is disharmony between poetesses and the spaces in which they find themselves. This research found that women have been de-marginalised and that the patriarchal system has been crossed, and that this phenomenon is being portrayed by the work of female poets who give a voice to the women of this country and portray the many facets of female experience. / Thesis (M.A. (Afrikaans and Dutch))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

This research focused on the metaphor of space as used by Afrikaans female poets in South Africa in the period 1994-2005, both space as an environment and as an abstract space in which the poets find themselves. In this period, South Africa got a new democratic dispensation and women were de-marginalised. As a background to the study, a brief overview was given of the work of various Afrikaans poetesses, but the main focus was on the work of two contemporary poetesses, namely Use van Staden and Wilma Stockenstrom, to observe whether the new role of women in society is reflected in the work of these two poetesses. In the study, the theory of Pierre Bourdieu, a French culture-sociologist, was used, namely that no text is ever "free", but that there is a close relation between text and context. Because only the work of female writers was studied in this research, and because the poetesses give a voice to the spatiality of women, theories of feminism as well as postcolonialism were also involved in the study. The spatial metaphors in the texts of the poetesses were also analysed, because they use metaphors to portray their spatiality. These spatial metaphors also lead to the exploitation of other relevant themes. In the investigation of the representation of spatial metaphors used by Afrikaans poetesses, and in particular Use van Staden and Wilma Stockenstrom, it was found that the spaces in which women find themselves play a prominent role in their lives. It was also observed that there is disharmony between poetesses and the spaces in which they find themselves. This research found that women have been de-marginalised and that the patriarchal system has been crossed, and that this phenomenon is being portrayed by the work of female poets who give a voice to the women of this country and portray the many facets of female experience. / Thesis (M.A. (Afrikaans and Dutch))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

M.A. / Although critics have acknowledged the work of Wilma Stockenstrom and have responded favourably, and although she has received four awards and prizes for her poetry up to the publication of Monsterverse, no all-embracing study of her poetry has been undertaken. Many of the reviews and critical analyses have failed to give proper recognition to her first two volumes of poetry. Consequently the process of development in her work has been largely overlooked, and Monsterverse, although acclaimed, has been assessed as "problematic" and totally "foreign". This study therefore attempts to determine the tendencies which figure in Wilma Stockenstrom's poetry, and examines in particular the iconicity of thematics and prosody as it has developed throughout successive volumes. Most of the themes developed in the later volumes are introduced in her debut work, Vir die Bysiende Leser. Some of the themes explored in this volume, however, lose their significance in later volumes. Although the prosody is still somewhat uncertain in some of the poems, a few poems already suggest her unique and individualistic application of this aspect of style. In this early work it is already apparent that her real power lies in the writing of free verse. She exploits this verse form with rich variety throughout her four volumes. Vir die Bysiende Leser clearly functions as a unit. The intratextuality of the poems is a striking structural aspect of. this work. Unity is also emphasized in the following three volumes, but progressively more attention is given to intertextuality. Stockenstrom's work clearly links up with the intertextual tradition which N. P. van Wyk Louw's Tristia and D.J. Opperman's Komas uit n Bamboesstok have established in Afrikaans literature.

Dissertation (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The main aim of this study is to investigate the possibility of using a postmodern reading strategy for Afrikaans poetry, in particular that type of poetry which, following Linda Hutcheon, I will call historiographic metapoetry. The investigation consists of four phases. Firstly, in order to implement Hutcheon's model, cognisance will be taken of the theory of postmodernism (chapters 1- 3), particularly with regard to poetry, since the latter is apparently a marginalised genre in this theorisation. The second phase of the investigation encompasses a discussion of the discourse on postmodernism and poetry in America, the NetherlandsIFlanders and in Afrikaans (chapters 4-6, respectively). Attention is given to matters such as the developmental history of postmodernism, theorising on postmodern poetry and the practice of anthologising. The third phase bridges the gap between research on postmodernism and that on historiographic metapoetry (chapter 7). The focus will be on Pirow Bekker's poem "Apollo Smintheus", with specific attention being given to the representation of the event (the journey of Jonas de la Guerre into the hinterland in 1664) in the journal texts and other historiographic sources. Hutcheon's distinction between event and fact will also be adopted in the analysis. The last phase of this study is an application of Hutcheon's model to Wilma Stockenstrëm's poem, Die heengaanrefrein, a self-reflexive text on the arrival of the Huguenots in South Africa in 1688 (chapters 8-12). As an introduction to the discussion of the text, the problematising of various types of borders in the poem is examined. This is followed by an analysis of extracts from Die heengaanrefrein with reference to four matters that are, according to Hutcheon, central to postmodern theory and practice. These are: intertextuality, parody and the discourses of history; the problem of reference; the subject and the representation of subjectivity; and lastly ideological implications and political double-coding. The discussion of Die heengaanrefrein is supplemented with shorter discussions of other texts, for example, George H. Weideman's "Kieselguhr-kleim", two short poems from Breyten Breytenbach's Soos die so and P.J. Philander's poems "Die klippe praat" and "Genesis". In Chapter 13, the final chapter, the findings are summarised and Hutcheon's model is evaluated. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doelstelling met hierdie studie is 'n ondersoek na die moontlikheid om 'n postmodernistiese leesbenadering aan te wend by die lees van die Afrikaanse poësie, in die besonder daardie soort gedigte wat ek na aanleiding van Linda Hutcheon historiografiese metapoësie wil noem. Die ondersoek bestaan uit vier fases. Ten einde Hutcheon se model te implementeer, word daar eerstens bestek geneem van die teoretisering oor die postmodernisme (hoofstukke 1-3), veral wat die poësie betref, aangesien laasgenoemde 'n gemarginaliseerde genre in hierdie teoretisering blyk te wees. Die tweede fase van die ondersoek omvat 'n bespreking van die diskoers oor postmodernisme en poësie in onderskeidelik Amerika, NederlandIVlaandere en Afrikaans (hoofstukke 4-6). Sake wat aandag geniet, is die ontwikkelingsgeskiedenis van die postmodernisme, die teoretisering oor postmodernistiese poësie en die antologiseringspraktyk. Die derde fase is 'n oorbrugging tussen die navorsing oor die postmodernisme en dié oor historiografiese metapoësie (hoofstuk 7). Pirow Bekker se gedig "Apollo Smintheus" kom onder die soeklig, met spesifieke aandag aan die representasie van die gebeurtenis (die sogenaamde landsreis van Jonas de la Guerre in 1664 die binneland in) in die joernaaltekste en ander historiografiese bronne; Hutcheon se onderskeid tussen event en fact word ook betrek. Die laaste fase van die studie is 'n toepassing van Hutcheon se modelop Wilma Stockenstrom se gedig Die heengaanrefrein, 'n selfbesinnende teks oor die koms. van die Hugenote na Suid-Afrika in 1688 (hoofstukke 8-12). Ter inleiding van die teksbespreking word die problematisering van verskillende soorte grense in die gedig nagegaan. Dit word gevolg deur analises van fragmente uit Die heengaanrefrein na aanleiding van vier kwessies wat volgens Hutcheon sentraal staan in die postmodernistiese teorie en praktyk. Hierdie sake is: intertekstualiteit, parodie en die diskoerse van die geskiedenis; die problematiek van referensialiteit; die subjek en die representasie van subjektiwiteit; en ideologiese implikasies en politieke dubbelkodering. In die loop van die studie word die bespreking van Die heengaanrefrein aangevul met korter besprekings van ander tekste, soos byvoorbeeld George H. Weideman se "Kieselguhr-kleim", twee gedigte uit Breyten Breytenbach se Soos die so en P.J. Philander se gedigte "Die klippe praat" en "Genesis". Inhoofstuk 13, die sluitstuk, word die bevindinge saamgevat en Hutcheon se model beoordeel.

This thesis explores the thematic desire to establish an ecological human bond with nature in four contemporary novels: The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje, The Hungry Tide by Amitav Ghosh, An Imaginary Life by David Malouf, and The Expedition to The Baobab Tree by Wilma Stockenström. These authors share a concern with the influence that language has on human perception, and one of the most significant ways they attempt to connect with the natural world is through somehow escaping, or transcending, what they perceive to be the divisive tendencies of language. They all suggest that human perception is not steered entirely by a disembodied mind, which constructs reality through linguistic and cultural lenses, but is equally influenced by physical circumstances and embodied experiences. They explore the potential of corporeal reciprocity and empathy as that which enables understanding across cultural barriers, and a sense of ecologically intertwined kinship with nature. They all struggle to reconcile their awareness of the potential danger of relating to nature exclusively through language, with a desire to speak for the natural world in literature. I have examined whether they succeed in doing so, or whether they contradict their thematic suspicion of language with their literary medium. I have prioritised a close ecocritical reading of the novels and loosely situated the authors’ approach to nature and language within the broad theoretical frameworks of radical ecology, structuralism and poststructuralism. I suggest that these novels are best analysed in the context of an ecocritical mediation between poststructuralist conceptions of nature as inaccessible cultural construct, and the naïve conception of unmediated, pre-reflective interaction with the natural world. I draw especially on the phenomenological theories of Maurice Merleau-Ponty, whose insistence that perception is always both embodied and culturally mediated truly renders culture and nature irreducible, intertwined categories. By challenging historical dualisms like mind/body and culture/nature, the selected novels suggest a more fluid and discursive understanding of the perceived conflict between language and nature, whilst problematizing the perception of language as merely a cultural artefact. Moreover, they are examples of the kind of literature that has the potential to positively influence our human conception of nature, and adapt us better to our ecological context on a planet struggling for survival.

From Preface: South African frontiers periodically provided the backdrop for conflict between Blacks and Whites over land, and, in this respect, Griqualand West proved no exception. The arrival of the trekboers in the 1830s heralded the beginning of the land problem in Griqualand West, and the situation worsened with the discovery of diamonds and the subsequent influx of land-hungry Whites. By the 1870s the stage was then set for a major clash between Blacks and Whites with land as the central focus. The Griqualand West Administration tried to rectify this situation in 1875 by setting up a Land Court under Judge Andries Stockenström. Stockenström's judgment was highly controversial, as many Griqua and Blacks lost land, although no land which had been claimed by a Griqua or Black was granted to a White. As Stockenström had not resolved the land problem, the Griqualand West authorities brought in Captain Charles Warren to settle the matter of land ownership in the Province. The Warren Report was considered by all concerned to be fair, but it did not prevent the outbreak of hostilities in 1878. The two main foci of this study are, then, land ownership and the Rebellion and the link, if any, between them. The main sources for the work have been the Griqualand West archive in the Cape Archives, for the period 1872-1880, and various newspapers. The Cape and Imperial Blue Books were useful sources, especially on the military history of the rebellion. Interviews conducted in Bophuthatswana and Griqualand West clarified many obscure points and raised others, most of which have been answered in this work. A considerable number of contemporary published works were also consulted, but, although most mentioned the land problem and the Rebellion, few contained anything worthy of mention, especially with regard to the military history of the Rebellion. / KMBT_363 / Adobe Acrobat 9.54 Paper Capture Plug-in