In this thesis Antjie Krog’s ‘transformation trilogy’ consisting of three nonfiction texts, Country of My Skull (1998), A Change of Tongue (2003) and Begging to Be Black (2009) is analysed with specific focus on conceptions of identity in the trilogy. This is done from numerous angles, namely a postcolonial approach to the trilogy, an analysis of Krog’s exploration of an ‘African worldview’, an in-depth inquiry into Krog’s preoccupation with ‘race’ and the assertion that Krog is essentially asking the National Question. The overarching approach that is followed in the thesis is to read all three texts of the trilogy in conjunction with each other and to highlight examples of repetition, progression and/or change with regard to the issues that have been identified. The translated nature as well as the form and content of the transformation trilogy are singled out as important signposts for the interpretation of the trilogy. Several instruments are identified that will be used in analysing the texts, including the importance of questioning, the concept of gesturing as articulated by Terry Eagleton, and Krog’s pedagogical attitude. The trilogy is situated within postcolonial theory: the importance of postcolonial theory in general and whiteness studies specifically for the study of the trilogy is highlighted. Krog’s explicit and implicit references to colonialism and postcolonialism in the trilogy are discussed as an important postcolonial gesture. Another meaningful gesture is Krog’s exploration of what can be termed an ‘African worldview’. This exploration takes place through her incorporation of African orality in the trilogy, and through her extensive enquiry into African humanism. Her use of the term ubuntu is examined, as well as her explicit interaction with formal African philosophy. It is averred that Krog’s focus on an ‘African worldview’ necessitates a thorough investigation into the role of ‘race’ in the trilogy. The place that is given to ‘whiteness’ and ‘blackness’ in the trilogy is analysed in part by engaging with whiteness studies. The conclusion in reached that the concept of complicity is essential for correctly interpreting Krog’s preoccupation with ‘race’, and the way that her trilogy engages with international discourses on restitution is equally important. Finally all the above issues come together when it is stated that Krog is essentially asking the National Question: to whom does South Africa belong? Can ‘white’ people belong to the South African nation? Krog’s conceptions of identity are evaluated in this context and identity-as-becoming is identified as a central concept emerging in the course of the trilogy. / In hierdie proefskrif word Antjie Krog se ‘transformasie-trilogie’ bestaande uit drie niefiksie tekste, Country of My Skull (1998), A Change of Tongue (2003) en Begging to Be Black (2009) ondersoek met spesifieke fokus op konsepsies van identiteit in die trilogie. Dit vind vanuit verskeie invalshoeke plaas, naamlik ’n postkoloniale benadering tot die trilogie, ’n analise van Krog se verkenning van ’n ‘Afrikawêreldbeeld’, ’n indringende ondersoek na Krog se preokkupasie met ‘ras’, en die bewering dat Krog die Nasionale Vraagstuk betrek. Die oorkoepelende benadering wat in die proefskrif gevolg word, is om al drie tekste van die trilogie saam te lees en voorbeelde van herhaling, progressie en/of verandering ten opsigte van die geïdentifiseerde kwessies aan te toon. Die vertaalde aard asook die vorm en inhoud van die transformasie-trilogie word as belangrike rigtingswysers vir die interpretasie van die trilogie belig. Enkele instrumente word geïdentifiseer met behulp waarvan die tekste telkens ontleed word, insluitende die belangrikheid van vraagstelling, die konsep van gebare wat van Terry Eagleton ontleen is, en Krog se pedagogiese ingesteldheid. ’n Postkoloniale situering van die trilogie vind plaas waarin die belangrikheid van die teorie van postkoloniale studies in die breë en witheidstudies in besonder ten opsigte van die trilogie kortliks uitgelig word. Die wyses waarop Krog eksplisiet na kolonialisme en postkolonialisme verwys, word as ’n veelseggende postkoloniale gebaar bespreek. ’n Verdere belangrike gebaar is Krog se verkenning van wat as ’n ‘Afrikawêreldbeeld’ omskryf kan word. Hierdie verkenning vind plaas deur haar inkorporasie van Afrika-oraliteit in die trilogie, en deur haar uitgebreide ondersoek na Afrikahumanisme. Krog se gebruikmaking van die term ubuntu geniet aandag, asook haar eksplisiete interaksie met formele Afrikafilosofie. Daar word beweer dat Krog se fokus op ’n ‘Afrikawêreldbeeld’ ’n deeglike ondersoek na die plek van ‘ras’ in die trilogie noop. Die plek van ‘witheid’ en ‘swartheid’ in die trilogie word ontleed deur onder andere met witheidstudies in gesprek te tree. Uiteindelik word beweer dat die konsep van medepligtigheid noodsaaklik is om Krog se preokkupasie met ‘ras’ na behore te interpreteer, en daarmee saam is dit belangrik dat Krog deelneem aan internasionale diskoerse oor restitusie. Uiteindelik val al die genoemde kwessies saam wanneer beweer word dat Krog in wese die Nasionale Vraagstuk opper: aan wie behoort Suid-Afrika? Mag ‘wit’ mense tot die ‘Suid-Afrikaanse nasie’ behoort? Krog se konsepsies van identiteit word binne hierdie konteks beoordeel en identiteit-as-wordingproses word as ’n belangrike konsep geïdentifiseer. / Thesis (DLitt)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / tm2015 / Afrikaans / DLitt / Unrestricted

The aim of this study was to discover whether a value-based typology could be established that was applicable to all South African adults. It was predicated on the basis of a literature review and previous research findings that there were two major underlying dimensions of values: collectivism versus individualism and inner- versus outer-directed. The parameters of these dimensions were hypothesised within the framework of a common social structure, based on a number of related propositions. It was also hypothesised that the South African adult population consisted of five types. Five value measures were examined and found to have disadvantages for South Africa. A value measurement technique had been developed in South Africa for an on-going study titled Sociomonitor. The core of this study was the measurement of values of relevance to marketing and media. Over the period 1976 to 1993 separate value based typologies were identified for urban Blacks and Whites. In 1995 both races were covered in the same year and a common typology was found. In 1997/8 Sociomonitor was extended to the total adult population of South Africa. Respondents were sub-divided into Collectivism, Individualism, Inner- and Outer-directed groups. The characteristics of which were found to be substantially as had been expected. South African adults were categorised into five value types. Three of which were as had been hypothesised, two were in place of one of the five anticipated and one wasn't found. It is concluded that the values of adults from all ethnic groups fall within the parameters of collectivism versus individualism and inner- versus outer-directed. Furthermore, there are five different value types in the South African adult population that transcend ethnic boundaries. The implications of a multi-ethnic typology for marketing, social and political decision-making, research and the formulation of scenarios are outlined. It is recommended that this type of research be extended to other African countries and small communities. / Dissertation (PHD)--University of Pretoria, 2003. / Psychology / unrestricted

Modern economic theory of self-interest alleges that in their economic relations people always behave in a way that maximises their utility. The idea whether human beings were solely self-interested has a long history as it can be seen from the writings of Greek philosophers and the Church fathers. Among Greek philosophers there were those who argued that human beings were naturally self-interested (Aristotle) and those who maintained that human beings were communal by nature (Plato, Stoics and the Pythagoreans). The later position was adopted by the Church fathers as they condemned self-interest as the sin of avarice and greed. The justification of self-interest in human and political activities was part and parcel of the economic and political early modernists, as it can be seen in the works of Mandeville, Hobbes, Hume and Adam Smith. In the writings of these thinkers, the flourishing of wealth depended on individual freedom to pursue their self-interests. In this regard, selfinterest became the sole source of motivation in the behaviour of homo economicus. A persistent motif in late modern economic discourse on self-interest is based on the idea that people think and act on the basis of that which is to their self-interest. It is mainly for this reason that late modern economic thinkers maintain that society would prosper when people are left alone to pursue their self-interests. Late modern economic theory of utility maximisation alleges that individuals act only after calculating costs and benefits. The argument of this thesis, based on the commonalities between African humanism and process philosophical anthropology, is that self-interest is antithetical to communal life as advocated in the ethic of Ubuntu. One who acts solely on the basis of maximising his or her utility would inevitably deprive others of a humane existence. A holistic metaphysical outlook based on the relatedness and interrelatedness of everything that exists as we find it in African humanism and process philosophical anthropology implies that the individual exists in internal relations with everything else. We should go beyond selfinterest by giving primacy to a holistic ethic. / Systematic Theology & Theological Ethics / D. Div. (Theological Ethics)

Modern economic theory of self-interest alleges that in their economic relations people always behave in a way that maximises their utility. The idea whether human beings were solely self-interested has a long history as it can be seen from the writings of Greek philosophers and the Church fathers. Among Greek philosophers there were those who argued that human beings were naturally self-interested (Aristotle) and those who maintained that human beings were communal by nature (Plato, Stoics and the Pythagoreans). The later position was adopted by the Church fathers as they condemned self-interest as the sin of avarice and greed. The justification of self-interest in human and political activities was part and parcel of the economic and political early modernists, as it can be seen in the works of Mandeville, Hobbes, Hume and Adam Smith. In the writings of these thinkers, the flourishing of wealth depended on individual freedom to pursue their self-interests. In this regard, selfinterest became the sole source of motivation in the behaviour of homo economicus. A persistent motif in late modern economic discourse on self-interest is based on the idea that people think and act on the basis of that which is to their self-interest. It is mainly for this reason that late modern economic thinkers maintain that society would prosper when people are left alone to pursue their self-interests. Late modern economic theory of utility maximisation alleges that individuals act only after calculating costs and benefits. The argument of this thesis, based on the commonalities between African humanism and process philosophical anthropology, is that self-interest is antithetical to communal life as advocated in the ethic of Ubuntu. One who acts solely on the basis of maximising his or her utility would inevitably deprive others of a humane existence. A holistic metaphysical outlook based on the relatedness and interrelatedness of everything that exists as we find it in African humanism and process philosophical anthropology implies that the individual exists in internal relations with everything else. We should go beyond selfinterest by giving primacy to a holistic ethic. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / D. Div. (Theological Ethics)

Es'kia Mphahlele's concept of African humanism was a seminal influence on Black Consciouness thought and provided the philosophical basis for a landmark body of South African criticism and aesthetics wilh roots in Africa. African humanism as a black ethos, combined with rich metaphoric speech, symbols, values and myths resurrected from the deep African past, afforded the author a powerful cultural weapon with which to criticize centuries of colonialism, racism, and state apartheid, related western industrial forces of economic exploitation and alienation. Moreover, the counterweights of African humanism and alienation in the dialogue of two selves -- one that is Western-educated and colonized and the other African -- contribute key elements of realism, vitality, humour, insight, cultural identity, and characterization to Mphahlele's most effective protest writing which, in turn, has helped to shape a black nationalist vision which has surprising relevance to South Africa in the 1990s. / English Studies / M.A. (English)

The study assessed the Emotional Intelligence/Ubuntu understanding in sixteen learners aged 11-14 from both the Low SES and High SES levels, which includes the peri- urban/disadvantaged/informal settlements and the urban/privileged areas. The research motivated towards the conception that an inclusive Eurocentric and African approach towards education could benefit South African adolescent learners emotionally, socially and academically. Notwithstanding, providing an Emotional Intelligence framework that includes tenets of the African Philosophical paradigm of Ubuntu could enable adolescent learners to feel more empowered when confronting their socio- economic challenges. Hence, the purpose of this study was to ascertain whether the lack of formal EI/Ubuntu skills training in schools leaves learners without the competences to surmount the many challenges adolescents face during the turbulent phase of early adolescence. The aim of this study was to assess the levels of EI in a sample of adolescents from both SES levels. Qualitative methods were used in order to ascertain the impact of Western and Ubuntu epistemologies/worldviews on the adolescent learners’ Emotional Intelligence. This study also sought to determine the impact of education and role models on this sample of adolescent learners' EI/Ubuntu levels. This research also investigated how the merged EI/Ubuntu concepts can be incorporated into a life skills programme aimed at enhancing EI/Ubuntu in South African adolescent learners. In this study both quantitative and qualitative data were collected using the convergent parallel mixed method study and the paradigms that informed the study includes pragmatism, interpretivism, positivism and post-positivism. The objectives of this study includes identifying the emotional needs and EI status of adolescent learners and to investigate to what extent these are being met in the current educational system in South Africa. The research noted the contextual factors that influence EI in adolescent learners. The research explored how adolescents align their behaviour with the values and virtues of EI and Ubuntu. The following tools were used to accomplish the aforementioned objectives; a short introduction to Ubuntu, the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire - Adolescent Short Form (TEIQue-ASF) questionnaire was utilised to obtain a measure of the individual learner’s EI. A biographical questionnaire was given to all learners in order to establish what contextual factors impact on EI/Ubuntu consciousness. An Ubuntu style 10-item questionnaire to obtain insight into individual learners’ conceptualisation of EI. A short paragraph of approximately 300 words allowed for the narrative of each learner to be explored and a 22-item semi-structured parent/teacher interview from both SES groups. Role-playing scenarios were enacted to assess the depth of EI through the identification and understanding that took place between the players and draw a person diagrams (DAP) were utilised and assessed for EI aspects such as self-esteem, levels of confidence and awareness of self. The most pertinent aspects that were revealed by this study was that Low SES learners, especially those that lived in corrugated housing felt a sense of helplessness, fear and social alienation when challenged by their extreme living conditions. The study also revealed that the High SES group struggled at forming meaningful relationships and felt panicked and stressed regarding their academic responsibilities and outcomes. Hence as both groups struggled socially, they relied on technology and Western materialism to fill the void. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)

Es'kia Mphahlele's concept of African humanism was a seminal influence on Black Consciouness thought and provided the philosophical basis for a landmark body of South African criticism and aesthetics wilh roots in Africa. African humanism as a black ethos, combined with rich metaphoric speech, symbols, values and myths resurrected from the deep African past, afforded the author a powerful cultural weapon with which to criticize centuries of colonialism, racism, and state apartheid, related western industrial forces of economic exploitation and alienation. Moreover, the counterweights of African humanism and alienation in the dialogue of two selves -- one that is Western-educated and colonized and the other African -- contribute key elements of realism, vitality, humour, insight, cultural identity, and characterization to Mphahlele's most effective protest writing which, in turn, has helped to shape a black nationalist vision which has surprising relevance to South Africa in the 1990s. / English Studies / M.A. (English)