MA (Tshivenda) / Senthara ya M. E. R. Mathivha ya Nyambo dza Afurika kha Vhutsila na Mvelele / NRF

MA (Tshivenda) / M.E.R. MathivhaCentre for African Languages, Arts and Culture / The study explores the value of having children in Tshivenda culture among the Vhavenda in the olden days as well as now. It deals with the value of having children in the Vhavenda culture comparing the olden days and nowadays which includes introduction, the value of children based on their gender. For instance when a boy was born, they would say, he will propagate the surname. When a girl was born, they would say, she has brought wealth to the family because she would get married and move to another family and bring the parental family dowry or cattle. The study will also look into ways in which the Vhavenḓa handles marital problems today within the family as well as issues of having children, that is adoption, surrogacy and artificial insermination.

PhD (African Studies) / Department of African Studies / This study explored Nyaluso ya vhana, the traditional child rearing practices in Vhavenḓa families. Child rearing practices are associated with culture, norms and beliefs of a group. However, due to modernisation and globalisation, community and family are concerned that child rearing influences are no longer closely connected to traditional practices, which poses a societal challenge. Furthermore, the positive aspects of traditional child rearing practices were never circulated. As a result, it appears to have no place in the contemporary child rearing practices. The purpose of this study was to explore the traditional child rearing practices in Vhavenḓa families. The intention was to establish if there are areas of traditional practices that were useful, and that should be promoted. A qualitative research design was used. Data collection was through one-on-one interviews with 16 participants. Results show that traditional Vhavenḓa child rearing practices entail the following: i). role modelling good behaviour, ii). Respect as an important ingredient of role modelling, iii). Perseverance as a virtue that was inculcated in children through various ways, iv). Participation in household chores, v). Taking a village to raise a child, vi). Traditional leaders helping the community in fostering culture and traditional child-rearing practices, and vii). Rituals and taboos as backbones in traditional child rearing practices. It was believed that the deliberate guidance and discipline-oriented practices, contributed to the positive child development and healthy citizenship. This study provided insights in the positive aspects of traditional Vhavenḓa child rearing practices. / NRF