This study contains a variety of oral traditional formulae found in various
places in KwaZulu-Natal which are used in the imbeleko ceremony and these
formulae are analyzed in their traditional form and in a number of new
formulations. The imbeleko ceremony is a celebration to introduce and
welcome a newborn child, but occasionally even an adult newcomer may
be introduced to both the living and the ancestral spirits. A full description of the imbeleko ceremony, the reasons for performing it,
the procedures followed, an analysis and comparison of mnemotechnics
used in the formulae and finally the application of orality-literacy theories to
the rites and the text are provided. Variations observed in my research in
the manner in which this rite is celebrated from family to family are pointed
out. Zulus regard it as a must to perform the imbeleko ceremony for every child
in the family. The reasons for this ceremony vary from (a) thanksgiving
ceremony, (b) the official introduction of the child to ancestors, (c) the rite
performed late to protect the child from misfortunes, (d) and to provide an
opportunity for naming the child. There is also the imbeleko ceremony that
may be performed in the life of the child when there are indicators that there
is a need for it to be done i.e. when there is illness that seems incurable,
and psychological crisis which occur even though the imbeleko had been
performed. There is also a type of imbeleko ceremony for the first child that
combines the child's maternal and paternal families. This dissertation concludes by comparing and contrasting the imbeleko and
the Christian baptism. It is possible changes have taken place in the
imbeleko ceremony as a result of external influences of the western
Christian life. (NB This dissertation is accompanied by a video) / Thesis (M.A.) - University of Natal, 1996.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:ukzn/oai:http://researchspace.ukzn.ac.za:10413/7079 |
| Date | January 1996 |
| Creators | Ngcongo, Thobile Thandiwe. |
| Contributors | Zondi, E. |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
Page generated in 0.0024 seconds