Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis looks closely at three volumes of Tatamkhulu Afrika's poetry (Nine Lives,
Dark Rider and Maqabane), to find that his work reflects a deep understanding of South
African society and the different forces and conflicts inherent therein. I argue that
although Afrika's poetry is presented as a recount of personal experience through the
voice of a first person participant and observer, it is more than mere autobiography. This
is because his poems resonate further (by means of vividly detailed descriptions,
powerful metaphoric images and a mix of varied perspectives) to encompass not only his
own life but also the lives and experience of many ordinary South Africans. In particular,
his political poetry humanizes the abstractions of political discourse to show the impact
that the greater political situation has had on the lives of ordinary South Africans.
I conclude by arguing that although Tatarnkulu Afrika's insights are filtered through a
moral perspective based on his religious views and his belief in a basic humanity shared
by all people, his work cannot be described as "traditionalist" as he constantly unsettles
and recasts settled beliefs in an imaginary way. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie thesis bestudeer drie van Tatamkhulu Afrika se digbundels (Nine Lives, Dark
Rider en Maqabane) en vind dat sy werk 'n diep insig toon in die verskillende kragte en
konflike inherent in die Suid-Afrikaanse samelewing. Ek voer aan dat, alhoewel Afrika se
gedigte spreek van 'n herlewing van persoonlike ervaring deur 'n eerstepersoonsverteller,
dit meer is as blote outobiografie. Dit is omdat die impak van sy gedigte verder uitkring
(by wyse van helder gedetaileerde beskrywings, sterk metaforiese uitbeeldings en 'n
mengsel van verskillende perspektiewe) om nie net sy eie lewe nie, maar ook die lewens
en ervaringe van ander Suid-Afrikaners uit te beeld. Dit is in besonder waar van sy
politiese gedigte, waar hy die abstraksies van politieke diskoers humaniseer om te wys
hoe die groter politieke situasie 'n impak gehad het op die lewens van gewone Suid-
Afrikaners.
Ek sluit af deur voor te stel dat alhoewel Tatamkhulu Afrika se insigte gefilter is deur 'n
morele perspektief gebasseer op sy godsdienstige oortuigings en sy geloof in 'n basiese
menslikheid wat deur almal gedeel word, sy werk nie as "tradisionalisties" beskryf kan
word nie, aangesien hy voortdurend geikte tradisionele beskouings bevraagteken en op 'n
verbeeldingryke wyse herskep.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/52688 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Radloff, Adeline |
| Contributors | Gagiano, A. H., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences. Dept. of English. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 109 p. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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