Reflections of Ubuntu principles in selected Setswana drama texts
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Date
2019-11
Authors
Mangwegape, Bridget Kesaobaka
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of the Free State
Abstract
The aim of this study is to investigate the basic principles of Ubuntu in selected Setswana drama texts, and the extent to which the characters maintain or contravene the core values and principles of Ubuntu. Setswana has quite a number of drama texts published by various publishers to ensure that the Setswana speaking learners are also taught with a view to achieve skills in specific literature without any form of exclusion. In these drama texts the philosophy of Ubuntu has been passed on through proverbs, sayings, behaviours and cultural artefacts and cultural practices. In ensuring an understanding of the responsibilities that come up with characters’ interconnectedness, the author ensures that characters interact with one another in order to develop his or her theme and conflict, while casting aside worn out perceptions and outdated thoughts. It has been observed that most of the Setswana drama texts demonstrate principles and values of Ubuntu. As a result, it becomes pertinent to investigate the effects of the principles of Ubuntu in the written Setswana drama texts. Therefore, it is imperative that all the facts that are vital to the interconnectedness of characters in the maintenance or contravention of the principles of Ubuntu be investigated. The characters as actors in the development of theme and conflict in drama texts are, therefore, seen as the key figures for the success of failure of the philosophy of Ubuntu in the drama texts. If characters, however, do not clearly maintain the principles of Ubuntu but contravene these fundamental principles tragedies and disasters can take place. The researcher looks into the real world of characters-in-action and research-on-action in the selected drama texts. The method that is adopted is one of investigating in depth small and distinct groups of characters that would help understand the social behaviour of the characters. In this inquiry, studying the characters in action allows the researcher to determine the general behaviour of the main characters and to what extent the characters maintain or contravene the core values and principles of Ubuntu.
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Keywords
Setswana drama texts, Ubuntu, Literary characters, Thesis (Ph.D. (African Languages))--University of the Free State, 2019, Tswana drama, Tswana (African people)--Ubuntu