The dialectic between the West and Africa: a deconstructive approach to Ntšeliseng 'Masechele Khaketla's works

Abstract

This study seeks to show that the writers of Sesotho literature works would like to promote either Western or African views at a time. However the underlying reading of the works of Sesotho literature demonstrates the unintended interpretation of the Western or African views. The Mosotho author might intend to explore the Western views in a Sesotho literary work. However the readers could possibly find Western and African views that are opposed to each other existing in the Sesotho work of literature. The missionaries printed and sold Mosali eo u ’neileng eena Khaketla (1954) because it promoted the Western beliefs in the form of Christianity. The practice of praying is an example of Christian ways in Mosali eo u ’neileng eena. Nevertheless, the underlying reading about praying in this work of literature reminds Basotho readers of their original Sesotho ways of praying. Secondly, when the Oxford University Press published ’Mantsopa Khaketla (1963) in the apartheid era, the intention was to print the language which had simple interpretations like jokes for the Basotho school children. These would help them learn simple reading and writing because they are part of their language. The underlying reading in poems like “Sekotompana” is that the character ‘Sekotompana’ depicts the practice of discrimination between the poor and the rich in a society. This idea reflects a political Western ideology. Sedibelo sa nkgono Khaketla (1996) in the post-colonial era attempts to reassert the qualities that make up Africans and their culture. But the Western culture resurfaces in Sedibelo sa nkgono.