Dynamic shifts and cultural hybridity in Xhosa women's songs

Abstract

ABSTRACT The aim of this article is to explore the possibilities in Xhosa women's songs to blend with other languages in creating cultural hybridity. The contention is that the intercultural approach encouraged by Xhosa women's songs has the capacity to unite races in South Africa that experienced unbridled racial tension promoted by the philosophy of apartheid. The article will also show that it is possible to reinvigorate traditional forms of performance such as song by inserting borrowed words, thereby enriching the performative-ness and meaning potential of those songs. Apart from adding to the cultural value of the songs, cultural hybridity adds to their market value if they are put on stage or brought to the studio to be recorded so that the songs can reach a wider audience. This writer strongly agrees with view that ‘cultural contamination’ is a positive move towards challenging the stasis characteristic of songs that are self-contained – without the flare of borrowing creative elements from other languages.