RE-ALIGNING THE SELF: THE NDEBELE WOMAN AND THE INSTITUTION OF MARRIAGE AND FAMILY AS PRESENTED IN NDEBELE MYTHOLOGY

Abstract

 This article sets out to discuss the role of the Ndebele woman within the various institutions of Ndebele culture. It analyses the woman within the context of marriage, family and society as a whole. The researchers trace the development of the woman from a pre-colonial context as reflected in the Ndebele myth of creation, through a colonial context as reflected by contemporary mythology as well as by the contemporary roles of women in most societies. It is through mythology, folklore and proverbs in Ndebele traditional and contemporary society that gender roles are prescribed. This is because orature is the bank that houses society’s history, norms, values and customs. This research therefore investigates the role of the Ndebele woman within the institution of marriage, and within the family structure. It also analyses the presentation of the roles of Ndebele women and men in society, with particular emphasis on domestic and gender roles. In doing so, the article addresses the notion that gender roles did not begin to change during the post-colonial era since that change began in the colonial context and then developed and affected women right through the post-colonial phase. This article reveals this crisis through the juxtaposition of the colonial ‘Christian’ myth of creation and the Ndebele myth of creation.