Songs and Folktales as conduits for social change in Zulu culture: A perspective on Umkhwekazi Namasi

Abstract

Songs and folktales have various functions in the Zulu culture, among which are to teach, rebuke and to entertain. They are also used to express the Zulu's people's philosophy of life. This article will use the songs and folktale Umkhwekazi namasi (the mother-in-law and the curdled milk) as an example of an old woman who disregarded the norms and values of her society. This paper will illustrate the fact that, in these songs and folktales, the old woman voiced her dissatisfaction at some of the social practices that she considered to be outdated and asked that these practices be reassessed. This discussion, which will be informed by feminist critique, will revolve around the “inappropriate behaviour” of the old lady. Her actions of defying a custom which had been in existence long before she was born suggest that the old lady knows change is needed; her actions indicate that one has to take chances in life and travel uncharted land in order to bring about change. Songs comment on the thematic concerns of a folktale and they are in themselves a vehicle to narrate the story in a folktale. They also entertain as well as teach a moral just as folktales do.