Ethnic Separatism or Cultural Preservation? Ndebele Radio under Apartheid, 1983–1994

Lekgoathi, Sekibakiba Peter

doi:10.1080/02582473.2012.655942

Cited by 6 publications

(4 citation statements)

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“…Vernacular radio stations often broadcast in non-official languages, although some societies are gradually recognising local dialects as official languages. This is the case in South Africa, where there have been eleven official spoken languages since 1994 (Lekgoathi 2012). The main particularity of vernacular radios is that they are likely to appropriate, customise and slant news for the specific groups they serve (Neyazi 2010).…”

Section: Conceptual Clarifications and Theoretical Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

Electoral Violence in Kenya 2007-2008: The Role of Vernacular Radio

Onguny¹

2019

JAE

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This article examines how the shifts in vernacular radio narratives influenced intergroup relations during the 2007-08 electoral violence in Kenya. Using media as an analytical framework, together with original in-depth interview data collected over four months of fieldwork in 2010, the article explores how vernacular radio listeners in Kisumu, Eldoret, and Nyeri interpreted the 2007-08 electoral violence prior to, during, and after the event. It argues that the framing of electoral stakes and subsequent violence by vernacular radio stations is mainly between differentiated and concerted frames, depending on the stage at which the violence manifests itself. Differentiated frames reinforce divisive and/or rebellious attitudes, and are likely to increase intergroup competition and further violence along ethnic lines. Concerted framing underpins the perceived areas of common interest believed to transcend disparate group allegiances, and this establishes the possibility of intergroup dialogue and collaborative attitudes. These findings also highlight the central role of ethno-linguistic proximity and ethno-regional polity as potential drivers of vernacular radio frames, particularly in situations of electoral violence.

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Section: Conceptual Clarifications and Theoretical Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

Electoral Violence in Kenya 2007-2008: The Role of Vernacular Radio

Onguny¹

2019

JAE

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“…While the African nationalist ethos remained defiant in writing, particularly poetry, African language writing would in some way, be subtly usurped by the Verwoedian project which very explicitly channelled African language books into an ethnically segmented Bantustan schooling system (Maake, 1992). Separate development ideology in broadcast further entrenched the association of language with ethnicity (Lekgoathi, 2012). In reality of course, Black South Africans, hardly maintained the linguistic or ethnic divisions as prescribed by the state; most especially where radio was concerned.…”

Section: A History Of Censorshipmentioning

confidence: 99%

Away with Good Bantus: De-linking African language literature from culture, ‘tribe’ and propriety

Mkhize

2016

Arts and Humanities in Higher Education

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This paper argues that the ‘institutionalisation' model used by universities to spearhead the intellectualisation of African languages is a non-starter for taking African languages in new creative directions. The major constraint for African language literary culture is that written output has historically been heavily bent towards conservative themes, in which cultural pride and propriety take centre stage: that is, a literature that speaks to ‘Good Bantus’. I argue that the literary tradition, particularly in schools and universities, has been marked largely by three characteristics: (i) the close linkage between ethnic identity and language; (ii) use of African language as cultural reclamation and pride; and (iii) narratological stagnation and lack of inventiveness in literary production. To bring life into African languages in the academy requires aesthetic inventiveness and transgression. For this to happen, literary regeneration ought to be at the heart of the African language intellectualisation project promoted by the academy.

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“…In recent years this medium has begun to receive some serious scholarly analysis from media studies scholars, anthropologists as well as from historians (Gunner, Ligaga & Moyo 2011;Fardon & Furniss 2000). A number of studies in South Africa have explored public radio and African language radio in particular (Gunner 2000(Gunner , 2002(Gunner , 2004(Gunner , 2005(Gunner , 2006Lekgoathi 2009Lekgoathi , 2011Lekgoathi , 2012Gqibitole 2002;Mhlambi 2009;Theunissen, Nikitin & Pillay 1996) and even fewer have focused on the use of radio by the liberation movements in Africa (Lekgoathi 2010(Lekgoathi , 2013Davis 2009;Mosia, Riddle & Zaffiro 1994). Except for Lekgoathi's (2012) article, no scholarly work has been produced on Ndebele radio.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A number of studies in South Africa have explored public radio and African language radio in particular (Gunner 2000(Gunner , 2002(Gunner , 2004(Gunner , 2005(Gunner , 2006Lekgoathi 2009Lekgoathi , 2011Lekgoathi , 2012Gqibitole 2002;Mhlambi 2009;Theunissen, Nikitin & Pillay 1996) and even fewer have focused on the use of radio by the liberation movements in Africa (Lekgoathi 2010(Lekgoathi , 2013Davis 2009;Mosia, Riddle & Zaffiro 1994). Except for Lekgoathi's (2012) article, no scholarly work has been produced on Ndebele radio. This article focuses on the history of Radio Ndebele, a station that was established as part of the ethnic radio stations of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) by the National Party government just a few years before the crumbling of the apartheid system.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘Sikhuluma Isikhethu’ : Ndebele Radio, Ethnicity and Cultural Identity in South Africa, 1983-1994

Lekgoathi¹

2015

OHJSA

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The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) established nine African language radio stations ostensibly to cater for the diverse linguistic and cultural needs of the African communities in the country. In reality, however, these stations acted as a government mouthpiece and means through which a monopoly over the airwaves was asserted. Through these stations the government promoted ethnic compartmentalisation and popularised the ethnic ‘homelands’ created from the early 1960s to the early 1980s. One of these stations was Radio Ndebele, established in 1983, with a clear mandate to reinforce Ndebele ethnic nationalism. This article seeks to explore the history of this radio station, using both oral sources and documentary material, though privileging the former. The article makes a two-pronged argument: Firstly, Radio Ndebele came into existence not only because of the government’s mission but because of pressure from Ndebele-speaking people who needed radio programming in their own language. Secondly, this radio station helped turn a spoken language that was on the throes of extinction into a vibrant written language that found its way into the schooling system, particularly in areas with a large concentration of Ndebele-speaking people.

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Ethnic Separatism or Cultural Preservation? Ndebele Radio under Apartheid, 1983–1994

Cited by 6 publications

References 0 publications

Electoral Violence in Kenya 2007-2008: The Role of Vernacular Radio

Electoral Violence in Kenya 2007-2008: The Role of Vernacular Radio

Away with Good Bantus: De-linking African language literature from culture, ‘tribe’ and propriety

‘Sikhuluma Isikhethu’ : Ndebele Radio, Ethnicity and Cultural Identity in South Africa, 1983-1994

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