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The Significance of Ndebele Historical Fiction

The Significance of Ndebele Historical Fiction SAMUKELE HADEBE ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ] ABSTRACT There is a preponderance of historical themes in Ndebele literature, particularly those per- taining to the formation of the Ndebele state, the succession crisis, and the fall of the Ndebele state. The appeal of historical themes stems from a widely held belief that the formal historical accounts have largely been written by outsiders, who, particularly in the colonial era, distorted the ‘history’ in order to justify the defeat of the Ndebele in terms of liberating the “lower-caste” groups that constituted the majority. This essay attempts to show those aspects of Ndebele history that have been fictionalized and to explain why authors are drawn to specific themes. It reveals some of the reasons that make Ndebele his- torical fiction more appealing to its target audience than documented history. It concludes that Ndebele writers have tried to respond to the negative portrayal of the Ndebele past by highlighting the challenges that affect the community. In doing this, they have contributed to shaping the aspirations and ideals of the Ndebele-speaking people of Zimbabwe. Introduction HE FIRST TWO N DEBELE NOVELS , published in 1956 and 1957 respectively, are historical fiction. In the first Ndebele poetry anthol- T http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Matatu Brill

The Significance of Ndebele Historical Fiction

HADEBE, SAMUKELE
Matatu , Volume 34 (1): 13 – Jan 1, 2007
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References (6)

Publisher
Brill
Copyright
Copyright © Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands
ISSN
0932-9714
eISSN
1875-7421
DOI
10.1163/9789401205665_006
Publisher site
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Abstract

SAMUKELE HADEBE ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ] ABSTRACT There is a preponderance of historical themes in Ndebele literature, particularly those per- taining to the formation of the Ndebele state, the succession crisis, and the fall of the Ndebele state. The appeal of historical themes stems from a widely held belief that the formal historical accounts have largely been written by outsiders, who, particularly in the colonial era, distorted the ‘history’ in order to justify the defeat of the Ndebele in terms of liberating the “lower-caste” groups that constituted the majority. This essay attempts to show those aspects of Ndebele history that have been fictionalized and to explain why authors are drawn to specific themes. It reveals some of the reasons that make Ndebele his- torical fiction more appealing to its target audience than documented history. It concludes that Ndebele writers have tried to respond to the negative portrayal of the Ndebele past by highlighting the challenges that affect the community. In doing this, they have contributed to shaping the aspirations and ideals of the Ndebele-speaking people of Zimbabwe. Introduction HE FIRST TWO N DEBELE NOVELS , published in 1956 and 1957 respectively, are historical fiction. In the first Ndebele poetry anthol- T

Journal

Matatu – Brill

Published: Jan 1, 2007

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