Maskandi: A critical discourse analysis of indigenous isiZulu songs

Abstract

Although different researchers have written various papers about metaphors, very little is known about ways in which a maskandi group called Shwi noMtekhala uses metaphor to convey very sensitive messages and culturally appropriate rhetorical expressions. This study reports on Shwi noMtekhala?s conveyance of a sensitive message, in a song entitled ?Ubuhle Bakhe?, from a critical discourse analysis perspective and then draws inferences on how this indigenous musical genre can be a tool for reading literacy instruction among early readers. I chose to analyse this particular song as a representative of maskandi groups which use imagery, as well as other musical expressions, to convey very sensitive messages. The main finding of the analysis is that the reported song reveals a number of sociocultural themes relating to ways of knowing in indigenous literacy systems. These include use of metaphoric expressions, call-and-response patterns, repetition, indirection, interactive and group...