The role of the Xhosa oral poet in contemporary South African society

Abstract

This article deals with the role of the Xhosa imbongi in contemporary South African society. Interviews with chiefs and iimbongi have been conducted in the Transkei, Ciskei, Eastern Cape and Natal in order to substantiate the claim put forward in this article: that the role of the imbongi is adapting in order to accommodate new pressures due to the changing socio-economic and political scenario in Southern Africa. The imbongi is being forced to adapt to a new and contemporary environment where poetry is being produced not only in praise of chiefs, but also trade unions and other political organisations. Interviews have, therefore, also been conducted with iimbongi operating within Cosatu and the ANC. Besides interviews, poetry has also been collected and analysed.