LANGUAGE FOR DEVELOPMENT THROUGH DRAMA AND THEATRE IN ZIMBABWE: AN ...

274 Pages·2015·1.02 MB·English

LANGUAGE FOR DEVELOPMENT THROUGH DRAMA AND THEATRE IN
ZIMBABWE: AN AFRICAN PERSPECTIVE

by

VIMBAI MOREBLESSING MATIZA

Submitted in accordance with the requirements
for the degree of

DOCTOR OF LITERATURE AND PHILOSOPHY

in the subject of

AFRICAN LANGUAGES

at the

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA

PROMOTER: PROF D.E. MUTASA
JOINT PROMOTER: PROF S. MATJILA

AUGUST 2014
i
DECLARATION

Student No. 5084-0-185

I, Vimbai Moreblessing Matiza, declare that Language for Development through drama
and theatre in Zimbabwe: An African Perspective is my work and that the sources I have
used or quoted have been indicated and acknowledged by means of complete references.

November 2014
.................................................. ..................................................
Signature Date

ii
ABSTRACT
This study discusses the African perspective of the role of language in explaining
development issues through the medium of drama and theatre in Zimbabwe. The problem of
the study is centred on the idea that development was hardly measured through art. The
researcher argues that language used in drama and theatre as a form of art can also contribute
to development in Zimbabwe. This development can be witnessed through people’s changing
lifestyles, acknowledging the importance of their mother tongue in communication and
restoring hope in situations characterised by hopelessness and despair. Descriptive research
design was used in the study because it allowed the researcher to dig much deeper into the
subject. Data from respondents was gathered through the use of questionnaires, interviews
and content/textual analysis of some scripts. In interrogating the issues of development
through language in drama and theatre, the research was guided by the African Renaissance
theory, Theatre for development and Hymes’ SPEAKING model. As a result, the study
observes that language, a people’s indigenous language should be placed at the centre of a
performance if that message being conveyed is to change or develop them. The key
respondents to the study bring out the idea that there is no language which is superior to the
other and the choice of language to be used in a work of art should be determined by the
circumstances that prevail. Even the language which is used by the smallest population of
people should be given space to flourish and be used by its people. Another major finding of
the research is that language itself cannot change people but people change themselves
through the use of a language that they understand. This calls for the initiative by the
indigenous people and the powers that be to make sure that they use their language at
different levels so that all facets of development can be witnessed within their lives. In the
final analysis, the researcher recommends that policies that allow the total usage of all
declared official languages in Zimbabwe.

iii
KEY WORDS
Drama, theatre, language, development, indigenous languages, official languages, African
renaissance, theatre for development, African perspective

iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This study was made possible through the financial support generously extended to me by the
UNISA Financial Aid Bureau. I am greatly indebted to them for the assistance. I am also
very grateful to my supervisor, Prof D.E. Mutasa and the joint promoter Prof S. Matjila for
their inspiration and intellectual mentorship. . Many thanks go to my family members for the
support they gave me during the course of this study. I wish to express my thanks to my
parents Baba waGiri and Mai waGiri, my brother SekaNdo, thank you for the constant
reminder. I would also like to thank Taku for taking care of the boys whilst I was away. To
my three sons Anotidaishe, Isheanopa and Kuzivakwashe your love and sweet remembrance
kept me going. You braved my period of absence from home when I was carrying out
research and working on my research findings to come up with this thesis.
I wish to express my deepest appreciation to the Research and Postgraduate Studies
Department of Midlands State University for affording me the needed financial resources to
carry out research in the country. I also wish to express my deep and humble appreciation to
colleagues from other institutions who helped in the distribution of my questionnaires. I also
wish to thank Mrs Kandawasvika (University of Zimbabwe), Prof J. Mapara (Chinhoyi
University of Technology), Ms B. Lantern (Great Zimbabwe University) and Mrs T.F.
Muringaniza (Midlands State University). The support and cooperation of colleagues in the
Department of African Languages and Culture at Midlands State University, Zimbabwe
namely Dr C. Tembo, Prof W.L. Chigidi, Dr P. Mpofu and Mr R. Nhongo is greatly
appreciated. To Takudzwa Matiza who typed some chapters of the thesis and Mrs Mugomba
who proofread some of my chapters, I sincerely appreciate the sacrifice, accuracy and
commitment you exerted to give my thesis the technical quality it carries. To my brother Mr
Wellington Nyamatendedza and Lucy you made my regular visits and stay in Pretoria
enjoyable. Finally, I would like to thank all those who provided views through interviews and
questionnaires. God bless you all. Above all, I thank the Lord Almighty for without you, it
would not be possible to complete this programme.
.

v
DEDICATION
To my loving husband Rtd Lt Col Niya Mtombeni, for without an accommodative,
supportive and understanding spouse my success would have never been.

vi
LIST OF ACRONYMS
ACALAN African Academy of Languages
ALC African Languages and Culture
ALL African Languages and Literature
EC English and Communication
FTA Film and Theatre Arts
GDP Gross Domestic Product
GNP Gross National Product
GZU Great Zimbabwe University
HIV/AIDS Human Immune Virus / Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
MSU Midlands State University
MPs Members of Parliament
NGOs Non - Governmental Organisations
NTO National Theatre Organisation
TfD Theatre for Development
TIE Theatre in Education
ZACT Zimbabwe Association of Community Theatre
ZANU PF Zimbabwe National African Union Patriotic Front
ZBC Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corperation
ZTV Zimbabwean Television

vii
LIST OF TABLES
Table 5.1.1: Distribution of the student questionnaires by gender........................ .... 96
Table 5.1.2: Distribution of the student questionnaires by institution...................... 96
Table 5.1.3: Distribution of the student questionnaire by department .................. ... 97
Table 5.1.6: Shows the student responses on whether they agree or disagree
on the relationship between language and development......................... 101
Table 5.1.6.1 Broad views and actual views of the student responses on the kind
of relationship that exist between language and development.......... ...... 102
Table 5.1.7 Shows student responses on whether they agree or disagree if language
is an important factor for development................................................... 105
Table 5.1.7.1 Broad views and actual views of the student responses on how language
is an important factor for development................................................... 105
Table 5.1.8 Shows student responses on language used in performances in Zimbabwe. 107
Table 5.1.9 Shows student responses on whether artists in general communicate any
form of development with the language they use in their performances..... 109
Table 5.1.9.1 Student responses on the facets of development which are brought out by
artists in their performances.......................................................................... 109
Table 5.1.10.1 Student responses on whether music played by urban grooves
communicates development or not.............................................................. 112
Table 5.2.1 Distribution of the lecturers’ questionnaire by gender.................................. 115
Table 5.2.2 Distribution of the lecturers’ questionnaire by areas of research and
modules taught............................................................................................. 116
Table 5.2.4 Broad views and actual views of the lecturers’ responses on the language
for development through drama and theatre of the pre-colonial period........ 119
Table 5.2.5 Shows lecturers’ responses on the relationship that exists between language
and development.................................................................. 121

viii
Table 5.2.6 Lecturers’ responses on whether they agree or disagree that language is an
important factor for development.................................................................. 124
Table 5.2.7 Lecturers’ responses on the language which is supposed to be used in
drama and theatre in Zimbabwe. ................................................................ 127
Table 5.2.8 Shows lecturers’ responses on the possibility of the integration of language,
drama theatre in development................................................................... 129
Table 5.2.9 Views by academics/ lecturers on the language used by urban grooves in their
performances.................................................................................................. 132

ix
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Declaration.................................................................................................................. i
Abstract....................................................................................................................... ii
Key Terms................................................................................................................... iii
Acknowledgements.................................................................................................... iv
Dedication.................................................................................................................. v
List of Acronyms... ..................................................................................................... vi
List of Tables............................................................................................................... vii

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION............................................................................ 1
1.1 Area of Investigation........................................................................................ 1
1.2 Statement of the Problem.................................................................................. 6
1.3 Aim of the Study.............................................................................................. 6
1.3.1 Research Objectives.......................................................................................... 6
1.3.2 Research Questions........................................................................................... 6
1.4 Justification of the Study................................................................................... 7
1.5 Literature Review............................................................................................... 10
1.6 Research Methodology...................................................................................... 12
1.6.1 Research Design................................................................................................. 12
1.6.2 Research Participants.......................................................................................... 13
1.6.3 Research Tools.................................................................................................... 14
1.6.3.1 Questionnaires..................................................................................................... 14
1.6.3.2 Interviews............................................................................................................ 14
1.6.4 Content Analysis.................................................................................................. 15
1.7 Theoretical Framework........................................................................................ 17
1.7.1 Hymes’ SPEAKING Model................................................................................ 17
x