THE INFLUENCE OF FREEDOM SONGS ON ESCALATIONS OF WITCH-HUNTING AND BURNING IN THE VENDA HOMELAND, 1989–1995
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25159/2309-5792/1593Abstract
The study looks at the influence of freedom songs on the role played by women during witchhunting activities in the village of Fefe of Venda between 1989 and 1995. The article focuses on witchcraft-related events that took place at Fefe, in the Mutale municipality, north of Thohoyandou, in the Vhembe district during the said period. It shows that the women of Fefe were conscientised about the events taking place in their village, by the youth, through freedom songs. The result was that the women of Fefe did away with their traditional way of thinking of being condemned to domestic affairs and decided to join the protests against witchcraft-related problems. The women at Fefe, therefore, overcame significant obstacles and prejudices and assumed leadership roles within their community.
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