Deconstructing L.B.Z. Buthelezi’s Poetry: Analysing Cultural Authenticity and Western Influences in IsiZulu Literary Expression

Abstract

This study employed a qualitative systematic descriptive literature review, guided by deconstructive theory, to explore the interplay between cultural authenticity and Western influences in modern isiZulu poetry, with a specific focus on the work of Buthelezi. Drawing on Derrida’s concepts of différance and textual instability, the study examined how Buthelezi’s poetry both affirms and questions traditional isiZulu identity in a contemporary context. Modern isiZulu poets, such as Buthelezi, often reference canonical figures like B.W. Vilakazi, yet their intertextual engagement with these predecessors is underexplored. This article analysed thematic and stylistic connections between Buthelezi’s “Lapho Imihla Yami” and Vilakazi’s “Ma Ngificwa Ukufa,” highlighting recurring motifs of death, spirituality, and cultural heritage. While Buthelezi adopts traditional isiZulu poetic forms and diction, he also reinterprets these elements to address present-day socio-cultural issues, thus engaging in a creative dialogue rather than imitation. The review drew from scholarly sources, including peer-reviewed journal articles, dissertations, periodicals, and government reports. Inclusion criteria were poems written by Buthelezi or Vilakazi that addressed themes of cultural identity, spirituality, and Western influence, and were accessible in either isiZulu or English. Exclusion criteria included poems lacking thematic relevance, authorship verification, or academic referencing. Therefore, by applying African literary criticism and intertextual theory, this study revealed how Buthelezi’s poetic work repositions Vilakazi’s legacy within a modern framework. The findings contribute to the broader field of African literary studies by demonstrating how intertextuality fosters cultural continuity, creative innovation, and identity formation within isiZulu poetic traditions.