Gender and Cultural Representations in the Sesotho Novel

Abstract

This article examines gender representations in older Sesotho novels - the first one, Moeti wa Botjhabela, having been published in 1907. The objective is to observe whether or not there have been gains in the narrative of gender equality. Rereading the older Sesotho novels makes one understand them from a different perspective, and they give one a glimpse, albeit broken and fragmented, of the gender relations of the community that they narrate. A novel is a powerful social instrument of representation because it uses literary devices such as characterisation, plot and setting to construct shared meanings within a cultural space. In this regard, the ideas, con-cepts, feelings and actions of the characters that such a novel constructs stand for real issues in the culture that the writer knows well, and in this regard a novel (re)-produces certain cultural notions. The Sesotho novel, like other Sesotho art forms, is thus seen as a creation that serves Sesotho cultural representation.

Opsomming

Hierdie artikel ondersoek gendervoorstellings in die ouer Sesotho-romans, waarvan Moeti wa Botjhabela die eerste een was om gepubliseer te word (in 1907). Die doel is om vas te stel of daar vordering gemaak is in die narratief van gendergelykheid of nie. Om die ouer Sesotho-romans te herlees, stel 'n mens in staat om hulle beter te verstaan; hulle gee 'n vlugtige blik, hoewel gebroke en gefragmenteerd, op die genderverhoudings van die gemeenskap waarvan hulle vertel. 'n Roman is 'n krag­tige sosiale uitbeeldingsinstrument omdat dit, onder andere, letterkundige tegnieke soos karakterisering, intrige en ruimte gebruik om gedeelde betekenisse binne die kulturele ruimte te skep. In hierdie opsig verteenwoordig die idees, konsepte, ge­voelens en dade van die karakters, wat sodanige roman skep, werklike kwessies in die kultuur wat die skrywer goed ken. Sodoende is 'n roman verantwoordelik vir die onstaan van sekere kulturele idees. Die Sesotho-roman, soos ander Sesotho­kunsvorme, word dus gesien as 'n skepping in diens van die Sesotho kulturele uitbeelding.