Poetry and Patronage: The Sociocultural and Historical Vision of Raditladi's S efalane sa Menate

Abstract

This article illustrates different dimensions of social change regarding the Batswana and Western cultural norms. L.D. Raditladi was chosen, his poetry blending indige­nous African- and Western-influenced themes and forms, and portraying common and shared ethos, beliefs and practices of the Batswana. His poetry also addresses social issues that are of particular significance to Africans who for so long have negotiated and navigated a world of contrasting social norms and values. Many modern Batswana continue attempting to harmonise their cultural values and norms with what they perceive as useful and relevant from so-called modern norms and values. It is a journey beset by fearful odds. Two poems, "Tshwano-logo" and "Fatshe la Batswana", were chosen for this study. They exhibit the gist of the topic under discussion, and together with references to other poems by Raditladi, are employed to vividly display elements of societal transformation. Global changes - brought by new religion and education, artistic as well as edifying rudiments which exposed people to Western and other cultures - caused many nations to challenge their traditional practices. This article investigates the creative aptitude of the poet and his portrayal by means of poetry of the sociocultural setting of his time and the Batswana's journey from past to present.

Opsomming
Hierdie artikel illustreer die verskillende dimensies van sosiale verandering met betrekking tot die Batswana en Westerse kulturele norme. L.D. Raditladi se digkuns wat inheemse Afrika- en Westerse temas en vorme meng en terselfdertyd die alge­mene en gemeenskaplike etos, oortuigings en gewoontes van die Batswana uit­beeld, word bespreek. Raditladi se gedigte spreek ook sosiale kwessies aan wat veral vir Afrikane - wat oor 'n lang tydperk hul pad moes vind in 'n wereld van uit­eenlopende sosiale norme en waardes - van belang is. Vele moderne Batswana sukkel steeds om die kulturele waardes en norme wat hulle as nuttig en relevant be­skou, met sogenaamde moderne norme en waardes te versoen. Vir hierdie studie is twee gedigte, naamlik "Tshwanologo" en "Fatshe la Batswana", uitgesoek. Die ge­digte illustreer die kern van die onderwerp onder bespreking en word tesame met verwysings na ander gedigte van Raditladi gebruik om elemente van sosiale transformasie bloot te le. Hierdie artikel ondersoek die kreatiewe talent van die digter en sy uitbeelding van die sosiokulturele konteks van sy tyd en toon aan hoe die geskiedenis van die Batswana vanaf die verlede na die hede deur middel van die digkuns weerspieel word.