Worker Izibongo and Ethnic Identities in Durban

Abstract

Durban worker poetry is analysed and situated in contemporary debates around eth­nicity and violence in Natal. It is argued that worker poetry can be seen as one example of the ANC and Cosatu's mobilisation of "traditional" cultural forms, commonly as­sociated with Zulu-ness and ethnic identities. The common association of Inkatha with Zulu nationalism and the ANC with non-racialism is, therefore, challenged as misleading, being as it is primarily based on official discourse.
An analysis of events where the poetry was performed is used to suggest that "Zulu" cultural forms (and implicitly ethnic identities) have often been demanded and mobilised "from below" by organisational membership. The apparent contradictions between this and the ANC's professed non-racialism can only be explained by acknowledging the power and persistence of various forms of "ethnic consciousness".
The paper goes on to explore another widely held notion, that of the "militarism of Zulu culture". Focusing again on worker poetry, it explores the role of popular culture in legitimising and/or authorising violence as a means of political contestation.
In conclusion, the implications of the view of ethnicity that underpins the paper for the "architects" of a post-apartheid order are tentatively discussed.

Opsomming
Durban se werkerspoesie word geanaliseer en gesitueer in komtemporere debatte oor etnisiteit en geweld in Natal. Daar word geredeneer dat werkerspoësie gesien kan word as n voorbeeld van die ANC en Cosatu se mobilisasie van "tradisionele" kulturele vorme, wat gewoonlik met Zulu-heid en etniese identiteite geassosieer word. Die gewone assosiasie van lnkatha met Zulu nasionalisme, en die ANC met nie-rassisme word dus bevraagteken as misleidend, aangesien so 'n opvatting hoofsaaklik op amptelike diskoers gebaseer is.
Op grond van 'n ontleding van geleenthede waar die poesie uitgevoer is, word gestel dat "Zulu" kulturele vorme (en implisiete etniese identiteite) dikwels vereis en gemobi­liseer is deur organisatoriese lidmaatskap op grondvlak. Die oënskynlike teenstrydigheid hiervan met die ANC se beweerde nie-rassisme kan net verduidelik word deur die erken­ning van die mag en volharding van verskeie vorme van "etniese bewustheid".
Die algemene opvatting van die sogenaamde "militarisme van die Zulukultuur" word voorts ondersoek. Met die fokus weer eens op werkerspoesie, word die rol van populere kultuur onder die loep geneem as 'n wettiging en/of 'n magtiging van geweld as 'n wyse van politieke verset.