African Traditional Culture and modernity in Zakes Mda's The heart of redness.

• Main Author: Birama, Prosper Ndayi.
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: 2008
• Subjects: Zakes Mda; Modernity; Traditional values; South African Literature; The Heart of Redness; Xhosa culture; Cattle-killing.
• Online Access: http://etd.uwc.ac.za/index.php?module=etd&action=viewtitle&id=gen8Srv25Nme4_1209_1260524619

<p>&nbsp === </p> <p>&nbsp === </p> <p align="left">In my thesis entitled &lsquo === African Tradition and Modernity in Zakes Mda&rsquo === s <i><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">The Heart of Redness&rsquo === </font></font><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">, I analyze the way Western modernity and African traditions interact in Mda&rsquo === s novel. I suggest that both modernity and tradition interact to produce a hybrid culture. This will become apparent in my analysis of the way Mda depicts the cattlekilling episode and the effects of Nongqawuse&rsquo === s prophecy, and also in the novel&rsquo === s contemporary characters. Mda shows the development of an African modernity through the semi-autobiographical figure of Camagu who is not slavishly indebted to Western ideas of progress, but is a hybrid of African values and a modern identity.</font></font></i></p> <p align="left">&nbsp === </p>