Die verhaalkuns van Sibusiso Nyembezi

Abstract

Sibusiso Nyembezi is a well-known writer in Zulu, who has, among other things, written three novels, Ubudoda abukhulelwa, Mntanami ~ Mntanami ~ and Inkinsela yaseMgungundlovu. The present study is an attempt to evaluate his narrative art. Chapter One discusses the narrative art as such and a lso reflects briefly on the early history of written literature in the Zulu language. The life history of the writer and his work is also given. Chapter Two discusses the structure of a narrative, t he elements which constitute a novel. The theme, the chronology of events the plot and the tension as they are reflected in Nyernbezi's writings are fully discussed. Chapter Three handles in detail the characters in Nyembezi's three novels. He develops some characters in the usu al way but others are projected on .to the reader's mind. Chapter Four deals with the milieu. Nyembezi uses both rural and urban surroundings. Most Blacks still occupy rural areas. His depiction of rural life is particularly well done, especially in his last novel. I Chapter Five deals with language, style and narrative technique. The writer's language is examined and also his general style. (vii) Particular items of style are isolated: the dialogu~, the sentence, the idiom, the proverb, some figures of sp~ech and the use of the ideophone. The so-called "point a.f view" in narrative art is also discussed, and it is discovered that ~yembezi uses the traditional technique of the o mniscient author. Chapter Six is a general conclusion where the main o~serva= tions are summarised.