Oral testimony into text: A critique of Belinda Bozzoli's Women of Phokeng

Summary

As an introductory reading which addresses the notion of testimonial narrative, this essay offers a critique of Bozzoli's Women of Phokeng (1991). A central issue highlighted is Bozzoli's view that the testimonial text presents hidden forms of “consciousness”. However, it will be shown that “consciousness” is not something textualized when testimony is given, but is constantly developing in terms of its articulation. Key issues related to testimony, such as “evidence”, “subjectivity” and “knowledge” will be discussed in relation to the Bozzoli text. The essay will also attempt to identify some similarities to the confessional text. The article relies theoretically on the work of Spivak, although other theorists are drawn into the argument. Finally, the article will make the claim that the testimonial text sets itself up as a construction of reality and presents itself as a special case.

Opsomming

As ‘n inleidende lesing wat die konsep van ‘n belydende narratief aanspreek, word daar in hierdie essay gekyk na Bozzoli se Women of Phokeng (1991). ‘n Sentrale gedagte wat Bozzoli uitlig is die siening dat die belydende teks verborge vorme van “bewustheid” presenteer. Daar sal egter aangetoon word dat so ‘n “bewustheid” nie iets getekstualiseerd is wanneer die getuienis afgelê word nie, maar dat dit voortdurend ontwikkel in terme van sy artikulasie. Sleutelbegrippe wat verband hou met die getuienis soos “bewys”, “subjek‐tiwiteit” en “kennis” word bespreek met betrekking tot die Bozzoli‐teks. Daar sal ook in hierdie betoog gepoog word om ooreenkomste met die konfessionele teks te identifiseer. Die artikel berus teoreties op die werk van Spivak, hoewel ander teoretici by die argumentasie betrek word. In die laaste instansie word betoog dat die belydende teks sigself voordoen as ‘n konstruksie van die realiteit en aangebied word as ‘n spesiale geval.