Xhosa izibongo: Improvised line

Abstract

The tradition of Xhosa izibongo is similar to the tradition of Zulu izibongo, except in the poetry of the imbongi: The Xhosa imbongi displays a greater tendency to improvisation than his Zulu counterpart. The structure of such improvised poetry may be viewed as an extension of other forms of izibongo, which are constructed from a core of nominéis expanded into verses, in turn occasionally expanded into stanzas. The analytical techniques of Dell Hymes promote an appreciation not only of this structure but also of the aesthetic implications of the poem as a whole.

Tradisionele Xhosa en Zulu izibongo is baie dieselfde, ofskoon die poësie waarvan die imbongi hom in dié twee tale bedien, verskil. Die Xhosa imbongi is meer geneig tot improvisasie as sy Zulu eweknie. Sodanige geïmproviseerde poësie kan as 'n verlengstuk van ander vorme van izibongo beskou word, en is gewoonlik random 'n kern gestruktureer wat hoofsaaklik uit nominale elemente bestaan. Hiervandaan word die prysgedig uitgebou in versreëls, en dikwels ook in verse. Dell Hymes se analitiese tegnieke bring nie alleen sodanige strukture tot huile reg nie, maar hou ook belangrike implikasies in vir die estetiese karakter van die prys-gedig as 'n geheel.