| dc.description.abstract | The title of this thesis is A Literary
Analysis of Lifela tsa Litsarnaea-naha poetry.
This poetry is an oral literary genre composed
by the Basotho migrant, mine workers. The
analysis given is on the collected and documented
poems taped from the migrant, mine artists
themselves at home and the mine recruiting offices
in Lesotho.
The thesis is divided into two parts. The
first part is the literary analysis of the poems.
The second part is the appendices of these poems
in the Sesotho language, the original language
used by the artists. The English translation
of these poems is included in this part. This
part also includes some appendices of tapes provided
for anyone interested to listen to the performance
of this poetry.
The first part consists of five chapters
with the first chapter as the "Introduction" in
which we have dealt with the economic, social,
political and cultural background to the
tsa Litsamaea-naha poetry. These conditions have
led to the emergence and perpetuation of this poetry.
The second chapter is on "The Artist, Audience
and Performance in Iifelatsa Litsamaea-naha Poetry".
These aspects play an important role in the composition
and performance of this kind of poetry.
fie have demonstrated that, since this poetry is
an oral performance, the aspects mentioned above
must be fully discussed in its analysis.
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In the third chapter, "Analysis of the major
themes of the artists of Lifela tsa Litsamaea-naha
Poetry",we have explored the major concerns of the
various artists. These concerns are the themes of
the struggle of poverty and want of basic human
necessities. The artists have also expressed their
experiences and hardships common to African migrant
mine workers in South Africa. The artists have
exposed the economlc and social consequences of
migrant labour system. They have revealed that this
system exploits and dehumanizes migrant miners.
The system has brought about desertion of families
and family break up of m igrant miners.The artist
have also depicted some of the customs and values
of the Basotho during the colonial and neo-colonial
periods. Some of the custorus depicted are bohali
(wedding ceremonies and dowry ) and lebollo (initiation
rites). Some of the values are the concerns
of parents towards their children.
The fourth chapter is the PAnalysis of the
literary style in Lifela tsa Litsamaea-naha poetry."
In this chapter we have discussed the style and
language used by various artists. Since this is
an oral, poetic genre, many poetic devices have
been discussed and examplified. Our major concern
has been to delve into the artistic qualities of this poetry which are best appreciated upon live
performance.
In the last chapter, the "Conclusion", we
have demonstratec that the artists are aware that
the migrant, mine labour system is exploitative,
inhuman and oppressive. They are, therefore, condernning
it and protesting against it in subtle
artistic terms.We have further shown that, though
the artists are condemning this system and
protesting against it, they do not show clearly
who bears the responsibility for their miserable
life. We have further demonstrated that this
poetry is an art form with its own artistic values
which are best grasped within the economic, social,
historical and cultural context of Lesotho.
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