As indicated in chapter one, schools, colleges and universities have for many years prescribed texts involving rural bias, witchcraft, sorcery and the power of the diviner. Others such as Buzani Kubawo, UDike noCikizwa, Inene nasi isibhozo, and Imidlalwana yokulinganiswa, to mention a few, depict the tragedy of the fathers taking upon themselves the prerogative of selecting wives for theirs sons and daughters with the marriage ending in disaster. In this section, another trend by writers of the Imibono yethu will be discussed.
A drama often consists of the tale, conflict and plot, and Boulton (1990:24) states that "the study of a play should always be closely related to the possibility of staging".
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Unity of place, unity of action, and unity of time. Unity of action implies that the plot should be one solid whole. Incidents that could harm the impact of the main action should be avoided. This is a fairly logical point. It is agreed that it could cover a longer period, as long as its unity and effectiveness are not harmed (1990:12–14).
Conflict is a source of action. Conflict of ideas, views and action are created by means of a dialogue. Complication arises as each scene contributes to the enlargement of the problem. The climax is the inevitable eruption; the breakpoint; the pinnacle of tension; the phase decision. A swing/change then sets in the lives and interests of the characters and life within the drama is not the same anymore. The action is carried to its conclusion i.e. dénouement (falling action and conclusion).
Characters in the drama are protagonists furthering the main issues of the plot. Antagonists try to neutralize the issues that the protagonists try to promote. One often gets a character who at one time sides with the protagonists but also sides with the antagonists when it suits his/her own interests. This character is called a tritagonist.
There are various kinds of drama such as tragedy, melodrama, comedy and farce.
4.5.2 Application to the IsiXhosa entries
A drama by Busiswa Jonasi from the Sisonke Senior Secondary School in Port Elizabeth was selected for the Imibono yethu. Busiswa claimed first prize in the Imibono yethu because her drama had features of "write as you speak", as requested by the organisers. The theme of her drama was about Aids, as Ugawulayo uyabulala. In her drama, she managed to code switch from one language to another without disturbing the flow of the dialogue. This drama takes place in the Sisonke High
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School, Phindezwa plays the role of a protagonist and Khuselwa plays the role of an antagonist. Phindezwa tries to alert others about this killer disease but Khuselwa does not take her warning seriously and is sarcastic about the matter. Words such as "safe sex" appear 11 times in the drama. She often uses the word "grand" for ndiphilile i.e. "I am fine to follow the township Tsotsi language". Instead of using the word mhlobo she uses "friend". Some sentences were written in English, which is the way high school girls speak to one another. This is evidenced by the statement uttered by Khuselwa on page four, "No problem to me". Here she seems disbelieving that Aids is a reality.
The content of the drama is beneficial for young people. It is also appealing to the writers to accommodate the urban learners by using the language that they may understand. This drama has the real features of a drama because there is a conflict of ideas, some characters resist going to a clinic for blood tests and using condoms but others support the idea. After a lengthy discussion, consensus was eventually reached and all agreed to go for a blood test. This type of drama is a melodrama. Another drama that was chosen was by Zimkhitha Magqaza because it is written in standard language. Her theme was Ubumnandi basekwendeni "the happiness of married life". She complied perfectly with the characteristics of a drama. She listed all her characters in the beginning and her introduction had these interesting opening words.
Ndixomoloze ndaxomoloza ndibopha amaxonya ndazama zama ndenza amatiletile olu khuphiswano ndilufumane lunzima kum kuba ndiliyilo andikwazi ukucinga into eninzi ngoku bantu basesiXhoseni ndicela niyihle amahlongwane pheIsiZulu.
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I tried my level best; to me this competition is very difficult but I hand this book to you to analyse it. This is contrary to what is in the book. Good people will never say that they are good; they always give credit to others instead of making a name for themselves. This is the type of humble attitude of this learner.
There are three clear scenes, all three types of characters are identified and there is unity in place, conflict, climax, falling pace and conclusion. The writer creates characters with words (characterization), which gives them human identity.
4.6 Folktales
A folktale is a popular traditional story. Mahlasela (1982:5) says that:
Every nation or tribe has its folktales i.e. its tales which attempt to explain to the people its past through its legends, as well as its historical traditions. Every tribe has its fables for the instruction and amusement of its young as well as explanations of the natural and mythical formula.
The writers of Imibono yethu also showed an interest in folktales.