Kanegelorato Ya Sepedi

Abstract

In this thesis, an attempt is made to divide the Sepedi love story as 'light' reading matter into different subgenres. In order to do this, a distinction has to be made between 'light' and 'serious' reading matter. In short, this distinction amounts to the following: -- The love story as 'light' reading matter deals with problems of love that are resolved and the story ends on a happy mate. The conflict is between 'good' and 'bad' and the characters are portrayed accordingly and are hence flat characters. There is more emphasis on action than on characterisation. Suspense is built up by a series of problems that prevent the lovers from meeting each other. The problems are gradually resolved and the story has a happy ending. -- The love story as 'serious' reading literature emphasises problems in life rather than problems of love. The characters are portrayed fully in their exposure to the storm and stress of life. The love affair being depicted is headed for disappointment, and the ending is often tragic. In Sepedi literature, the love story as 'light' reading matter (or entertainment literature) is divided into five subgenres, i.e. the love story as (a) a moral story, (b) a subdivision of the detective story, the romantic mystery of Ramsdell (1999), (c) the ethnic or multicultural romantic story, (d) the historical love story, and (e) the true love story. In the love story as a moral story, there is a strong focus on the loyalty of the lovers. Where there is infidelity, the good relationship can only be restored if the guilty one received his punishment. Example of this are Noto-ya-Masogana (Tsebe, 1954), Morweši (Motuku, 1969), Tshehlana ya ka (Bosoma, 1990) and Sesasedi sa katlego (Kekana, 1990). In the love story as a subdivision of the detective story, the intrigue (of love) is used to intensify the secret in the detective story. Kekana's Nonyana ya Tokologo (1985) and Nnete Fela (1989) are two suitable examples in which the attitude of the heroine prevents a quick unravelling of the problem. In the ethnic or multicultural love story, the happy ending is delayed by the fact that the lovers do not belong to the same ethnic or cultural group and because the love affair is under social and cultural pressure. Megokgo ya Lethabo (1992) is an example of such a story in which the lovers are a Mopedi and a Motsonga respectively, and the young man's family was not at all in favour of the relationship. In the historical love affair, the conflict in the story is intensified by the difference between the traditional and the present-day outlook on life. This subgenre differs from the previous one in that the conflict originates within the same ethnic or cultural group and in that it is the result of the changes that have, amongst other things, been brought about by urbanisation. An example of this subgenre is Rafapa' s Leratosello (1978). The true love story shares many of its characteristics with the love story as a moral story, as the conflict is also between 'good' and 'bad' characters. In this subgenre there is, however, no place for peace; the 'good' is not used to emphasise the moral. Examples of this are Leratorato (Motuku, 1977), Lerato (Ramokgopa, 1978) and Le Lerato (Moloisie, 1986).