Abstract:
South Africa and the Philippines are home to a number of indigenous groups whose
cultures and traditions have not been tainted by centuries of colonization. This
paper compares the pre-colonial literature of cultural communities in two countries,
where one is part of a continent (South Africa) while the other is an archipelago (the
Philippines). Despite the differences in their geographical features, the two
countries share common experiences: 1) colonized by European powers; 2) have a
significant number of indigenous communities; 3) a treasury of surviving folk
literature. Published African and Philippine folktales reveal recurring images and
elements. One of these is the use of animals as characters, performing domestic
tasks in households, and representing gender roles. This paper compares how
animal characters portray feminine characteristics and domestic roles in selected
fables from South Africa and the Philippines, specifically on the commonalities in the
roles of the female characters. The research highlights the relevance of recording
and publishing of folk literature, and the subsequent integration and teaching
thereof within basic and higher education curricula.
