The status of indigenous music in the South African school curriculum with special reference to IsiZulu

Text in EnglishThe research raises concern for the practical and theoretical problems confronting pre-primary to secondary schools regarding the implementation of indigenous African music in the present curriculum. This research investigates the status of indigenous African music in the South African school’s curriculum for the purposes of its inclusion with special reference to isiZulu. The study utilised qualitative interview, observation method and existing documents for the collection of data. Participants were asked to highlight the importance of including indigenous African music in the present curriculum as a core subject, and secondly, what can be done to promote indigenous African music to South African communities? This study records the importance of isiZulu belief systems, customs and performance tradition. It looks at indigenous isiZulu music both past and present, what it offers to the community of South Africans. The research reveals that isiZulu music can be used to recall enjoyable commemorations, express peace, and happiness and motivates team spirit as it can organise activities geared towards community development if included in the school curriculum. It also nurtures social integration, which can enhance understanding in learning. Some songs are composed to instil socio-cultural values in establishing social relationships amongst the individuals and societies, also consolidate social bonds and create patriotic feelings. Music also contributes to the child’s development and psychological abilities. The study further revealed that the battle for the soul of African Languages is not yet over. Rather than the languages becoming increasingly appreciated and embraced by the owners, there is evidently a decline (Salawu, 2001). This worrisome decline is marked by the advancement of technology and craves modernity; they see everything (culture, indigenous African music and language) as primitive. It is apparent that the originality and excellence in African culture and languages are quickly vanishing, as there remains only a small indication of that genuine tradition. The study therefore, helps Black South Africans generally to relate to their folk-lore and to maintain their cultural principles, values and rebuild their sense of national identity and will also work to broaden the curriculum in schools from Foundation Phase to the FET Phase.Linguistics and Modern LanguagesPh. D. (Languages, Linguistics and Literature

Factors influencing performance in the learning of IsiZulu at Ekurhuleni South District secondary schools

The background in this study is that over the years analysis of grade 12 results in Ekurhuleni South District indicates that most secondary schools obtain 100% pass rate but not quality results isiZulu home language. IsiZulu home language quality results often range from 20% to 40%. The research findings point at two casual factors: (1) inside the classroom and (2) outside the classroom. Inside the classroom refers to quality of educators teaching isiZulu home language and outside the classroom refers to what is supposedly isiZulu home language’ yet a close analysis of the kind spoken in the township Zulu homes is in fact pidgin Zulu. In terms of quality evaluation this so called isiZulu home language can never pass quality assurance. The researcher recommends that educators of isiZulu home language be put through vigorous quality training in the teaching of isiZulu (HL).African LanguagesM.A. (African Languages