Transformation in the South African storytelling tradition: stylisation and new genres in storytelling NGOs

Abstract

This thesis traces the trajectory of storytelling from pre-colonial period to colonial, apartheid through to 1994 democratic era in South Africa. It juxtaposes this trajectory with the sudden emergence of the non-governmental storytelling organizations (NGOs) in the democracy; and advances a claim that, storytelling is still alive regardless of its altered outlook for purposes of adapting itself into dynamics of modernity. To justify the claim this study makes on the ever-existence of storytelling, first and foremost the researcher traces the beginning of storytelling NGOs and interrogates their work in South Africa’s new dispensation.

Explored in the thesis thereof are factors that influenced the emergence of storytelling nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) at the beginning of the South African democracy, between 1990 and 2010. The main question raised is meant to disclose a role that these NGOs play in the field of storytelling – in any manner. In furtherance of determining this role, attention is put on innovative storytelling styles demonstrated by modern storytellers during performance, observable new genres, performance material as is needed and used by storytellers, as well as the types of audiences with which modern storytellers engage and reactions from these audiences to storytelling performances. Since storytelling NGOs generally survive through grants and funding, especially State funding, the relationship between NGOs and the States is critically explored herein. This also, is meant to ascertain the role and impact of funding in the NGOs’ work.