A postcolonial structuralist critique of Yolisa Madolo’s Ndinetyala kusini na? (Am I guilty?)

Abstract

Yolisa Madolo’s Ndinetyala kusini na? (‘Am I guilty?’) proves the notion that isiXhosa short stories could be viewed as making sociopolitical commentary on pertinent subjects such as natural creation, language and politics, road safety and accidents as well as HIV/AIDS stigmas and mythologies. It cannot be denied that Ndinetyala kusini na? contains covert meanings for the very reason that isiXhosa literary writers commonly use metaphorical expressions and sometimes magical realism. With this in mind, this article aims to critique how Madolo interweaves these subjects in the selected isiXhosa short story. The short story itself is recognised as a primary source of data, while postcolonial structuralist theory is applied to uncover and unravel the selected subjects. The objective of this article is to find the hidden meanings that Madolo may have purposively or inadvertently embedded in this literary narrative. During the discussions, it becomes clear that this short story is multifaceted in terms of meaning, and thus, cannot be classified as possessing just one subject. The closing remarks underline the necessity to appreciate that Ndinetyala kusini na? is epistemologically multidimensional in nature, in that multiple meanings could be enacted through literary critique.