African indigenous sayings in childrearing and social cohesion in Dinokana and Motswedi villages, North West Province

Abstract

Studies have shown that today’s parenting inclination has curved towards western ways, urban centres being the focal point, preferred over indigenous ways that boasted the cushions of extended families, which laid sound foundation of morality. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether today’s parents still use the Indigenous Sayings (IS) and accord it its value and role in childrearing and social cohesion, as were used by our forebears since the declining morality of today’s children, consumed by western cultural value commodities, is of great concern to society. Are strategies used by our forebears in building and shaping a child’s moral compass to achieve and adhere to societal behavioural expectation in use? The study focused and amplified its context on storytelling, proverbs, songs and idioms. Motswedi and Dinokana were chosen as study sites for their cultural disposition resonating with the research. The two villages are predominantly rural and still live under the guardianship of a chief who is looked upon as the custodian of culture. The study design catered for the indigenous language of the participants and their cultural inclination through interviews. The study found that IS are known, their value revered but rarely used as a strategy in raising children despite their pedagogical value. The most significant reason being the replacement of oral tradition by new technology. Furthermore, the power and authority of the chiefs has greatly diminished in that the kgotla takes no part in the upbringing of its subjects as well as promotion of communal heritage. The study answers the question regarding the employ of Indigenous Sayings in childrearing and social cohesion. Further research is needed to establish how technology can be used to hone back the use of oral tradition, especially on the home front.