Exploring Orality: Decolonizing knowledge through the Praise Poetry of Zulu Kings, Shaka and Cetshwayo

Exploring Orality: Decolonizing knowledge through the Praise Poetry of Zulu Kings, Shaka and Cetshwayo

Bongumenzi Mtshali & Gcinile Thwala

Issue: Vol. 7 No.1 2026 Article 30 pp. 393 – 403
DOI: https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.20267130| Published online 27th February 2026

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ABSTRACT

This paper explored the praise poetry of two Zulu kings, particularly King Shaka and King Cetshwayo, as a profound expression of indigenous knowledge and oral artistry. Employing qualitative methodology, through an analysis of the oral features embedded in these praises, the study demonstrated how the deliberate selection of language, imagery, and metaphor often incorporates elements such as wild animals, everyday objects, and the physical attributes of the kings, which function as carefully crafted “nuggets of history,” designed to be transmitted orally across generations. Through the lenses of orality theory, the paper highlights the role of praise poetry as a dynamic medium for cultural preservation and communication. It argues that such indigenous knowledge systems are essential to the project of decolonization, particularly through the revitalization and integration of African languages and oral traditions into contemporary education systems. By centering these forms of knowledge, the study advocates for a reimagining of curricula that prioritizes African epistemologies and challenges the marginalization of indigenous ways of knowing. The paper calls for the inclusion of Zulu praise poetry in teaching and learning, emphasizing its potential to foster a deeper understanding of African history, identity, and cultural values. Drawing on both academic literature and oral sources, this research contributes to the broader discourse on the importance of reclaiming and celebrating African oral heritage as a vital component of global cultural and intellectual landscapes, while advancing the decolonial agenda in academia and beyond.

Keywords: Orality, Praise Poetry, Decolonization, Epistemology, Indigenous Knowledge Systems.

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ABOUT AUTHOR(S)

Bongumenzi Mtshali is an educator and academic researcher. He is currently pursuing his master’s dissertation at the University of Johannesburg. He holds a Bachelor of Education degree with majors in isiZulu and History, and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in African Languages. Both degrees were obtained with distinctions from the University of Johannesburg. His professional academic experience includes serving as a Sessional Lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand and as a Tutor at the University of Johannesburg, and he has also delivered guest lectures at both institutions. Mtshali has presented his research at the Southern Africa Folklore Society (SAFOS) Conference. His research interests focus on pedagogical methodologies for teaching isiZulu phonology and grammar, as well as the use of African literature as a decolonial archive.

Gcinile Beauty Thwala is a Lecturer in the Department of African Languages, in the School of Languages, Literature, and Media, at the University of Witwatersrand. She earned a Bachelor of Education degree specialising in the Senior and FET Phase, BA Honours degree in African Languages, a master’s degree in African Languages (with distinction), and PhD in African Languages from the University of Johannesburg. She is actively involved in academic work as a reviewer, supervisor, researcher, and member of the Editorial Team for SAFOS. Her research focuses on Oral Literature, Poetry, Teaching and Learning, and Indigenous Knowledge Systems.

TO CITE ARTICLE

Mtshali, Bongumenzi, and Gcinile Thwala. “Exploring Orality: Decolonizing knowledge through the Praise Poetry of Zulu Kings, Shaka and Cetshwayo.” E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences 7, no.1 (2026): 393 – 403. https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.20267130