Disentangling colonial legacies and promoting cultural justice: A study of the Batlokwa people in the Northern Sotho Context

Disentangling colonial legacies and promoting cultural justice: A study of the Batlokwa people in the Northern Sotho Context

Masila Joshua Masipa & Nontokozo Gladys Mdhluli

Issue: Vol. 7 No.2 2026 Article 6 pp. 496 – 507
DOI: https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.2026726| Published online 26th March 2026

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ABSTRACT

This study investigated the Batlokwa people’s history and contemporary marginalization as a result of colonial and postcolonial ethnolinguistic classification. It sought to understand how colonial systems, notably administrative and missionary practices, contributed to the subjugation of Batlokwa identity within the larger Northern Sotho framework, as well as to investigate alternatives for cultural justice and recognition today. The study tackled three research topics based on postcolonial theory, including Homi Bhabha’s idea of hybridity, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o’s cultural decolonization, and Fraser’s recognition theory. (1) How have colonial classifications influenced Batlokwa identity? (2) How do Batlokwa people today handle their identities within the Northern Sotho context? (3) What are the chances of attaining cultural justice for the Batlokwa? Semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and archival analysis were used to gather qualitative ethnographic data from Batlokwa community members in Limpopo. The findings show that colonial linguistic groups and official recognition procedures have resulted in the symbolic elimination of Batlokwa identity. Despite this, community-led identity assertion and cultural restoration initiatives are actively rewriting the narrative. The discussion focuses on the persistent tension between state-imposed ethnic classifications and indigenous identity expressions. It proposes policy changes to identify culturally different communities and assist local heritage projects, including inclusive education and institutional recognition. This study adds to the literature on decoloniality and indigenous identity in South Africa by focusing on the Batlokwa as an example of cultural resilience and advocacy for justice in the face of long-standing colonial legacies.

Keywords: Disruption, Apartheid, Marginalization, Language Cleansing, Decoloniality, Indigenous

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ABOUT AUTHOR(S)

Ms. Nontokozo Gladys Mdhluli started her teaching career at Siphumelele Secondary School in 2013, where she found her love for language development and teaching. She was hired as a Siswati lecturer at the University of Venda on June 1, 2022. She has further contributed to scholarly discussions in her field by attending and presenting papers at a number of academic conferences. Ms. Mdhluli has written a great deal about literature and how feminist theories may be used to reinterpret traditions. Her writing has been featured in respectable journals and book chapters both domestically and abroad. She is working on her doctorate and has been actively supporting linguistic and cultural development as a board member of the National Language Body (NLB) since 2024. Her important contributions to scholarly writing, language development, and Siswati cultural studies ensure the preservation and ongoing development of Siswati’s intellectual and cultural heritage.

Dr. Masila Joshua Masipa teaches in the University of Venda’s Department of Arts and Social Sciences. He has worked in higher education for many years, with a focus on solid waste management, ethics, sociolinguistics, and development studies. Masipa is a member of the Senate Council and has overseen postgraduate students. Dr. Masila Joshua Masipa is a committed researcher and development professional with a focus on grassroots development, social inclusion, and rural mobilization in Africa. He specializes in empowering marginalized people through sustainable development initiatives and participatory governance, and he has a solid foundation in policy research and community involvement.

TO CITE ARTICLE

Masipa, Masila Joshua, and Nontokozo Gladys Mdhluli. “Disentangling Colonial Legacies and Promoting Cultural Justice: A Study of the Batlokwa People in the Northern Sotho Context.” E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences 7, no.2 (2026): 496 – 507. https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.2026726