Orality, Literacy, and Colonialism in Southern Africa

The book explores the interplay between literacy and colonialism in Southern Africa, highlighting how missionaries and colonial authorities controlled text-based literacy through the Bible. In contrast, it emphasizes the resilience of oral traditions that embody the resistance and aspirations of colonized peoples. Through essays by experts in various fields, the volume uncovers the depth of indigenous knowledge systems that not only resisted colonial oppression but also serve as valuable resources for contemporary post-apartheid society.