The Tongue Is Fire: South African Narrative and Resistance – Harold Scheub – 1991
What the Book Explores
Harold Scheub’s The Tongue Is Fire examines the central role of oral narrative in the resistance to apartheid in South Africa. The book delves into the sophisticated techniques employed by traditional storytellers – particularly the Xhosa tradition of *imbongis* (praisers) – to critique power, preserve cultural memory, and subtly undermine the dominant ideology. Scheub meticulously analyzes the structure and performance of these narratives, demonstrating how they function as vehicles for political and social commentary, often operating beneath the surface of seemingly innocuous tales. The work explores the interplay between performance, language, and social context, showing how narratives could both entertain and challenge the status quo.
Historical / Cultural Context
Published in 1991, The Tongue Is Fire emerges from decades of Scheub’s fieldwork and research in South Africa, beginning in the 1960s. This was a period of intense political repression and censorship under apartheid. Scheub’s work is significant because it offers insight into a form of resistance that operated largely outside the official channels of political opposition, utilizing a cultural realm often overlooked by authorities. It highlights the agency and creativity of those subjected to colonial and apartheid rule, and their ability to subvert power structures through the skillful deployment of traditional artistic forms. The book contributed to a broader understanding of the power of oral tradition as a site of cultural and political struggle, especially in postcolonial contexts. The timing of the book’s publication, coinciding with the dismantling of apartheid, makes it a crucial document for understanding the cultural dimensions of South Africa’s transition.
Who This Book Is For
This book is geared toward readers with an academic interest in African studies, oral literature, performance studies, and political anthropology. It is suitable for students and scholars interested in the relationship between culture, power, and resistance. However, its accessible writing style and compelling subject matter also make it engaging for general readers interested in South African history and culture, and those seeking to understand how storytelling can function as a form of social and political action. A foundational understanding of the historical context of apartheid will enhance the reader’s experience.
Further Reading
- Black Skin, White Masks by Frantz Fanon: Explores the psychological effects of colonialism and racism.
- Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe: A classic novel depicting the impact of colonialism on Igbo society in Nigeria.
- The Muses are Free: Reflections on the Art of Writing by Anne Dillard: A meditation on the craft and power of narrative.
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