An Existential Phenomenological Approach on Folklore as South Africa’s Wealth in Context

Abstract

South African folklore is engulfed with several challenges that persist as a result of post-colonial and post-apartheid effects. These challenges continue to undermine South Africa’s folkloristic conventions such as indigenous healing and medicinal practices, among others. Over and above this reality, these challenges denote South Africa’s folklore as a subordinated component of history, thereupon regarding it as a subordinate discipline and subject unworthy of expressing critical consciousness, intellectuality, and epistemology. In view of this fact, this article uses existential phenomenology as a qualitative research technique and applies a sociological perspective as a theoretical framework to underscore the wealth that is profoundly interwoven in South African folklore. It must be underlined that the employment of these research methodologies is not necessarily to compare or contrast their strengths and weaknesses, but to form a balanced and triangulated scholarly discourse. The aim is to underscore how and why South African folklore ought to be accepted as a quintessential discipline and subject while denouncing imperialist ideologies that seek to subjugate and discredit this discipline. Some of the notable findings are indicative of the historical consciousness and memory that is acutely interwoven in South African folklore while its contemporary relevance could be observed. It is anticipated that other scholars may potentially continue this discourse in an attempt to highlight the fertility that is embedded in South Africa’s folklore.