Exploring Figurative Language in Mutendas’ Contemporary Song ‘Vhutshilo Vhu a Mona u Fana na Vhili’ (Life Turns Like a Wheel)

Mutendasi, a prominent Tshivenḓa folk musician, is renowned for his profound use of poetic language and his commitment to cultural preservation. This paper examines the role of figurative language in one of his most linguistically and philosophically rich compositions, “Vhutshilo vhu a mona u fana na vhili” (“Life turns like a wheel”). Anchored in the Cognitive Linguistics framework, particularly Conceptual Metaphor Theory, the study employed qualitative textual analysis to unpack metaphorical and rhetorical devices in the song. The analysis reveals how these devices serve as tools for cultural expression, philosophical reflection, and social commentary. The paper underscores Mutendasi’s work as both artistic expression and a vessel for indigenous knowledge, contributing to the broader discourse on Tshivenḓa oral literature and music.