The evolution of women’s representation in isiXhosa drama: a comparative analysis of Inzonzobila and Akwaba

This article investigates the evolution of women’s representation in isiXhosa drama through a comparative analysis of two plays: Inzonzobila by Mkonto (Citation1988) and Akwaba by Ntwana (Citation2004). Using a qualitative research design underpinned by Critical Discourse Analysis and African feminist theory, the study examines shifts in characterisation, agency, and social roles of women across apartheid and post-apartheid South Africa. Findings reveal that pre-1994 isiXhosa drama, predominantly authored by men, portrays women in stereotypical, domestically confined roles, defined through their relationships with men. In contrast, post-1994 works, especially those by women writers, present women as multidimensional protagonists, agents of change, and active participants in education, economy, and leadership. The study contributes to scholarship on African literary feminism and introduces imbokotho criticism as a viable analytical lens. This has been drawn from Makhenyane’s recent theorisation of this indigenous framework and underscores the role of literature in reflecting and shaping societal change.