An analysis of cultural conflict as portrayed in the Southern African drama series ‘Kwakhala Nyonini!’

Abstract

This study analyses the conflict of cultures as portrayed in the South African drama series ‘Kwakhala Nyonini!’ which was produced in 1989 and 1992 under the company by the name of Scholtz Films. This study is guided by Sellin’s view of the ‘culture conflict theory’ (1938) which is an elaboration of Marx’s perspective and specifies that different cultures and classes have different values, beliefs and goals that clash against one another when they come together. The study used textual analysis as the methodology and findings from the analysis of the drama series are that when people of different cultures meet they tend to have some conflicts due to differences of cultures. Culture is a powerful social construct that makes people to think in certain ways, it makes them think that what is done in another culture is wrong. The study also notes that even though people may have some differences in culture that causes them to have some conflicts, there are however some aspects that may end conflicts between these people of different cultures. Some cultures end up borrowing some aspects of other cultures which in the research is termed ‘hybridisation’ and some aspects of other cultures are borrowed by other cultures hence creating some understanding of other cultures. The study concludes that people of different cultures tend to adhere to their own cultures and hence conflict with those of different cultures. The drama series further highlights that to some extent people of different cultures tend to borrow what is not in their cultures in some instances to suit the conditions they will be in for that particular time. The study goes on to give some recommendations which include the aspect of a need for people to be familiar with some foreign cultures so as to avoid conflict of cultures and it also recommends that more research be done on the subject matter so as to eliminate cultural conflicts.