The ‘placenta’ of the nation

Motherhood discourses in Tswana marriage ceremonies

Authors

  • Sibonile Edith Ellece University of Botswana

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1558/genl.v6i1.79

Keywords:

motherhood, discourses, marriage ceremonies, Botswana

Abstract

This paper explores the construction of motherhood in Tswana marriage ceremonies, especially in Patlo or marriage negotiations. The data used comprise a chant known as Rutu (from the repeated use of the lexical item) from a wedding in Kopong in southern Botswana, and interviews of participants in the weddings studied as part of a larger project on marriage discourses (Ellece 2007). The paper uses Critical Discourse Analysis as an overarching framework. At the micro-level, the paper combines content analysis of narratives of motherhood and lexical choices in the ‘Rutu’ chant. It also examines the re-contextualization of the discourses articulated in this ceremony by the interviewees. The main argument of the paper is that, in Botswana, motherhood is constructed as a compulsory and indispensable aspect of feminine identity, crucial for success in marriage.

Author Biography

  • Sibonile Edith Ellece, University of Botswana

    Sibonile Edith Ellece is a Lecturer in Language and Linguistics at the University of Botswana. Her areas of research include gender and language in the marriage institution, and discourse analysis. She is also interested in identity construction in the media. Recently she has been involved in the organization of a series of seminars and conferences on gender and language in African contexts held in Botswana, Nigeria, Cameroon and the UK.

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Published

2012-04-30

Issue

Section

Gender and Language in Sub-Saharan African Contexts: Research Agendas

How to Cite

Ellece, S. E. (2012). The ‘placenta’ of the nation: Motherhood discourses in Tswana marriage ceremonies. Gender and Language, 6(1), 79-103. https://doi.org/10.1558/genl.v6i1.79