Mandevu
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18533/journal.v4i01.632Keywords:
Mysteries, myths, Mbwayapenga, Oedipus, tourism, Vhembe and Dzinzilinzi.Abstract
There are crucial African indigenous cultural stories of reality told throughout generations. Most of these stories are opined as primitive myths and mysteries and therefore unworthy of empirical research – Mandevu is one such story. This paper investigates whether Mandevu is myth or reality. The over-arching purpose of the paper is to show empirical value and importance of indigenous cultural African stories whether myths or real – especially for the social, and other related sciences. This qualitative paper employed field work, transect walk at Mandevu settlement, Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) to gather data. The paper concludes that Mandevu as told amongst communities in northern Vendaland is instead real rather than myth. The Mandevu settlement could be developed into a tourist centre, while the story could be documented in local literature which could be taught in local schools to conserve these culturally important stories.
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