ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the author explains izibongo with the insights gathered from the Indigenous Xhosa peoples of South Africa, and amplify their voices in reflecting upon the significance of izibongo, particularly in its social and religious function. He draws from his own experience as an African who observes and lives in this cultural experience enriched with izibongo. Izibongo form the core of everyday narratives of the Xhosa peoples. They are complex forms of oral narratives with specialized, yet integrated components. Izibongo include among other things, oral poetry, oral epics for clans, kinship groups and/or nations, axioms, idioms, salutations, clan names, totems, and eulogies. Izibongo have a number of distinct and yet integrated functions. Izibongo and isibongo actually mean the same thing; the former is the plural form and the latter is the singular form.
