GASPRO International Journal of Eminent Scholars

ABSTRACT
Literature offers a medium to speak directly about issues that society may veil because they
are viewed as “unspeakable”. This study offers a much-needed critical analysis of how a
Namibian writer, Sifiso Nyathi, through his oeuvre, commits to moralise the public sphere by
authoring the commonly unsaid and veiled societal matters. The study employs a qualitative
approach and data was analysed using content analysis. By adopting two theories; Maria Pia
Lara‟s illocutionary approach and the African worldview, the article reveals that Africans
are highly spiritual, superstitious and their belief in „another presence‟ is undisputable. The
study reveals that there are certain issues in the Namibian society which are not openly
discussed, issues which are commonly controversial or viewed as aggressive towards
accepted knowledge. The study will offer renewed insight into Nyathi‟s works and African
literature in general. The unique approach of blending different genres of literature; plays,
poetry and a novel in exploring the “unspeakables” will bring novelty to Nyathi‟s and other
literary works.
KEYWORDS: Literature, Unspeakable, Society, Moralise