Disentangling colonial legacies and promoting cultural justice: A study of the Batlokwa people in the Northern Sotho Context

This study investigated the Batlokwa people’s history and contemporary marginalization as a result of colonial and postcolonial ethnolinguistic classification. It sought to understand how colonial systems, notably administrative and missionary practices, contributed to the subjugation of Batlokwa identity within the larger Northern Sotho framework, as well as to investigate alternatives for cultural justice and recognition today. The study tackled three research topics based on postcolonial theory, including Homi Bhabha’s idea of hybridity, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o’s cultural decolonization, and Fraser’s recognition theory. (1) How have colonial classifications influenced Batlokwa identity? (2) How do Batlokwa people today handle their identities within the Northern Sotho context? (3) What are the chances of attaining cultural justice for the Batlokwa? Semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and archival analysis were used to gather qualitative ethnographic data from Batlokwa community members in Limpopo. The findings show that colonial linguistic groups and official recognition procedures have resulted in the symbolic elimination of Batlokwa identity. Despite this, community-led identity assertion and cultural restoration initiatives are actively rewriting the narrative. The discussion focuses on the persistent tension between state-imposed ethnic classifications and indigenous identity expressions. It proposes policy changes to identify culturally different communities and assist local heritage projects, including inclusive education and institutional recognition. This study adds to the literature on decoloniality and indigenous identity in South Africa by focusing on the Batlokwa as an example of cultural resilience and advocacy for justice in the face of long-standing colonial legacies.