Theatre for social change: resolving xenophobic conflicts through theatre intervention in South Africa

The ongoing discussions about the wave of xenophobic attacks against African immigrants by South African citizens are extremely sensitive and have deepened the rift between South Africans and immigrants from other African nations. The South African government has taken clear steps, mainly through me...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Chijioke Uwah, Gcebile Dlamini, Priviledge Cheteni
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Cogent Social Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311886.2025.2464870
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Summary:The ongoing discussions about the wave of xenophobic attacks against African immigrants by South African citizens are extremely sensitive and have deepened the rift between South Africans and immigrants from other African nations. The South African government has taken clear steps, mainly through media channels, to distance itself from the alarming actions of vigilante groups that have recently targeted and killed many African immigrants under the pretext of removing criminal elements from their neighbourhoods. These actions could be viewed as a form of ‘ethnic cleansing’. This study seeks to highlight the role of theatre in addressing xenophobia in South Africa. Based on the study’s findings, it argues that grassroots involvement in theatre offers more effective solutions to combat xenophobic violence while also promoting social cohesion among Africans living in South Africa.
ISSN:2331-1886