Dr Sam Nujoma's rhetoric: An analysis of selected epideictic speeches during his tenure of office as President of the Republic of Namibia

Studies on political communication, especially presidential rhetoric are scarce in Namibia. The researcher has come across only one study done by Mathe (2006) on Presidential rhetorical analysis in Namibia which focuses on President Sam Nujoma’s rhetoric. Therefore, the current study attempts to narrow the gap in presidential rhetorical analysis in Namibia. Ten epideictic speeches delivered by the former President Dr Sam Nujoma during his first two terms of Presidential rule in Namibia from 1990 to 2000 are rhetorically analysed in this study. The purpose of the analysis was twofold: to find out to what extent former President Nujoma used the Aristotelian proofs of ethos, pathos and logos in his speeches, and to investigate the canons of classical rhetoric in Nujoma’s speeches i.e. arrangement (disposition), style (elocution), delivery (pronuntiato and action) and memory (memoria). In the analysis of speeches, the researcher uses the Aristotelian theory and video recordings showing highlights of the speeches on the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) Television. The study reveales that President Nujoma used the three Aristotelian proofs and the five canons of classical rhetoric to a great extent and invariably in his speeches during the ten years of his rule in Namibia. Nujoma’s speeches mainly highlighted the government’s challenges and achievements. In addition, he called on Namibians to have unity of purpose in the struggle against ignorance, poverty and racism. He used the speeches to appeal to the people’s emotions and character in an attempt to influence them to support his views and government. This study can benefit speechwriters and students in rhetoric in Namibia.

Author dc:creator

• Nanyeni, Frieda N.

• Epideictic speeches

Language dc:language.iso

en

Dc Identifier Other

thesis

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.unam.edu.na:11070/817