Culture of South Africa Information
There is no single culture of South Africa. As South Africa is so ethnically diverse, it is not surprising that there are vast cultural differences as well.
Contents |
Black people
Blacks are increasingly urbanised and westernised, and usually speak English or Afrikaans in addition to their native tongue, which may be one of nine Bantu languages with official status since 1994. These include the Nguni languages, Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele and Swazi, and the Sotho languages, which include Tswana, Sotho and Northern Sotho. The Venda language is quite different to the foregoing and has its origins in Zimbabwe.
The Tsonga language is also unique. The name Shangaan can be traced to the Zulu chief Soshangane. Many urban blacks speak several indigenous languages, with Zulu being a lingua franca in the Johannesburg area.
Most are Christian, locally mixed house while black South African musicians such as Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Mahotella Queens, Miriam Makeba, and Hugh Masekela are well known internationally.
White people
The white minority lead lifestyles similar in many respects to whites found in Europe, North America and Australasia, with sport being immensely popular. There are, however, so-called "poor whites" who live in the poorer suburbs such as Ruyterwag, Goodwood, Maitland, Boksburg and Alberton. The braai (short for braaivleis or barbecue) is a national pastime, epitomised by an old advertising slogan for Chevrolet cars in the 1960s: Braaivleis, rugby, sunny skies and Chevrolet. The two main white cultural groups are the Afrikaners (about 60% of the whites) and the English speaking Whites (40%).
Religious beliefs are also strong.
Coloured (Mixed-race) people
The mixed-race Coloureds are, culturally speaking, much closer to whites, especially Afrikaans speakers, whose language and religious beliefs they share, than they are to black South Africans, despite suffering considerable discrimination under apartheid[citation needed]. A small minority of Coloureds, known as Cape Malays are Muslim. Well known members of the community include Springboks rugby union players Chester Williams, Breyton Paulse and Bryan Habana, and jazz musicians Jonathan Butler and Abdullah Ibrahim (also known as Dollar Brand).
Asian people
Asians, (predominantly Indian origin) preserve their own cultural heritage, languages and religious beliefs, being predominantly Christian, Hindu or Muslim, and speaking English, with Indian languages.
Protection of cultural rights
The rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities are protected in the constitution by the Commission for the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities.
Sex and gender
Gender issues
South Africa demonstrates significant differences between the experiences of men and women.
Sexual orientation
South Africa offers all its citizens, including gay men and lesbians, equality under the 1996 constitution.
International cultural boycott
Many countries imposed cultural boycotts on the apartheid regime, meaning that South Africa was banned from the Olympic Games until 1992, as well as rugby union and cricket. The 1971 Springbok rugby tour to Australia sparked mass protest and a state of emergency was even declared in Queensland. When the all-white national rugby team, the Springboks, toured New Zealand in 1981, it provoked public outrage, as did the decision of the British rock group Queen to perform in the Sun City resort in the bantustan of Bophuthatswana. Paul Simon caused controversy when he recorded his Graceland album with the South African group Ladysmith Black Mambazo, even though all its members were black.
Until the 1990s, the British actors' union, Equity, imposed a boycott on the sale of TV programmes to South Africa, although the state-controlled South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) was able to buy U.S. programmes instead.
Famous South Africans
Politics
Nelson Mandela is the most famous South African. Other famous politicians include F. W. de Klerk and Steve Biko. From the early 20th century there is also Jan Smuts. D. F. Malan, Hendrik Verwoerd and J G Strijdom were architects of Apartheid. Beginning in the 1960s, Harry Schwarz became a national figure in the fight against Apartheid. Perhaps the world's most famous Anglican clergyman and political activist Desmond Tutu. Winnie Mandela is loved by some and despised by others, but known by all. Helen Suzman was for years the only "one person, one vote" democrat in parliament. Other famous South Africans are former President Thabo Mbeki, former president of the African National Congress and South Africa, the current President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, and Inkatha Freedom Party leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi.
Literature
Writers like Nadine Gordimer and J. M. Coetzee have also found international acclaim, both being winners of the Nobel Prize for Literature. J. R. R. Tolkien, author of The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion was born in Bloemfontein, South Africa in 1892.
Sport
Well known South African sports stars include:
- Athletics: Zola Budd, Oscar Pistorius, Bruce Fordyce, Ernst van Dyk
- Boxing: Baby Jake Matlala
- Cricket: Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Makhaya Ntini, Graeme Smith, Shaun Pollock, Ashwell Prince, Jonty Rhodes, Dale Steyn
- Football (soccer): Aaron Mokoena, Steven Pienaar, Doctor Khumalo, Benni McCarthy, Patrick "Ace" Ntsoelengoe, Lucas Radebe, Jomo Sono
- Golf: Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Trevor Immelman, Gary Player
- Motorsport: Jody Scheckter
- Rugby
- Players: Naas Botha, Schalk Burger, Danie Craven (also coach and administrator), Morne du Plessis, Frik du Preez, Os du Randt, Danie Gerber, Bryan Habana, Victor Matfield, Percy Montgomery, Hennie Muller, Bennie Osler, Francois Pienaar, Mannetjies Roux, John Smit, Francois Steyn, Joost van der Westhuizen, Chester Williams
- Coaches: Kitch Christie, Peter de Villiers, Nick Mallett, Jake White
- Surfing: Shaun Thompson
- Swimming: Natalie du Toit, Ryk Neethling, Penny Heyns
- Tennis: Amanda Coetzer, Kevin Curren, Johan Kriek
- Triathlon: Simon Lessing
Theatre, film and television
While South Africa was isolated by the cultural boycott in the 1980s, there are now many well-known South African performing artists and writers. They include playwrights such as Athol Fugard, and satirist Pieter Dirk Uys, actors like Anthony Sher, Hollywood stars like Oscar-winner Charlize Theron, and The Mummy Returns co-star Arnold Vosloo. Also, the creator of the popular children's show Thomas and Friends, Britt Allcroft, was born in Johannesburg.
Music
Main article: Music of South AfricaIn music, the groups African Jazz Pioneers and Ladysmith Black Mambazo have found popularity worldwide. Ladysmith Black Mambazo's collaboration with Paul Simon in 1986 (which resulted in their extreme fame across the world) paved the way for many other South African musicians to gain popularity amongst international audiences, such as Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens, who popularized mbaqanga music across the world. Two white rock artists of South African origin are Dave Matthews, lead singer of the Dave Matthews Band, and Manfred Mann. Miriam Makeba, a singer who first found fame in the anti-apartheid movie Come Back, Africa, Dudu Pukwana, a gifted jazz musician, and Abdullah Ibrahim (Dollar Brand), being on the wrong side of the colour bar, had to leave South Africa to fully exploit their talents — their music was not played on South African radio. Johnny Clegg and Sipho Mchunu formed the massively successful band Juluka, which went onto gain worldwide fame (as did Clegg's later band, Savuka). The post grunge rock Seether also features two prominent members of South African origin, guitarist and vocalist Shaun Morgan and bassist Dale Stewart and have received considerable play on mainstream radio and music television in the U.S. James Phillips was a prominent liberal rock musician of the 1980s. Lead singer of power metal band, DragonForce, ZP Theart hails from Clanwilliam, South Africa.
Sport
Major sports
- See also Sport in South Africa
Many Sports have a passionate following, although it remains largely divided on ethnic lines and is still largely seen (in the words of a former member of Women and Sport South Africa) as "the domain of men". In 1997, one writer described "massive gender inequalities in the sporting structures of the country, and a strong association between sport and masculinity". The most popular sport among black South African men is soccer, with the national team being nicknamed Bafana Bafana (meaning 'The Boys'). South Africa will be hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the first soccer World Cup to be held in Africa.
Rugby union is one of the most popular sports in South Africa, especially among Afrikaners. The national rugby union team are known as the Springboks. The Springboks famously hosted and won the 1995 Rugby World Cup, it was their first appearance at the World Cup. The defeat of the New Zealand All Blacks in the final is remembered as one of the most famous South African sporting moments and was also a very significant factor in defining a national identity for post-apartheid South Africa. President Nelson Mandela wore the Springbok jersey, once only worn by whites, at the presentation of the trophy. The domestic league - the Currie Cup is also played annually, as well as the international Super 14.
Cricket is traditionally popular among whites though its popularity has grown markedly amongst other groups. Since re-admission to the ICC the national team has consistently ranked in the top three in the world in both the One-Day and Test forms of the game.
The country has a number of disabled athletes, most notably the double amputee world record holder at 100 m, 200 m and 400 m - Oscar Pistorius, world wheelchair marathon champion Ernst van Dyk and swimmer Natalie du Toit.
Surfing South Africa has a long coastline(East coast/West coast) and also a large surfing population. The surfing culture is strong and South Africa competes internationally. It is the home of the famous right-hander Super Tubes in J-Bay. Also world famous surfer and former world champion Shaun Tomson played a large role in the free lifestyle culture. South Africa also have its own cult surf brands.
Food
- See also Cuisine of South Africa
The braai or barbecue is widely popular, especially with whites, and includes meat, especially boerewors or spicy sausages, and mielies (maize) or Mielie-meal, often as a porridge, or pearl millet, a staple food of black South Africans. Pastries such like koeksusters and desserts like melktert (milk tart) are also universally popular. Vegetarianism is becoming widely accepted.
Indian food like curry is also popular, especially in Durban with its large Indian population. Another local Indian Durban speciality is the 'bunny' or bunny chow, which consists of a hollowed-out loaf of white bread filled with curry.
The Portuguese community has also made its mark, with spicy peri-peri chicken being a favourite. The South African Portuguese-themed restaurant chain Nando's now has restaurants in the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Kenya.
TV and films
Television, which for political reasons was not introduced in South Africa until 1976, is also popular. Traditionally, U.S. programmes have dominated TV schedules. Programmes like The Bold and the Beautiful have been popular with South Africans of all races, but locally produced soap operas or 'soapies' now draw a large audience and are exported all over Africa. The SABC drama series Shaka Zulu, based on the true story of the Zulu warrior King Shaka, was shown around the world in the 1980s, but had to be marketed by a US distributor.
While many foreign films have been produced about South Africa (usually involving race relations), few local productions are known outside South Africa itself. One exception was the film The Gods Must Be Crazy in 1980, set in the Kalahari. This is about how life in a traditional community of Bushmen is changed when a Coke bottle, thrown out of an aeroplane, suddenly lands from the sky. The late Jamie Uys, who wrote and directed The Gods Must Be Crazy, also had success overseas in the 1970s with his films Funny People and Funny People II, similar to the TV series Candid Camera in the US. Leon Schuster's You Must Be Joking! films are in the same genre, and hugely popular among South Africans.
Other notable exceptions are the film Tsotsi, which won the Academy Award for Foreign Language Film at the 78th Academy Awards in 2006 as well as U-Carmen e-Khayelitsha, which won the Golden Bear at the 2005 Berlin International Film Festival.
In 2004, the New South African TV channel (NSAT) began broadcasting on Sky Digital in the UK, thereby reaching the large expatriate community, showing a mix of South African entertainment, films, sport and news coverage.
See also
- South African Pop History: Dance
- Rugby union in South Africa
Bibliography
References
- Race, Gender and Sport in Post-Apartheid South Africa, Robert Chappell, 2005.
- South African government report on gender equality, Statistics SA 2002
- Gender Inequality and the Economy: Empowering Women in the New South Africa, by Zarina Maharaj
Colour, Confusion and Concessions: The History of the Chinese in South Africa by Melanie Yap; Dianne Leong Man
External links
| Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Culture of South Africa |
- SA Rugby, the national governing body of Rugby Union.
- SA Football Association
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||
Categories: South African culture
|
Matching Results for Culture of South Africa:
Afro-IndianA person described by both African and indigenous American ancestry or culture. 1909, Booker T. Washington, The story of the Negro: the rise of the race ...
moegoe
An idiot; A dolt; A mampara; somebody who is really dumb. "There are so many people who made it to my Moegoe of the Week list but unfortunately I can only ...