THE SOUTH AFRICAN CULTURE

   

South Africa’s culture is one of the most diverse in the world and has given rise to the term “Rainbow Nation”.

With 11 official languages and 8 other recognised languages, the rich culture of each of these groups brings its own vibrancy to our diversity.

How did we get so many different cultures in one country?

The original aboriginal peoples living here were the KhoiKhoi and San. They were joined by two main migrations – that of the Bantu peoples from the north in Africa and the colonisation by the Europeans from the south, all bringing their own cultures, skills, arts and farming methods with them.

KhoiKhoi and San culture in South Africa

The indigenous KhoiKhoi and San were the early artists of South Africa as can be seen in the wonderful rock art across the country. The San, known as “Bushmen” were extraordinary hunters and trackers, and their tracking skills are still invaluable in the fight against poachers.

Today, their language is under threat, as is their nomadic way of life in the desert regions of the country. Organisations are at work to try and preserve this special culture with projects like bringing the language back into the school curriculum.

The Bantu migrants were not all of the same culture; there were the Zulu, Xhosa, Sotho, Ndebele, Shangaan and Venda to name a few, each with their own colourful and interesting way of life. It is a popular tourist attraction to see these traditional cultures with their interesting homes, dress, wonderful beadwork, pottery, arts & crafts and cultural events in the rural areas.

Zulu culture in South Africa

The Zulu traditional culture was well known for the ferocity of its shield bearing warriors, especially under Shaka; for its beadwork and basketry and the beehive grass huts that pepper the KwaZulu-Natal hills.

Zulu beliefs are based on the presence of ancestral spirits, which often appear in dreams, and a supreme being who is seldom involved in the affairs of mortals. Magic is used and many cases of illness or bad luck are considered to be caused by an evil spirit. A diviner will communicate with the spirits or use natural herbs and prayers to get rid of the problem.

Xhosa culture in South Africa

The Xhosa culture is well known for the complex dress code that indicates a person’s social standing. How senior they are, if they are married or single, if they are the new wife or have had a baby – all shown in the headdress and dress of the wearer. A combination of a long skirt with no slit in front, together with a marriage bib and two beaded aprons means the wearer is a widow. The more elaborate the hat, the more senior the wearer. Only young girls may go around bare-breasted. The pipe smoking of Xhosa women is also well known and a huge variety of beaded pipes abound. Traditionalists were described as ‘Red’ because of their practice of daubing (ukuqaba) red clay on their faces and bodies. Women and men also use cosmetic white clay on their faces.

The Xhosas have a strong oral tradition with many stories of ancestral heroes. Ancestor worship rituals as well as the initiation ceremony for young men are still practised, even though many young men die or are mutilated by the circumcision.

Stick fighting is a common pastime for men, whose day time job is looking after the cattle. Women tend the crops, and do much of the other work around the home.

It was Xhosa leaders who initiated the fight against apartheid and founded the ANC. Among these were two of our modern day heroes, Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu.

Ndebele culture in South Africa

The Ndebele culture is renowned for the skill of the women who decorate their homes in vibrant geometric designs. Skills are passed from mother to daughter and the shapes used are often inspired by their intricately fashioned beadwork. Ndebele woman wear neck rings and traditional blankets of striking colours.

Sotho culture in South Africa and Lesotho

The Sotho groups of the South Sotho, Pedi and Tswana have some major cultural differences from the Nguni group (Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele and Swazi), especially with respect to how they organise their villages and their marriages. The Sotho peoples tend to organise their homes into villages, rather than scattered settlements. In Nguni society, marriages to kin is frowned on while the Sotho will seek brides from kin, notably cousins on the maternal side.

The Nguni are grouped in clans, while totems, or praise-names taken from animals, distinguish the Sotho-speakers.

Sotho villages were also organized into age-sets, or groups of men or women who were close in age. Each age-set had specific responsibilities e.g. men organized for warfare and herding. An entire age-set generally graduated from one task to the next, and the village often celebrated this change with a series of rituals and, in some cases, an initiation ceremony. In the past initiations into adulthood were elaborate ceremonies lasting a few months, in which girls and boys were taken separately to the bush in the winter. The boys were circumcised. Increasingly, funerals have become the most elaborate life-cycle rituals.

The South Sotho people of Lesotho (baSuto) are identified with the brightly colored blankets that they often wear instead of coats. These blankets have designs picturing everything from airplanes to crowns to geometric patterns. The blankets are store-bought—there is no tradition of making them locally.

Traditions of folk art include beadwork, sewing, pottery making, house decoration, and weaving. Functional items such as sleeping mats, baskets, and beer strainers continue to be woven by hand from grass materials. Folk craft traditions have been revived and modified in response to the tourist trade.

The Shangaan culture in South Africa

The Shangaan people are located mainly in the area of the Kruger Park in Mpumalanga. Their culture is of mixed ancestry and was brought about due to the military actions of Soshangane, one of Shaka’s generals who fell into disfavour. To escape Shaka, Soshangane fled north, through Swaziland, finally settling in Mozambique. His men found wives among the locals – among them Tsongas – and thus the Shangaan people were established.

Soshangane imposed the strict Zulu military system and tribal wear on Shangaan traditions, but retained the beautiful Tsonga homesteads that include round huts with patterned thatch roofs. He also incorporated their love of music that features a variety of ingenious stringed, wind and percussion instruments.

The Shangaan people, through Tsonga influence, are one of the few ethnic groups in South Africa to practice fishing and include fish in their diet. Because of the wealth of game in the area they also enjoy venison and crocodile, which they bake in a delicious groundnut (peanut) sauce.

The most unusual aspect of their diet, however, is their love of the mopani worm found in the mopani forests of the Lowveld. These are either dried or pan fried in butter, which is an experience no adventurous traveller should miss.

An important figure in traditional Shangaan culture, as with all the Nguni peoples of south eastern Africa, is the Sangoma, a healer and spiritual guide. The Sangoma’s medicine gourd, has become a symbol of the traditional cultural heritage of the Shangaan.

The Venda culture in South Africa

The Soutpansberg Mountains of the Limpopo Province in South Africa is the home of the Venda people, the smallest of the South Africa cultures.

The Venda culture is built on a vibrant mythical belief system, and water is an import theme, believing lakes and rivers to be sacred, and that rains are controlled by the Python God. One of the most sacred sites of the Venda is Lake Fundudzi where annual rites are held. This is where the famous Domba Python Dance is held and young maidens, as the final stage of their initiation into womanhood, line up in single file and dance in long winding lines, like a snake. The Domba is also important to secure good rains for the following season.

The Sangoma or traditional healer is believed to have access to the spirits and seeks guidance from the ancestors. Many Venda consult a Sangoma if they became ill, who would diagnose the trouble in the spirit world which might be alleviated by a particular course of action and usually prescribes a course of herbs.

Beliefs in the spirit world influence the Venda art – their woodcarvings, pottery and the decoration of their buildings. Drums are central in the culture and there are legends and symbols linked to them.

In rural areas cattle mean wealth, and the lifestyle revolves around agriculture. Male and female roles are clearly defined, with the men responsible for livestock, ploughing and the building of huts, while the women do most of the harvesting as well as all the domestic duties. Polygamy is still common, and due to the prosperity of the farmland, fewer men leave the area to work in the mines than is the case with many other tribes. As a result, traditional life has changed little over the years.

The culture brought to South Africa by the European settlers

The European settlers were also from different cultures of which the Dutch were the most influential. They were joined by the French Huguenots, British and German Settlers, each bringing their own flavour to the mix.

Dutch became the official European language, and gradually transformed into the local form, called Afrikaans. All school pupils were taught Afrikaans as their first or second language and it is the most spoken language in South Africa. Our legal system is based on Roman Dutch law and much of the traditional architecture in South Africa is based on “Cape Dutch” with its iconic grand, ornately rounded gables, thatch roof, white walls and green shutters. Afrikaans music is extremely popular and many of our famous artists come from this culture.

The Dutch culture was transported into the Free State and Gauteng with the Great Trek when the Dutch speaking farmers in the Western Cape moved en-mass to escape British Rule in the mid 19th century.  Our recent political history was determined by Afrikaners who were in government from 1948 to the 1994 multi-racial elections.

The French Huguenots religious refugees came to the Cape around 1688 and brought with them the art of wine making. They settled in what is now termed the Cape Winelands and transformed the area into a scenic vista of vines. Today South Africa is recognised as a top wine producer thanks to the Huguenots. Franschoek is at the heart of the French culture, and this interesting town, steeped in history, celebrates Bastille Day every year.

Later British settlers ushered in the Victorian culture of the day as can be seen in the buildings in Cape Town, Kimberley and Johannesburg. Herbert Baker, among the country’s most influential architects, designed the Union Buildings in Pretoria. 

Many schools were run on the British Public School system and rugby became our national sport.

The British were chiefly responsible for the development of our mining industry with early players like Cecil John Rhodes and Barney Barnato.

The London Missionary Society was extremely active in South Africa, and had an enormous influence in converting much of the non-Christian population. Mission schools were built in rural areas which played an enormous role in spreading educating.

German and British settlers were brought into the Eastern Cape to help create a buffer against the Xhosa and to start up farming. Port Elizabeth has museums and monuments dedicated to the 1820 settler history.

Indian, Chinese and Cape Malay culture in South Africa

As South Africa developed, more labour was required and Indian and Chinese indentured labourers were brought in, as were slaves from Madagascar, East Africa and the East Indies.

The Indian labourers were used in the sugar industry in Natal and today, KwaZulu-Natal is still home to the largest Indian population. Durban is where one can best experience this culture at the Indian Market, where much pleasure can be enjoyed browsing the foods and shops. In Johannesburg a large enclave of Indians are in the Fordsburg area, close to Johannesburg city centre. The Oriental Plaza is packed with fabrics, clothes and a myriad of products. After shopping, enjoy traditional food at the many restaurants in the area.

Indian South Africans still preserve their cultural heritage, languages and religious beliefs, being Christian, Hindu or Muslim and speaking English, with Indian languages like Hindi, Telugu, Tamil or Gujarati being spoken less frequently as second languages.

Another great cultural experience is to visit Chinatown in Derrick Avenue, Cyrildene, Johannesburg. If you are a foodie, you will find all manner of ingredients for the pot, or just enjoy the great food right there.

The slaves that were brought into the Cape have retained much of their Moslem culture and today are the foundation of the artisan trades in Cape Town.

Known as “Cape Malays”, their brightly coloured homes in the Bo Kaap District of Cape Town are eye catching.

Traditional foods such as Breyani and Bobotie have become SA favourites. The Cape Carnival at New Year is a celebration of this culture.

Culture in South Africa today

Today, many of the younger generation from all cultures have moved to the city where they lead a Westernised lifestyle and speak either English or Afrikaans in addition to their home language. Many live in the “Township” areas where township tours are a must for visitors.

Over time, the townships developed a unique fusion of culture which has its expression in the music, art and food. The very interesting art forms, using everything from plastic strips to bicycle spokes will keep you enthralled. Local music is vibrant and a visit to a shebeen, the local pub, is always a hit.

Not only does one get to understand the township way of life today, which still includes those living in poverty, but one can also experience the rich history of the years of oppression and apartheid. A tour of Soweto, home of Nelson Mandela, is one of the most popular attractions in South Africa.

South Africa has many world-renowned artists from every culture and galleries are plentiful across the country. The music industry is flourishing and film making is also enjoying its first Oscar awards. The are many authors, wildlife photographers and film makers, actors and producers, all flourishing in the freedom of our Rainbow Nation