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Additional Resources
http://www.southafrica.com/culture/
This website offers valuable information about the different historical sites in South Africa that have cultural significance. It also talks about the diverse types of music native to this country. The website gives a taste of South Africa's rich culture.
http://studiesabroad.com/programs/country/south_africa/city/durban/cultureCorner/culturalHighlights
This website explains different cultural aspects of South Africa, and gives suggestions of places in the country to visit that will allow for cultural immersion. It also gives key phrases that one would need to navigate the country in 4 of South Africa's official languages.
This website offers valuable information about the different historical sites in South Africa that have cultural significance. It also talks about the diverse types of music native to this country. The website gives a taste of South Africa's rich culture.
http://studiesabroad.com/programs/country/south_africa/city/durban/cultureCorner/culturalHighlights
This website explains different cultural aspects of South Africa, and gives suggestions of places in the country to visit that will allow for cultural immersion. It also gives key phrases that one would need to navigate the country in 4 of South Africa's official languages.
Religion Distribution
![Picture](/uploads/1/8/6/0/18608246/1572142.jpg?475)
This map demonstrates the cultural universal model of belief system- religion specifically. South Africa is the bottom most country in the continent. South Africa has the greatest religious diversity out of the other countries in Africa. The countries in the north are mostly Islamic and the middle and lower countries are mostly christian and indigenous religions. South Africa is the only country that is home to Islam, Christianity, Indigenous Religions, Hinduism, and Judaism.
http://streamafrica.com/culture/traditional-african-religions/
http://streamafrica.com/culture/traditional-african-religions/
Country Demographic Data
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Changes Over Time
South Africa has and continues to change over time. Referring to figure 1, the male life expectancy rate gradually increased between 1950 and 1995. However, between 1995 and 2005 it decreased and then once again continued to increase. This means that over time, men are living longer. In 1950, the life expectancy for a man was 43 years old. However, the life expectancy in 2010 was 55 years old. Unfortunately, the number of deaths caused by murder is also increasing. Referring to figure 2, 20,000 people were murdered in 2002 compared to 32,500 people murdered in 2004. Finally, the literacy rate in South Africa is slowly increasing (figure 3). The literacy rate refers to the total percentage of people over the age of 15 who are able to read. In 1980, about 78% of people were able to read compared to 90% in 2010.
Religion in South Africa
![]() (Figure 4) The large wall in the center of this photograph is the Western Wall. It is a remaining wall from the original Temple, and a holy site for both Jews and Christians. The Dome of the Rock, a Muslim mosque, is in the top left corner of the photograph.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Wall
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Religion
plays a large roll in the culture of South Africa. About 80% of South African’s
are Christian, and the majority of these people are Protestants. However, there
are large communities of different religions as well. During the first
millennium A.D., Bantu-speaking people arrived and brought with them their
religious beliefs and traditions. They had many myths, which sought to explain
the world, life, and death. These myths spread rapidly during the nineteenth
century. Many believe that these myths provided the platform for Christianity
to thrive, as Christianity reinforced the idea of a God. In 1488 A.D., a
Portuguese navigator named Bartholomeu Dias put a large cross at the cape.
Dutch missionaries started arriving in 1658 (Figure 2). From then on, the religion rapidly
spread throughout the country. Also, when the Dutch arrived at the cape they
needed cheap labor to work the farms. They therefore imported slaves from South
East Asia, most of which were Moslem. These people maintained their Islamic
beliefs, and there is still many people of Islamic faith currently living in
present day Cape Town. Finally, after World War 2, many Jewish people moved to
South Africa in order to work in the diamond and gold mines. Today, there is a
heavy Jewish population in Johannesburg. The distribution of these religions can be seen in Figure 1.
The different religions in South Africa greatly contribute to the social development and culture in the country. The Christian missionaries in particular greatly influenced the music, art, and dance. In black African culture people often sing gospel songs. Art and dance is also used to portray religious myths and legends. Many people’s lives revolve around their respective places of worship, charities, and volunteer organizations. The positive cultural influence can also be felt due to the large number of parochial schools (Figure 3). There are many religious sites located around the world. However, none of these sites are located in South Africa. One religious site for Muslims is called the Sacred House located in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is a building in the center of their holiest mosque. Another holy site is the dome of the rock in Jerusalem, Israel. There are a few holy sites for Christians, one being the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, which is where Jesus was buried. The Via Dolorosa is another site in Jerusalem, which is where Christians believe that Jesus walked before they killed him. Finally, a holy Jewish site is the Western Wall, which is a wall located on the western side of the Temple Mount (Figure 4). Christianity has a big influence on the government in South Africa. The South African Constitution provides a freedom of religion and prohibits religious discrimination. However, many people in the government are religious. Whilst there is no official state religion, many politicians and members of the government are observant Christians, Jews, Moslems, etc. Therefore, people are influenced by their religious beliefs, and presumably act in accordance therewith in the decision making process. Religion plays an important roll in South African life. The majority of the population is Christian due to Dutch Missionaries, although there are several other religions in South Africa as well. Not only because of the absolute numbers of involved individuals, but also because of the relatively high levels of affiliation and commitment. Although there are no religious sites in South Africa specifically, there are many sites located in Israel, and the countries surrounding it. Like many other countries, religious influences in government are inevitable. This is to the peoples benefit, as a country built on no morals and positive beliefs cannot thrive. Works Cited: African Traditional Religion. African Traditional Religion | South African History Online. Retrieved July 31, 2014, from http://www.sahistory.org.za/african-traditional-religion Byrnes, R. (1997). South Africa: A Country Study. Washington D.C.: Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data. Sacred Sites in Israel. (n.d.). Sacred Sites in Israel. Retrieved July 31, 2014, from http://www.sacred-destinations.com/israel/sacred-sites South Africa: Fast Facts. South Africa: fast facts. Retrieved July 31, 2014, from http://mediaclubsouthafrica.com/landstatic/82-africa/82-fast-facts South Africa. (2006, January 1). U.S. Department of State. Retrieved July 31, 2014, from http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/2006/71325.htm Unit Three: Studying Africa through the Humanities. (n.d.). . Retrieved July 30, 2014, from http://exploringafrica.matrix.msu.edu/students/curriculum/m14/activity3.php Van Der Vyver, J. (2001, January 8). Constitutional Perspective of Church-State Relations in South Africa. by Johan Van der Vyver. Retrieved July 31, 2014, from http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1944196 |
Change in Cultural Diversity
![]() (Figure 4) Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape is home to the Nama people, who are decedents of some of the earliest South African Settlers, the Khoisan people.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richtersveld#mediaviewer/File:Richtersveld_World_Heritage_Site,_Matjieshuts_at_Glybank_near_Kuboes.JPG
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The first free, “multiracial” general election held in South Africa, took place on April 27, 1994. This election marked the end of the apartheid era, giving all adults the right to vote. One of the results was a pronounced legislatively mandated segregation system, which resulted in a particularly culturally diverse society. More specifically, there was, in reality, no South African culture but rather a mix of cultures, languages and races.
Prior to 1994, South African culture grew in many ways. There were only two official languages, namely English and Afrikaans. Today, South Africa has eleven official languages and prides itself on being the “rainbow nation.” In addition to those of European descent, including those of Dutch, British, Portuguese, Lebanese and Greek ancestry, the population also includes those of Asian descent, such as people from Indian, Malaysia and Pakistani lineage. There were several tribes in South Africa, each having their own language, history, traditions, geographical locations, culture, and characteristics. These tribes include the Xhosa, Zulu, Ndebele, Venda, Tsonga and Sotho people, amongst others. However, since the apartheid, various groups are integrating, thereby losing their respective cultural identities. Unfortunately, since the apartheid, the great cultural influence in South Africa is decreasing. During the process of this transition, South Africa has witnessed an enormous geographical transition. In early years in South Africa, each tribe lived separately and practiced their individual traditions. However, as time moved on, people began to mix with one another. Due to this, many cultures have unfortunately been lost, altered, and or combined. Moreover, English is becoming a more widely spoken language, even by citizens who are bilingual or, more likely, trilingual. The percentage of Afrikaners in South Africa is drastically shrinking. According to Professor A.M. Grundlingh, a professor in the History Department at Stellenbosch University, “The percentage [of Afrikaners has] dropped substantially as a result of the exponential birth rate of black people and the relaxed immigrant controls as far as the rest of Africa is concerned.” This growth rate can be seen in Figure 1. Another factor causing this rate to decrease is that after the apartheid, about 1 million people immigrated to other countries, such as Britain and Australia. Because so many of these people left, there are not as many Afrikaners in the parliament today. This lack of political influence is also contributing to loss of culture. South Africa still has a strong cultural influence that can be seen in many ways. For example, South Africans still enjoy a very wide variety of traditional foods, fashions and cultural and historical sites. There are many traditional Afrikaans recipes, including different types of curry as well as many traditional tribal foods. Biltong, for example, is a form of beef jerky often eaten in South Africa (Figure 2). However, as today’s world is becoming more modern, South Africans are welcoming other cultural influences. As South Africa transitions from into a normative first-world society, American and European music and fashion is also becoming more and more popular in South Africa. Thus the Western influence has increased in all areas of South African life, further diluting the effects of cultural diversity. There is some effort being put into preserving South African culture. According to the Unesco’s world Heritage Committee, there are currently four official cultural heritage sites. One of these sites is Robben Island (figure 3), where the first democratically elected president, Nelson Mandela, was imprisoned for 18 years. The Island has since become a symbol of freedom. Another cultural site is the Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape (figure 4). This landscape is home to the Nama people, who are decedents of some of the earliest South African settlers, the Khoisan people. These sites, amongst others, are helping to preserve the original culture of the land. However, as time progresses, the majority of the South African inhabitants are moving towards the modern world and are merging into one mass culture. Works Cited Ghosh, P., & Ghosh, P. (2011, July 27). South Africa: Is the Sun Setting on Afrikaners? Retrieved August 6, 2014, from http://www.ibtimes.com/south-africa-sun-setting-afrikaners-818815 Marjorie, L., & Marjorie, L. (n.d.). Language Policy and Oppression in South Africa | Cultural Survival. Retrieved August 6, 2014, from https://www.culturalsurvival.org/publications/cultural-survival-quarterly/south-africa/language-policy-and-oppression-south-africa Reed, H., & Reed, H. (n.d.). Networks in the New Democracy: Internal Migration and Social Networks in South Africa. Population Studies and Training Center and Department of Sociology, Brown University. Retrieved August 6, 2014. South Africa's Population. (2012, November 7). Retrieved August 6, 2014, from http://www.southafrica.info/about/people/population.htm - .U-KH1Tmon9o World heritage in South Africa. (n.d.). Retrieved August 6, 2014, from http://www.southafrica.info/travel/cultural/worldheritagesites.htm - .U-KWcjmon9o |
South African Cuisine
South
Africa has a unique and interesting cuisine. Some of their popular dishes
include biltong, dried and seasoned meat, bobotie,
a version of shepherd’s pie, and boerewors, grilled sausages. South African
food is greatly influenced by the Dutch East India Company, which moved to Java
in the mid-1600s. Before this, South African’s ate mostly elephant and hippo
meat, as well as wild plants such as asparagus and mustard leaves. The Dutch
East India Company grew crops such as beans and lettuce. This company also
brought in thousands of slaves from Java to work on the farms, known as the
Malay slaves. These people brought with them their cuisine, which most famously
includes curries and stews, and is now a well-known South African cooking
style. In the years to follow, slaves were brought into Durban, South Africa
from all over India.
The Indian style of cooking has merged with the South African food to create a milder version of curry. Like any major country, South African streets hold restaurants of other cuisines as well, such as Italian, Chinese, and Moroccan food. Diffusion can be seen between the foods from the north and south. For example, the Pavilion in the Marine hotel in Hermanus serves Tandoori crocodile.
The large majority of the produce is locally grown. South Africa locally produces a large amount of corn and wheat. South Africa relies heavily on corn, or as it is known in South Africa, mielies. Corn occupies the largest area of farmland in the country. Each tribe has a slightly different way of cooking the corn, though it is has been and continues to be a staple food in almost all households. They are also the 10th largest producer of sunflower seeds in the world, and the 13th largest producer of sugar. Fruit is mostly grown on the Western Cape, and makes up approximately 12% of the earnings from agricultural exports (southafrica.info). These fruits include mangoes, bananas, and guavas, amongst many others. South Africa is also the ninth largest producer of wine in the world. Tobacco and tea are also grown in the Western Cape.
“Livestock is the largest agricultural sector in South Africa with a population of some 13.8-million cattle and 28.8-million sheep” (southafrica.info). Dairy farming, in particular, directly employs about 60,000 farm workers. 85% of the beef is locally raised. The rest of the beef, about 15%, comes from “Namibia, Botswana, Swaziland, Australia, New Zealand and the EU” (southafrica.info). Poultry, pig, and game farming are all raised within the country as well.
Works Cited:
Bailey, A. (2010, July 7). Chakalaka- What's in a name? Retrieved August 11, 2014, from http://www.southafrica.co.za/2010/07/07/chakalaka-whats-in-a-name/
SA Cuisine: The Afrikaner Kitchen. (n.d.). Retrieved August 11, 2014, from http://www.southafrica.info/travel/food/786404.htm#.U-k-Tjmon9o
South African Cuisine. (n.d.). Retrieved August 11, 2014, from http://www.southafrica.info/travel/food/food.htm#.U-klnzmon9o
South Africa's farming sectors. (n.d.). Retrieved August 11, 2014, from http://www.southafrica.info/business/economy/sectors/542547.htm#.U-k2qTmon9o
The Indian style of cooking has merged with the South African food to create a milder version of curry. Like any major country, South African streets hold restaurants of other cuisines as well, such as Italian, Chinese, and Moroccan food. Diffusion can be seen between the foods from the north and south. For example, the Pavilion in the Marine hotel in Hermanus serves Tandoori crocodile.
The large majority of the produce is locally grown. South Africa locally produces a large amount of corn and wheat. South Africa relies heavily on corn, or as it is known in South Africa, mielies. Corn occupies the largest area of farmland in the country. Each tribe has a slightly different way of cooking the corn, though it is has been and continues to be a staple food in almost all households. They are also the 10th largest producer of sunflower seeds in the world, and the 13th largest producer of sugar. Fruit is mostly grown on the Western Cape, and makes up approximately 12% of the earnings from agricultural exports (southafrica.info). These fruits include mangoes, bananas, and guavas, amongst many others. South Africa is also the ninth largest producer of wine in the world. Tobacco and tea are also grown in the Western Cape.
“Livestock is the largest agricultural sector in South Africa with a population of some 13.8-million cattle and 28.8-million sheep” (southafrica.info). Dairy farming, in particular, directly employs about 60,000 farm workers. 85% of the beef is locally raised. The rest of the beef, about 15%, comes from “Namibia, Botswana, Swaziland, Australia, New Zealand and the EU” (southafrica.info). Poultry, pig, and game farming are all raised within the country as well.
Works Cited:
Bailey, A. (2010, July 7). Chakalaka- What's in a name? Retrieved August 11, 2014, from http://www.southafrica.co.za/2010/07/07/chakalaka-whats-in-a-name/
SA Cuisine: The Afrikaner Kitchen. (n.d.). Retrieved August 11, 2014, from http://www.southafrica.info/travel/food/786404.htm#.U-k-Tjmon9o
South African Cuisine. (n.d.). Retrieved August 11, 2014, from http://www.southafrica.info/travel/food/food.htm#.U-klnzmon9o
South Africa's farming sectors. (n.d.). Retrieved August 11, 2014, from http://www.southafrica.info/business/economy/sectors/542547.htm#.U-k2qTmon9o
Chakalaka Recipe
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There are no religious connections between the types of food and South Africa in general. Like many other countries, South Africa is home to a variety of different religions, each with their own traditions. However, there are many cultural foods, one of which being chakalaka. There are different variations of chakalaka from around the country. It is believed to have originated on townships in Johannesburg. The people working in the gold mines adapted this recipe because of its simplicity. The mineworkers took this recipe home, and it spread.