03.18.09
Barratt
ND – 310.04
The Rainbow Nation
South Africa has had many influences in food and culture over the past hundreds of years. Many sources agree that there is not a single culture in South Africa, but collective ones that make up the country. With influences from indigenous tribes, Dutch (also known as Boers), English, Indian, and many others, South Africa is known as the “Rainbow Nation”. Each country that has influenced South Africa’s culture has added yet another band to the rainbow. With numerous influences in the different cultures of South Africa, the cuisine has broadened.
In order to understand the cultures of South Africa, one needs to know a brief history. Hunter-gatherers were the first to inhabit South Africa. These people were collectively knows as the Khoisan. Various tribes are still around today. We might know them as the people who use the “click” languages. By the 3rd century AD, the Bantu people began to introduce farming and raising livestock. Moving along to later times, in 1652, the Dutch established the Cape of Good
Hope as a stopping ground for the Dutch East India Company. It was during this time that the multitude of influences began upon the South African culture. By the 19th century, indentured workers from India came to work in the sugar plantations, therefore adding more influence within the culture and cuisine (“South African Cuisine and Recipes”).
More currently, many correlate South Africa with apartheid. Although this has been deactivated, it remains part of the reason for so many different cultures in South Africa. According to the CIA.gov website, the ethnic groups of South Africa are: 79% black African, 9.6% white, 8.9% colored (mixed race), and 2.5% Indian/Asian. Even though the white population is the minority, many enjoy lifestyles that are considered to be more upper class than black Africans. As with any country, culture is influenced by social class, ethnicity, religion, and residence.
One can see that there are many different people groups in South Africa, resulting in a larger culture. However the more traditional societies have been able to keep their culture strong through the use their “mother language” or native tongue (Somali Press). According to the Somali Press website, many black Africans lead largely impoverished lives and as they become more westernized and urbanized, their culture does also. The middle class consists of the white minority but with a growing number of black, colored, and Indian people. The Asian population is predominantly Indian. They preserve their cultural heritage through the use of language.
As one can see, it is understood how South Africa can be called the “Rainbow Nation”. With so many countries having an effect on their society, the plethora of influences is shown in their country. Though this essay did not talk much about the foods in South Africa, the power point illustrates much more information.
Check out this video about South Africa:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qC-1Bq9cqgg
(The video was uploaded to youtube.com via CBS)
Works Cited (power point slides included)
""Culture of South Africa"" Www.somalipress.com. Somali Press. 14 Mar. 2009
""Food in South Africa"" Advameg Inc. 11 Mar. 2009
Matloff, Judith. "South Africa exults in native fare." Christian Science Monitor 87.61 (23
Feb. 1995): 14. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Hunter, Cullowhee, NC. 14 Mar. 2009
Nash, Jonell. "Food: Savoring South Africa." Essence 28.6 (Oct. 1997): 138. Academic
Search Premier. EBSCO. Hunter, Cullowhee, NC. 11 Mar. 2009
"South Africa." 05 Mar. 2009. CIA. 13 Mar. 2009
""South African Cuisine and Recipes"" Sept. 2003. 12 Mar. 2009
Picture of flag: http://www.humanrights.uio.no/programmes/safrica/pictures/Flag_of_South_Africa.png
This is very interesting. I have had to do a lot of research on Africa and how bad the conditions are there. I didn't know that African culture had so much influence from other places and people in the world. This was a cool fact to learn. Great paper.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed watching the video and learning more about South African food. It sounds like it really does come from a melting pot of cultures!
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting that it has taken years for the westernization of South Africa. You would think with the growing population of other countries and their influences it would of shifte ages ago. I on the other hand was happy to here that it is slowly growing into a life style and that the people of South Africa still hold onto their traditions.
ReplyDeleteI never knew what Rainbow Nation was. The video about food items were interesting, not sure it would be appealing until taste it.
ReplyDeleteInteresting to note...South Africans have a huge problem with obesity. They eat alot because being overweight shows that you don't have AIDS.
ReplyDeleteI did not know that South Africa had so many diversities. I was always under the assumption that they lived mainly off of rice and vegetables. The chef in the video looked like he was well fed, and that is very reassuring.
ReplyDeleteI know South Africa has been going through a lot of political turmoil but it is good to know that their food of the Rainbow nation lives on.
ReplyDeleteMy best friend from back home is originally from Cape Town South Africa, so I really enjoyed learning more about the country due to my connection to it. Having no single native culture does makes it a very unique country!
ReplyDeleteI never knew that South Africa was known as the "rainbow nation". Very intersting to read about how different countries have influenced many traditions there.
ReplyDelete