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SOUTH AFRICA
Barbeque, Sunny Skies
Bind Diverse Cultures
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.
Main Cultural differences
Most are Christian, with membership of the Anglican and
Roman Catholic churches being strong as is membership
of the predominantly black Zion Christian Church,
although many still follow traditional beliefs, many often
consulting a sangoma.
Vibrant Music
Because of the legacy of Apartheid segregation, many There is a vibrant indigenous culture, with local popular
cultural differences correspond closely to the racial music forms, such as kwaito, locally mixed house while
groups defined by Apartheid (Blacks, Whites, Coloureds, black South African musicians such as Ladysmith Black
Asians). This may change as assimilation progresses, Mambazo, Mahotella Queens, Miriam Makeba, and
although currently (2004) many cultural differences Hugh Masekela are well known internationally.
between Apartheid-defined racial groups persist.
White people
Black people
The white minority lead lifestyles similar in many respects
The country's black majority still has a substantial number to whites found in Europe, North America and
of rural inhabitants who lead largely impoverished and Australasia, with sport being immensely popular. The
necessarily simple lives. However, blacks are increasingly braai (short for braaivleis or barbecue) is another
urbanised and westernised, and usually speak English or national pastime, epitomised by an old advertising
Afrikaans in addition to their native tongue, which may be slogan for Chevrolet cars in the 1960s: Braaivleis, rugby,
one of nine Bantu languages with official status since sunny skies and Chevrolet.
1994. These include the Nguni languages, Zulu, Xhosa,
Religious beliefs are also strong, with most Afrikaners
Ndebele, Swazi, and Tsonga, and the Sotho languages,
adhering to the Dutch Reformed Church. Most Englishwhich
include Tswana, Sotho, Northern Sotho and speaking whites are either Anglican or Roman Catholic.
Venda. Cultural differences between speakers from the
Perhaps 90,000 whites are Jewish, with a similar number
two language groups are comparable to those between
being of Portuguese origin. There are some Greeks and
speakers of German and Italian. Many urban blacks
Christian Lebanese.
speak several indigenous languages, with Zulu being a
lingua franca in the Johannesburg area.
Apartheid was abandoned as a policy by the government
OPEN TRADE 55
Oct-Dec 2007