Geographical Location's Culture in South Africa - Case Study Example

Name) (Instructor) (Institution) (Course code) (Date) South Africa is only country in the world which is named after its location. The was an universal agreement to keep the name after the creation of a constitutional non-racial democracy when it gained its independence in the year 1994 (Iranicaonline.org, 2014) With the formation of colonial colony of Dutch East India Company in 1952, the country was officially divided into native and colonizer, free and slave, white and non-white, employed and indentured and citizen and subject society. The division of the society led to the fragmentation of South Africa national identity as implemented and symbolized the white minority who led the country with racial separation policy (Frueh, 2003) The country held their first non-racial elections in the year 1994, the ruling party which won the elections was African Nation Congress abandoned the existing legacy and created a unified national patriotism on the foundation of equitable allocation of resources and equal legal status (Frueh, 2003) Culture hybridization Linguistic Affiliation The South African population is approximately 53 million comprising of people diverse background, races, ethnic groups. The diverse background is rife for the cultural hybridization. There are eight documented Bantu-speaking ethnic tribes. The hybridization of the Dutch and these Bantu-speaking groups led to the rise of the Afrikaans language. The Afrikaans language borrows words from the South African Bantus and the white Dutch colonizers who migrated and settle in South Africa. The language is currently spoken by the descents of British colonialist, the Indian immigrants who speak Urdu and Tamil. The remnants of the indigenous South Africa population, the Khoikhoi and the San, and other Africans also speak Afrikaans language (Webb, 2002) The country uses 11 languages as official. This measure was incorporated in the country’s constitution when they achieve their independence. This was meant to equalize Bantu Language with Afrikaans having being undermined by regime of the white minority. Afrikaans is the language that is widely spoken throughout in conversation. English is used in formal communication, education, media, business, law and in government (Webb, 2002) National Identity Afrikaners for a long period of time considered themselves solely as true South Africans. The Afrikaners granted full citizenships to all South Africans of European descent but denied the same status to colored people up to when the country attained independence in 1994 (Frueh, 2003) British South Africans have not cut their social and cultural association with the Great Britain without affecting their sense of identity as South Africans. The same case applies among the South Africans of Indian descent that still retain their secondary and primary local ancestral identity. The South African Bantus have also considered themselves as South Africans notwithstanding the efforts of minority white government categorize them as not full citizens of South Africa. From 1959 t0 1991 were regarded as Bantustans denoting Citizens of ethnic homelands (Frankental & Sichone, 2005) Among the Africans, there is a strong social and cultural loyalty to local political structures and African language. These loyalties include chieftaincy and kingdom which still remain a significant element of identity. For these black people, national identity comes first before the sense of belonging to a particular ethnic, linguistic, ancestral clan or regional grouping (Frankental & Sichone, 2005) The citizens who were culturally and officially classified as Coloured consider themselves South Africans. This is because their heritage and residual group is hybridization of all other social and cultural backgrounds. Largely, the South African national identity has been achieved by compatriots who struggled a lot. After the democratic majority government coming into office in 1994, it avoided stressing of a unified national identity but encouraged social incorporation thanks to obligation to a collective national future Religion Due to variety of the religions, culture and people, South Africa is normally considered a rainbow nation. These diverse people are attached to my religious faith and spiritual traditions. The constitution of the country protects the freedom of worship and religion. Citizens are therefore at will to belong to any faith they are interested in, or not to be attached to any altogether (Frankental & Sichone, 2005) To allow for hybridization and development of democracy, South African citizens are urged to learn and respect other religious and spiritual practices. South Africa’s religions being practised are Islam, Hinduism, Christianity, Judaism and traditional African religions. The Traditional African religion is widespread in South Africa other the West and Northern part of the continent. In South Africa, the Tradition African religion is commonly practiced in combination with some aspect of Christianity and Islam. The most encouraging part is that the religion here is used to build a better understanding and harmony instead of using it a tool to divide the citizens as it done before. The South African Citizens have learnt a lot (Frankental & Sichone, 2005) South African music, art and culture In this country, music, art and dance has been greatly influence due to Christian missionaries and colonization which lasted for more than two centuries. Here the songs reflect numerous styles such as rock, jazz and gospel which greatly incorporate local flavours and styles. There exist styles like ‘mbube’ Zulu vocal, ‘kwaito’ meaning house music and ‘kwela’ which are street music incorporated with penny whistle. All these styles integrate local sounds (Our Africa, 2014) The art on the other hand is a blend of modern with the traditional ones. The artistes employ western mediums and techniques as they draw inspiration from figurines of tribal culture, statues and masks. Arts in the form of textiles and dancing still hold the strongest association with the traditional African culture, as they portray both the identity and shared history (Our Africa, 2014) A funny dancing style called gumboot dancing is still in practice. This style came into in the mines of the country. Africans were given knee-length waterproof rubber to safeguard their feet as well as a means contact one another in the dark or at night through thudding and slapping their boots (Our Africa, 2014) Stereotyping In every society and every country all over the world, there exist various kinds of stereotypes. These stereotypes cannot be avoided due to globalization. The globalization has brought different kind of people to live and co-exist together. However, the co-existence does not always guarantee-free society. South Africa being a country full of people of different races, culture and backgrounds offer an opportunity for stereotypes to crop up (Mafe, 2013) There are many stereotypes about the people of different races. Among the stereotypes that exist in South Africa are a result of the perception people have on people backgrounds, race and colour. For example, the stereotype about the African Bantu- speaking and other African citizens is they are uneducated, dumb, rapist, criminals, smell bad, love chicken with their man having huge genitalia (Mafe, 2013). The negative stereotype attributed the black South Africans is due to racist perception. They are looked down upon as 2nd class human beings. Every man is a potential rapist but due to most of the reported cases are perpetrated by Africans. The dumb stereotype dumb is as a result of average of access education and information is below par in comparison to the other group of South African citizens (Mafe, 2013) There are stereotypes also about the coloured citizens. They are known to do drugs like smoking methamphetamine commonly referred to as tik. Other stereotypes about the coloured people is that they are known to attack, rob and attack people on streets using swords, knows and use of swears and obscene words. This group of people are known to be less concern about political developments and politics in general (Mafe, 2013) The white South African’s stereotype is that they are arrogant, racists, likes to be in khaki clothes, and classists. They are also known to be lovers of bad Afrikaans country music. These whites are also known to like grilled meat. The Afrikaners share same attributes with the whites but are known to be racists and violent (Mafe, 2013) The Indian South Africans are not spared as well with stereotypes. They are known live with the extended family in big houses. They are business people who like swindling and lack honesty and ethics in general. They are also known to be fraudsters and conmen. The take a lot of curry in the meals The country has faced its own stereotype as well. Many stories have written about Africa in general and also about South Africa as well. These stories were written by visitors who going to Africa. The stereotypes gave the writers nightmares on how they would adopt to the life in South Africa basing on the stereotypes. Many of these stereotypes are not actually the reality at the ground. They are meant to paint a dull picture on the entire Africa by belittling them and scaring them away (Uloop, 2014) The stereotypes about South Africa and other African countries in general is that Africa is not safe as people are raped, kidnapped and that everyone there has HIV/AIDS. There also a notion that basic necessities like availability of portable water throughout, electricity, internet and also air conditioning (Uloop, 2014) Upon arrival in South Africa, one of the writers was shocked to find out that all the information he had heard about South Africa and the entire continent was actually not true. He found the place magnificent, beautiful and very fascinating. He lived in an apartment which had a fully functional kitchen, water, a television and internet. He also had opportunities to travel to some of the neighbouring countries of Zimbabwe, Zambia and Botswana. This exposure led him to have first-hand information which was in contrary to what his American counterparts instilled him about the whole of Africa (Uloop, 2014) Despite South Africa being a developing country together with the entire Africa, Africans live in beautiful build hut making communities in the process. To Africans, community is of great value in comparison of technology. The bonds and closeness created of much importance to them. They are warm and welcoming to their visitors including the Europeans and Americans among others (Uloop, 2014) Many outsiders consider Africa as primitive and savage continent. Some of these notions are true. South Africa has made tremendous progress irrespective of the poverty many citizens’ faces. Not all of them are in abject poverty as depicted. They believe that all Africans are kidnappers and rapists are just baseless stereotypes to demonise the country as well as the continent in general. It is civilised despite being wild at the same time. If the rest of the world can change how they see South African and the continent in general, the world will be able see outstanding South Africa has developed and progressed (Uloop, 2014) Parsi Community The persecution and oppression of the followers of Zoroastrian faith is referred Persecution of Zoroastrians. The persecution and oppression has place for a long period of time which began as sparse attacks leading to conversion of religion. It is reported that Christians demolished their fire temples while those living Muslim authority were forced to pay more tax called Jizya (Iranicaonline.org, 2014) The tax collectors subjected them to humiliation and insult while collecting taxes. Mosques were built in places where their places of worship was destroyed and desecrated. Their cultural library was also burnt down leading to the loss of their rich cultural heritage (Hinnells, 2005) The situation did not get better as more laws were enacted to regulate their behaviour therefore jeopardising the capacity to free participate in the day to day activities in the society. Zoroastrian persecution became more prevalent and extensive leading to the decrease in the number of people who confessed the Zoroastrian faith. Most of the followers of the faith converted while others escaped the due to harsh laws of the land. Those who converted had to undergo Islamic doctrines with the children had to learn Arabic and Islamic religion and the teaching of the Quran. As a result of adoption of the new changes, children parted ways with their Zoroastrian identity (Hinnells, 2005) Arab invasion The Arabs invaded Iran (then known as Persia) which was an independent country in the mid-7th Century. Persia was them inhabited by Zoroastrian majority. The incoming Arabs destroyed the established Zoroastrianism and set up Islam to replace it. This invasion led to instant death of Zoroastrian domination in Persia and Islam replaced it as the state’s official religion (Kennedy, 2007) The Zoroastrians persecution, forced conversion, discrimination and harassment did not end there. It continued in the centuries that followed. They were identified as ‘najis’ meaning pollutants. They were known to pollute Islam, therefore not fit to live with Muslims. As a result they had no choice but to evacuate the cities and urban areas leading more sanctions in all scope of their lives. They have faced major public degradation in their dress code regulation, exclusion at work, education and society in general by being labelled najis (Kennedy, 2007) In the early 10th Century a section of the Zoroastrians in the Fort of Sanjan and the town of Nyshapour in the province of Khorasa saw their lives and the Zoroastrian religion was no longer safe in Iran. They migrated to India’s Persian Gulf. They chose the island of Hormazd as their place of destination. It took them three years to prepare for the journey (Williams & Kayqubād, 2009) In the year 936 CE the arrived in coast of Gujarat and settled in a small island called Diu. Life was not easy in this island and 20 years later they had learned the local language. In the process, they presented their case to the Hindu king called Jadi Rana. The king allowed them to settle in his Kingdom under the condition of observation to adhere good behaviour and morals. They accepted the said conditions and developed the settlement of Sanjan which is believed to be named after their original homeland in the present day Turkmenistan. This is the city left about thirty years earlier. Within their first five years of settlement, they consecrated Atash Behram fire (Williams & Kayqubād, 2009) Their settlement here attracted Zoroastrians who were still in Iran. Other Zoroastrians who had settled in India were also attracted here. Another group of Zoroastrians followed them with the majority originating from Greater Khorasan. They came along with their religious implements (the alat). The two groups in which settled in Sanjan were referred to as mountain folk (kohistanis) or khorasanis. Another group is believed to have come from Sari. Sari a place in Iran currently known as Mazandaran (Kennedy, 2007) After the above major migrations, there were other minor ones from various parts of Iran in Sanjan in Gujarat. Each of the migration came along with them different ways of practising Zoroastrian rituals and ceremonies (Williams & Kayqubād, 2009 This is how Parsis in India came into being. The Hindus here have all along live in peace with the Zoroastrians in harmony and peace. The Zoroastrians do still live in western India. At the moment it comprises of the biggest concentration of Zoroastrians in the globe. The Zoroastrians legends concerning the forefathers migration to India shows beleaguered refugees fleeing from the cruel authority of Muslim with the aim of preserving their ancient religion. It is in the recent times that Parsis came to know the extent of suffering and oppression the remnants of Zoroastrians in Iran suffered (Williams & Kayqubād, 2009 References Everyculture.com,. (2014). Culture of South Africa - history, people, clothing, traditions, women, beliefs, food, customs, family. Retrieved 14 November 2014, from http://www.everyculture.com/Sa-Th/South-Africa.html Frankental, S., & Sichone, O. (2005). South Africa's diverse peoples. Santa Barbara, Calif.: ABC-CLIO. Frueh, J. (2003). Political identity and social change. Albany: State University of New York Press. Hinnells, J. (2005). The Zoroastrian diaspora. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Iranicaonline.org,. (2014). PARSI COMMUNITIES i. EARLY HISTORY – Encyclopaedia Iranica. Retrieved 14 November 2014, from http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/parsi-communities-i-early-history Kennedy, H. (2007). The great Arab conquests. Philadelphia, PA: Da Capo. Mafe, D. (2013). Mixed race stereotypes in South African and American literature. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. Our Africa,. (2014). People & Culture. Retrieved 14 November 2014, from http://www.our-africa.org/south-africa/people-culture Uloop,. (2014). Breaking Stereotypes in South Africa. Retrieved 14 November 2014, from http://mtholyoke.uloop.com/news/view.php/26474/Breaking-Stereotypes-in-South-Africa Webb, V. (2002). Language in South Africa. Philadelphia: J. Benjamins. Williams, A., & KayqubaÌ„d, B. (2009). The Zoroastrian myth of migration from Iran and settlement in the Indian diaspora. Leiden: Brill. Read More