 South African flag (photo by Ashley Zapata-Palmer) It's come to my attention that my friends and family from home don't know a ton about the country. So, I thought I'd give you a bit more background on the country so future entries make more sense. It's officially been 1 week of our adventure in South Africa, and we are PUOMPED (a Freudian slip combining the words Pooped and Pumped which I said today and thought was perfectly appropriate). Many wonderful things have happened and I feel like I've learned a LOT. But before I get into the good stuff I wanted to write about, here's a quick overview of our first week in Cape Town:
That being said, I was having a conversation with a new friend here who asked me "What do people in America think of South Africa?" I thought about it and then realized that many of my friends and family have asked basic questions about the country, giving me the impression that they don't know much about it and therefore don't think much about the country. Those Americans who do know something of South Africa usually mention Nelson Mandela and apartheid. However, that's like saying World War 2 is about Nazis and that's it (I know, that's a terrible parallel). There's a TON of stuff I've learned that goes way beyond that, so, I thought I'd give you a bit more background on the country so future entries make more sense. A Brief History of South AfricaAccording to Wikipedia (lol, sorry college professors) The Republic of South Africa is a democratic country at the very southern tip of Africa. Its three capital cities are large and developing: executive Pretoria, judicial Bloemfontein, and legislative Cape Town. It's almost twice the physical size of Texas and is populated by over 59 million people. There are 11 official languages including 9 African languages such as Zulu and Xhosa, and Germanic languages English and Afrikaans. The religious make-up of the country is roughly 78% Christianity, 11% no religion, and the remaining 11% Islam, Hinduism, traditional African faiths, and others. Because of its diverse cultures, it's difficult to describe what defines the country as a whole. This has earned it the nickname, "the Rainbow nation." The country is famous world-wide for its diversity in biomes, plants, animals, minerals, ethnicities, cultures, people, and its history of "apartheid." (Pronounced uh-PAR-tide) Ready for a history lesson full of big words? You just gotta understand the past to understand the present and future. This next bit of info comes from a variety of museums we've visited and conversations we've had (supplemented of course with statistics and dates by Wikipedia). Apartheid was a system of institutionalized racial segregation characterized by authoritarian policies based on "baasskap" or "white supremacy" that existed from 1948 until the early 1990s. It is an Afrikaans word meaning "apart hood" or separation. Race has played a huge role in the country's identity. It's as if you can't talk or learn about the country without discussing it to some extent. In my experience, everyone here talks about it (even though it is quite difficult). The old system of apartheid classified 4 races with levels of status and freedoms from high to low: White, Asian, Coloured (multiracial), and Black. As of 2019, about 80% of their population are Black, 9% are Coloured, 8% White, and 3% Asian. One would think with this much of a Black majority, there wouldn't be racism; after all, isn't racism about the majority oppressing the minority? No; if you're American, remember what happened to the Native Americans–it's about power and supremacy. So, where'd this diversity come from, and why is there still racism!? An Extended Addendum to the Brief History of South Africa(stay with me, this stuff is gold!)South Africa contains some of the oldest modern human sites in the world, suggesting that the origin of the modern human race was here. We saw and learned about some of these finds at the Iziko Natural Science Museum in Cape Town. Fossils, arrowheads, cave artworks, and more. It was pretty neat. Long story short, these "Bantu" people were named the San, Khoikhoi (koi-koi), Zulu, and Xhosa (click your tongue as you say "oh-saw"). In 1652, Dutch colonists first settled in the area and began mingling with the natives, giving birth to the African/Germanic language and culture of "Afrikaans." Then in the early 1800s, Great Britain ceded Cape Town into the British Empire and French immigrants fled to the area during the French Revolution; bringing even more diversity to the area. A series of horrible wars throughout the 19th century between the different people desiring control eventually led to British oppressive rule, unification against the British, and independence for "The Union of South Africa" which later became "The Republic of South Africa." With this independence came the supremacy of white people. In 1948, a new system was put in place as voted by the National Party that built upon the informal racism of the past: apartheid. This system included legal segregation that benefited whites to enjoy the highest standard of living in Africa, while the black majority remained disadvantaged in pretty much every way. The country's economy grew and developed infrastructure and urban centers. However, tons of terrible things happened during this time, including violence between security forces and anti-apartheid organizations such as the African National Congress (ANC), destruction of District 6 (a cultural hot spot for the coloured population), the relocation of tens of thousands of black and coloured people to unsupported "townships" outside the city centers, and so much more. You've probably heard of Nelson Mandela, who was one of the political activists who fought against apartheid. He was imprisoned at Robben Island just off the coast of Cape Town in 1963 for his role in urban sabotage. The world took note of the human rights violations happening in South Africa, and began pressuring the country to change. In 1990, the National Party finally took steps to dismantle discrimination by lifting a ban on the ANC and freeing Nelson Mandela after 27 years. He spent his time in jail learning to reconcile with his oppressors, and thus brought his experience to the nation by negotiating the end of apartheid. With voting rights granted to all citizens in 1994, the ANC won the first official universal election with Mandela elected as President. This made him into a symbol of social justice and cultural reconciliation across the world. However, it doesn't all end there with rainbows and unity. The effects of segregation still linger in massive ways; ranging from the income inequalities, unemployment, lack of proper education, and poor housing conditions. Additionally, the government (the ANC after Mandela) has suffered from poor leadership, corruption, money laundering, and violent xenophobia. Today, Cape Town is a cultural hot spot with rich tourism and a vibrant film industry; although its suburbs and townships are still riddled with gang violence and poverty. I could go on. And frankly, I will. I am fascinated by this history and how the many different kinds of people here find life, love, and success. I'm inspired by their ability to push through adversity and remain hopeful and empathetic. The people I've met have shown me a desire and ability to listen, understand each other, and pursue a better life for all.
You probably still have questions, and there are still holes in this story. That's because I boiled down an entire history into a 10-minute-read. As I learn more and continue to process, I'll try to write in ways that are a little less history-heavy... but no promises. 😉 Thanks, and until next time; ~Josh & Ashley The Zeeps
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