Afrikaner/ Boer Nationalism in the nineteenth century South Africa

Afrikaner/ Boer Nationalism in the nineteenth century South Africa

The Afrikaaners were the Dutch-speaking colonists' of South Africa who were sometimes referred to as Burghers or/native Boers.

They developed their language from the original Dutch that was known as Afrikaans, which had a distinct South African c..alect. It was promoted through their culture, religion and language.

Afrikaner nationalism emerged in the late Nineteenth Century as a movement of resistance of the descendants of the original Dutch speaking settlers against the encroaching British imperialism. It continued even after this period to date. It was a movement by the original Boer settlers. Even after the Second World War 1939- 1945, it continued to develop.

The original Dutch settlers in South Africa developed this nationalism in order to promote their cultural supremacy and heritage as well as the political independence that was being threatened by the continued policy of the British. Afrikaaner nationalism as a cultural movement originated among teachers and ministers of the Dutch religion in the south Western Cape Colony. Its leading figure was Stephanus du’ Toil.

Afrikaaner religion was strengthened by the anti liberal revival of Calvinism imported from the Netherlands.

Afrikaner nationalism has its roots in resentment against British annexation of the Transvaal among the Dutch speaking white settlers in both the Boer Republics and the Cape Colony.

Afrikaaner as a political movement originated among land owners in the South Western Cape, organized by Jan Hofmeyr into the Boeren Beschermings Vereenigings or farmers protection association of 1878 to fight new taxes on wine exports by the Cape government.

Origins of the Afrikaans Culture

The Boer trekkers beyond the Frontier of the Cape mixed Dutch and African customs, clothing and speech in a new South African way of life.

They lived in wagons or reed and thatch houses with mud floors, herding sheep and cattle. They also grew a few crops, wearing home made clothes of European type, carrying firearms and riding horses to trade and raid.

Their Khoisan type sheep, goats and cattle became known as Afrikaaner (or Africander) breeds.

Their Veld - Skoen, Biltong and 'rooi - bos' origionated in traditional African shoes, hung meat and herb tea.

The South African dialect of Dutch, known as the "Taal' which grew into the Africans language, borrowed words and phrases from Portuguese, Malay, Khoisan, and Bantu languages.

Colored and white trekkers were united by common culture but divided by consciousness of shades of color.

Factors that led to the growth of Afrikaaner Nationalism among the Boers in South Africa

The Afrikaners developed Afrikaans language, which made them feel more Afrikaner than the Africans.

They wanted to protect their cultural pride and national independence from the British imperialists who had continued to encroach on them.

The need to protect international heritage of afrikaaners in South Africa.

The desire to establish Boer states and Republics based on afrikaaner values and virtues and interests.

The general influences and impact of the 1910 Act of Union greatly reduced Boer supremacy, pride and dominance over the British.

The rise of African military leaders among the Sotho, Zulu and Xhosa greatly threatened Boer supremacy and dominancy. The Afrikaaners wanted to be under their own political dominance and a race apart.

The influence of Afrikaaner political organizations/ political parties like the Afrikaaner Bond (A B) and the National Party (NP).

The growing military strength of the Afrikaaners after the discovery of Gold in 1885 which gave them economic growth to equip their Afrikaaner armies and initiate war in defence.

Increased racial segregation by the Afrikaaners and the coloured people against British imperialism.

The influence of Afrikaaner mass media/ press from 1930's united the Afrikaaners into a nationalist force .

The emergence of Afrikaaner nationalist leaders like Paul Kruger, Wessel Pretorius, Joubert among others.

Need by the Afrikaaners to defend their lands/ states against foreign intrusion, whether British or Africans.

Their Pastoral culture and religion were in danger of being swept by English influence. This made them adopt Afrikaner nationalism.

They had for long protested British domination over land, Education, Language and Employment. Therefore they had a desire to develop their pure and distinct Afrikaner origin.

The Boers felt they were a superior race over the Khoisan, the Bantu and the British which paved way for Afrikaaner nationalism.

When the British granted equal rights to the non-whites, it annoyed the Boers and made them develop Afrikaner nationalism.

Boers also felt that the British were undermining their existence in South Africa.

They established and signed the Sand River Convention and Bloemfontein Convention in 1850's, which recognized their right to rule themselves and built up nationalistic and patriotic feelings.

The Boers feared the black Africans in the interior who could chase them out of South Africa thus came closer in nationalism.

The Boer Republics of Transvaal and Orange Free State grew closer attention to prevent enemies, thus growth of nationalism.

In 1843, the British annexed Natal and later Griqualand in the West, which annoyed the Boers and brought them together nationalism.

In the interior of South Africa, the Boers had fought wars against the Pedi, Swazi, Sotho, Pondo, Figo, Xhosa and b:mbu. This made them take themselves, as different people hated by the natives, thus a need to come together.

The Anglo Boer wars 1880 - 1881, 1899 - 1902 and the 1895 Jameson's Raid also promoted the Afrikaner bond. In these wars especially the first Anglo-Boer war, the Boers in the Witwatersrand were successful and they came closer into Union.

It was also inspired from overseas by nationalist and religious developments in German and the Netherlands.

The Boer Republics came to fight against the British, which inspired Nationalism mainly the 1899 - 1902 Second Anglo-Boer war.

The discovery of minerals in 1867 with Diamonds in Kimberley and in 1885 Gold in the Witwatersrand strengthened their Republics and helped to build Afrikaner Bond and economic nationalism. These minerals were important in establishing Africaaner economic nationalism.