THE AFRIKANER
The
Afrikaner’s remarkable history, and their geographical isolation combined with
often deliberate, cultural isolation has created a unique people – often
called the white tribe of Africa.
The
ethnic composition of the Afrikaner is difficult to quantify, but it is
estimated that 40% are of Dutch origin, 40% German, 7.5% French, 7.5% British,
and 5% other.
The
Afrikaners speak Afrikaans, the only Germanic language to have evolved outside
Europe. Spoken as a mother tongue by six million people it is central to the
Afrikaner identity. In 1994, with the democratisation of South Africa, Afrikaans
became one of the eleven official languages of the country. The other ten are
English and nine of the most frequently-used African languages. Even so,
Afrikaans remains the third most widely-spoken language, after Zulu and Xhosa.
The Afrikaners are a religious people and their brand of
Protestant-Calvinism is still a powerful influence. Determination
and courage were required by the first trekboers who launched themselves into
Africa and again in their long and bitter struggle against the British Empire.
All this has created a proud and resourceful people.
Historically the Afrikaner nation’s origins are older than those of the
white nations of Australia, New Zealand and about as old as those of the
American nation and the Canadians.
Today, the Afrikaner is preparing himself for full participation in the
new dispensation. Together with its English-speaking compatriots, he is engaging
all his experience, talents, expertise and skills in assisting black Africans,
and persuading them that without the Afrikaner the new South Africa will
deteriorate into just another poverty-stricken African state, where
ethnically-driven conflict poses a very real problem.