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|rels = [[Christianity|Christian]], [[Protestant]], [[Anglican]], other
|rels = [[Christianity|Christian]], [[Protestant]], [[Anglican]], other
|langs = [[South African English]]
|langs = [[South African English]]
|related = [[English people|English]], [[Afrikaners]], [[French people|French]], [[Scottish people|Scottish]], [[Irish people|Irish]], [[Welsh people|Welsh]]; [[Walloons]], [[Coloured]]
|related = [[English people|English]], [[Afrikaners]], [[French people|French]], [[Scottish people|Scottish]], [[Irish people|Irish]], [[Welsh people|Welsh]]; [[Walloons]],
}}
}}
'''Anglo-Africans''' are primarily associated with Southern Africa and [[Briton|British]] ancestry. They number about 2 - 4 million, and are predominantly of [[English people|English]], [[Welsh people|Welsh]], [[Scottish people|Scottish]], [[Irish people|Irish]] and [[France|French]] [[Huguenot]] descent who speak [[English language|English]]. Some are descended from migrants from other parts of Europe and from other British, English-speaking states ([[Australia]], [[Canada]], and [[New Zealand]]).
'''Anglo-Africans''' are primarily associated with Southern Africa and [[Briton|British]] ancestry. They number about 2 - 4 million, and are predominantly of [[English people|English]], [[Welsh people|Welsh]], [[Scottish people|Scottish]], [[Irish people|Irish]] and [[France|French]] [[Huguenot]] descent who speak [[English language|English]]. Some are descended from migrants from other parts of Europe and from other British, English-speaking states ([[Australia]], [[Canada]], and [[New Zealand]]).

Revision as of 05:00, 29 June 2007

Anglo-Africans
Cecil RhodesJohnny CleggMark Shuttleworth in Space
Regions with significant populations
South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia, Kenya
Languages
South African English
Religion
Christian, Protestant, Anglican, other
Related ethnic groups
English, Afrikaners, French, Scottish, Irish, Welsh; Walloons,

Anglo-Africans are primarily associated with Southern Africa and British ancestry. They number about 2 - 4 million, and are predominantly of English, Welsh, Scottish, Irish and French Huguenot descent who speak English. Some are descended from migrants from other parts of Europe and from other British, English-speaking states (Australia, Canada, and New Zealand).

Terminology

Ethnicity is a politically loaded and historically painful topic in South Africa, and therefore many South Africans do not speak of it. While some conservative Anglo persons still cherish the nametag of "British", others view it as an obsolete when used in an ethnic context. The phrase Anglo African is today used, somewhat loosely, to refer Anglos in Africa, i.e. a person or people of British ethnicity, predominantly in South Africa, but also in smaller numbers in Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland and Zambia.

Unlike the Afrikaners, few early rooineks dressed appropriately for the climate.

Unlike the Afrikaners, they have not constituted a coherent political or cultural entity in South Africa, hence the absence of a commonly accepted term, although 'English South African' or 'English-speaking South African' are much used.

An Afrikaans term for Anglo African is rooinek, meaning "red neck" (derogatory depending on context [1]). It arose as a nickname in the early days of settlement, as a reference to the then red collars of British military uniforms, from the red markings the British farmers put on their imported Merino breed of sheep, or to the fact they were sunburnt easily, because unlike the Afrikaners, they were new to Africa, and so dressed inappropriately, i.e. wore inadequate hats, e.g. pith helmets, or no hat at all. NB. This Afrikaans term, for English people in southern Africa, is NOT related to the American term redneck, though both probably refer to a sunburnt neck. The American term (usually derogatory) refers to lower class Americans.

History

Scottish-born David Livingstone left Britain behind for Africa.
Further information: History of South Africa, History of Zimbabwe, and History of Kenya

Although there were small temporary British settlements along the West African coast from the 1700s onwards, British settlement in Africa began in earnest only at the end of the eighteenth century, in the Cape of Good Hope.

British settlement in the Cape gained momentum following the success of the second British attempt to annex the Cape from the Dutch East India Company, and the subsequent encouragement of settlers in "Settler Country" in the Eastern Cape in an effort to consolidate the colony's eastern border following the Cape Frontier Wars against the Xhosa.

Britain expanded the Cape Colony northwards into Khoikhoi and San lands. Many Britons settled in the region, but developed a culture distinct from that in Britain; a culture which had similarities to developing Australian and Afrikaner cultures. Livingstone famously explored southern Africa, and was the first European to set eyes on Victoria Falls. He is a key character in Anglo African history, being one of the first well-known Britons to believe his heart was in Africa.

Rhodes planned to link Cairo to the Cape.

In the late nineteenth century, the discovery of gold in the Witwatersrand and diamonds in Kimberley further encouraged colonisation by Britons, Australians, Americans and Canadians. Following the defeat of the Afrikaners after the First and Second Boer Wars, Britain annexed the Boer Republics of the Transvaal and Orange Free State.

Cecil John Rhodes dreamt of a British Africa from Cape Town to Cairo, and the BSAC conquered Mashonaland, Matabeleland and some settlements further north, which became known as Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe and Zambia). The search for gold drove expansion north into the Rhodesias (now Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi). Simultaneously, British settlers began expansion into the fertile uplands (often called the "White Highlands") of British East Africa (now Kenya and Tanzania). In all these colonies, a number of settlers remained to live following independence and the introduction of majority rule in the second half of the twentieth century.

Modern history

File:Bushwar1.JPG
Rhodesian national servicewoman takes aim with a Browning automatic, from 1976 army recruitment poster.

Following the ideological rise of anti-colonialism throughout the Empire, many British protectorates and colonies were granted independence.

Rhodesia (formerly: Southern Rhodesia)

Resistance to the British government’s adopted policy of No Independence Before MAjority Rule (NIBMAR), resulted in the Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) of the Rhodesian government on November 11, 1965. The NIBMAR policy was perceived as irresponsible by supporters of the governing Rhodesia Front party, led by Ian Douglas Smith. Not long after UDI a protracted Bush War was fought in Rhodesia until 1979.

Republic of South Africa

The South African referendum of 1992 was held on March 17. In it, South Africans were asked to vote in the last "whites only" referendum held under the apartheid system, to determine whether or not they supported the negotiated reforms begun by State President F.W. de Klerk two years earlier. The result of the election was a large victory for the "yes" side. Election analysts however reported that support to dismantle Apartheid among the Afrikaners was actually slightly higher than among English/English Language speakers. [1] The Republic of South Africa became fully democratic in 1994.

Efforts are being made by a few Anglo-Africans to secure minority rights. However, the vast majority of are supporting South Africa's official opposition, the Democratic Alliance.

Global presence

The British Empire.
File:Flag of the Commonwealth of Nations.svg
The Commonwealth.

Fearful of crime and the possibility of South Africa's adopting a policy like that in Zimbabwe, a significant number of Anglo-Africans have migrated to countries such as the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.

A large number of young Anglo-Africans are taking advantage of working holiday visas made available by the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries to gain work experience. The favourable exchange rate with the South African Rand (ZAR) also increases the attractiveness of international experience.

Culture

File:Beit-bridge-c1940.jpg
Typical Rhodesian farmhouse, Beit Bridge, circa 1940.
See also: Culture of South Africa

Anglo Africans generally enjoy an outdoor lifestyle and fondness for sport. The braai [2], although originally Afrikaans, is an important social occasion. Anglo-African culture is often likened to Australian culture. There is a fondness for into trekking the Bush which is ideal for camping.

Language

The heart of the Rhodes University campus.
Main article: South African English

Anglo Africans speak a unique dialect of English. There are influences from Cape Malays, Afrikaners and the Bantu languages, as well as Europe and Asia. The common greeting 'Howzit!' comes from 'How is it?' and can be likened to the US 'Howdy', the Australian 'G'Day', the Irish 'Howya?' or the recent British 'All right?'. The considerable Afrikaans influence can be seen from words such as braai, trek, lekker and ja having become common usage centuries ago. In South Africa many Zulu and Xhosa words (such as shongololo, muti, ubuntu etc.) are used.

Original South African English coinages

"bru" male friend (shortening of brother, see also bru above)
"cozzie" a swimsuit, short for swimming costume
"sarnie" a sandwich
"scheme" to think that (e.g. "I scheme we should go home now"; usage evolved from the hyperbole "What are you scheming?" asked of a person deep in thought.)
"soapie" a soap opera
"tune" to talk, especially to talk nonsense ("Are you tuning me?")
"higher grade" a bit too complicated (from the South African matric division of exams into standard *grade and higher grade)
"now now"/"just now" An amount of time, could be anything from 5 seconds to 24 hours, could be past or future tense. i.e.: "I'll be done with it now now." or "He went out just now."

Rhodes University (the Anglo African equivalent of Oxford University) situated in Grahamstown houses the Dictionary Unit for South African English [3]. The fourth edition of the Dictionary of South African English was released in 1991, and the Oxford Dictionary released its South African English dictionary in 2002. The English Academy of Southern Africa was founded in 1961. It is an association dedicated to promoting the effective use of English as a dynamic language in Southern Africa. [4]

Literature

Anglo Africans have a long literary tradition, and have produced a number of notable novelists and poets, including Doris Lessing, Guy Butler, (Ignatius) Roy(ston) Dunnachie Campbell and Denis Vincent Brutus. A traditional Anglo-African storybook is Sir Percy Fitzpatrick's Jock of the Bushveld, which describes his journey as a wagondriver with his dog Jock in the Bush. Other significant writers are Nadine Gordimer,Alan Paton, Peter Godwin and Cathy Buckle.

Arts

Theatre is probably the art form most influenced by Anglo Africans. (Harold) Athol (Lannigan) Fugard is a significant playwright. As for music it is typically Anglo. There is Dave Matthews, who emigrated to the United States, and is therefore more generally identified as American. Johnny Clegg is an influential musician, though his music is more Zulu than Anglo. Wrex Tarr performed the distinctly Rhodesian comedy song Cocky Robin based on Chilapalapa. John Edmond was a very popular singer, songwriter, entertainer and storyteller during the Rhodesian Bush War. Clem Tholet was an inspiring Rhodesian folk singer, guitarist & songwriter during the Bush War.

Sport

Rory Byrne with Michael Schumacher's car for the 2005 F1 season.

Rugby, cricket and golf are generally considered to be the most popular sports among Anglo Africans. "Danie" (Daniel Hartman) Craven is arguably Africa's best rugby player. The contribution of Anglo-Africans to South African rugby has continued to the present; other notables include Kitch Christie, the coach who led the Springboks to victory in the 1995 Rugby World Cup; Percy Montgomery, the Springboks' all-time leading scorer; and Victor Matfield, currently one of the top locks in the world. Champion golfers include Nick Price and Gary Player, while top cricket players include (Robert) Graeme Pollock and his nephew Shaun Pollock. Regards swimming, there is Olympic winner Kirsty Coventry. Anglo Africans have had an influence on motorsport: Rory Byrne, Formula 1 is a famous Formula 1 car designer and one of the most successful designers of all time, Jody Scheckter won the F1 world championship, and his son Tomas Scheckter (born September 21, 1980) is a South African racing driver, born in Monte Carlo, currently competing in the Indy Racing League and the A1 Grand Prix series.

Notables

(Alphabetically by surname)

References

  1. ^ Countrystudies Toward Democracy

See also


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