English Speaking Countries - SOUTH AFRICA

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SOUTH AFRICA

Intro

Today, we’re going to explore a fascinating country called South Africa. It’s located at the southern tip of the African continent and is known for its stunning landscapes, diverse cultures, and rich history. Imagine beautiful beaches, wild safaris, and big cities like Cape Town and Johannesburg!  During this lesson, you’ll learn about its history, culture, wildlife, and some of the challenges the country has faced. Get ready for an exciting journey to South Africa! 🌍✨

Population 62,027,503

1) History

Early recorded history

The first known people (indigenous to Southern Africa) were the San and the Khoikhoi. They used to be know by the collective term Bushmen (from the Dutch Bosjesmannen). which is now regarded as a derogatory term. 

The Portuguese

European exploration of the African coast began in the 13th century when Portugal sought an alternative route to the Silk Road to China. In the 14th and 15th century, Portuguese explorers traveled down the west African Coast, detailing and mapping the coastline and in 1488 they rounded the Cape of Good Hope

The VOC

The Dutch East India Company (VOC) established a trading post in Cape Town (Kaapstad) under the command of Jan van Riebeeck in April 1652, European workers who settled at the Cape became known as the Free Burghers and gradually established farms in the Dutch Cape Colony.

The Voortrekkers

In 1795 and 1806 the English invaded the Dutch Cape Colony so the Dutch left. This migration is known as the Grote Trek and the Boers were called Voortrekkers. They established several Boer Republics in the interior of South Africa. Many died along the way from disease and attacks from local Zulu and Matabele tribes.

Anglo-Boer wars

The discoveries of diamonds and gold in the nineteenth century had a profound effect on the fortunes of the region. The discoveries also led to new conflicts culminating in open warfare between the Boer settlers and the British Empire, fought for control over the growing mining industry.

South Africa Act

Following the defeat of the Boers in the Second Anglo–Boer War or South African War (1899–1902), the Union of South Africa was created as a self-governing dominion of the British Empire on 31 May 1910 in terms of the South Africa Act 1909.

Evolution of the  

South African flag

South Africa's coat of arms

Apartheid

In 1948, apartheid was introduced, a system of racial segregation that oppressed non-white people. Leaders like Nelson Mandela fought against it, and after many struggles, apartheid ended in 1994. Mandela became South Africa’s first Black president, marking a new era of democracy. 

Police brutality againts 

black school children

Sign on a beach in Durban

1960 Sharpeville Massacre 

protests against the pass laws

1976 Soweto Riots protests 

against Afrikaans language in school

Nelson Mandela after having 

been freed in 1990 (27 years in jail)

Mandela and FW de Klerk received the Nobel Peace Prize

Post Apartheid

After Apartheid ended there are still white people, especially from the Afrikaner community who feel threatened by black people and want to bring back Apartheid. Some of the more extreme groups like the Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging use nazi symbols to get their message of white-supremacy across.

2) Rainbow Nation

Peace through reconciliation

Even though they kept Mandela in prison for 27 years, he never wanted to take revenge on his oppressors. He said: "As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn't leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I'd still be in prison." And so he tried to unite the country - black and white.

Origin

"Rainbow nation" is a term invented by Archbishop Desmond Tutu to describe post-apartheid South Africa after South Africa's first democratic election in 1994.

Usage

The phrase was later used by President Nelson Mandela: "Each of us is as intimately attached to the soil of this beautiful country as are the famous jacaranda trees of Pretoria and the mimosa trees of the bushveld – a rainbow nation at peace with itself and the world.

Meaning

The term Rainbow Nation was meant to show how people from many different cultures and countries can come together as one. This is special because the country used to be divided into white and black people during a time called Apartheid.

Uniting a country

Nelson Mandela used sports among other things to bring the different people of South Africa together. When the Springboks won the rugby world cup in 1995 and by hosting the 2010 world cup football. 

3) Flora & Fauna

National Parks

South African has 19 national parks. The best known park is Kruger National Park, which is also the oldest (proclaimed in 1898), and the largest, at nearly 2,000,000 hectares (20,000 km2). Kruger National Park and Table Mountain National Park are two of South Africa's most visited tourist attractions.

The Big 5

In Africa, the Big Five game animals are the lion, leopard, rhinoceros, African buffalo and elephant.
The term was invented by big-game hunters to refer to the five most difficult animals in Africa to hunt on foot, but is now more widely used by game viewing tourists and safari tour operators.

Springbok

The springbok or springbuck (Antidorcas marsupialis) is an antelope found mainly in south and southwest Africa.
It is also the name and symbol of the national rugby team: the Springboks.

Jacaranda tree

In 1830, Baron Carl Ferdinand Heinrich von Ludwig of Cape Town imported Jacaranda trees from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, successfully growing them in South African soil. The first ones were planted in Pretoria in 1888. They were first planted as street trees in the town during 1906, and only after 1911 this was done on a larger scale.

Baobab tree

Carbon dating has shown that the enormous Baobab trees sometimes reach as much as 3000 years in age. The baobab has the unique ability to regenerate damaged or stripped bark, and can even survive fire. They create their own ecosystems, supporting thousands of creatures great and small that eat their leaves, make homes in their barks, rest in their branches, and drink the nectar from their flowers.

Protea

The king protea (scientific name: Protea cynaroides) is a type of flowering plant. It’s also called the giant protea, honeypot, or king sugar bush. It’s known for having the largest flower in the protea family. This plant grows mainly in the southwestern and southern parts of South Africa, in an area called the fynbos region. The king protea is special because it’s the national flower of South Africa and the national cricket team.

4) Culture

The people

Three-fourths of the population are black Africans, including the Zulu, Xhosa, Sotho, and Tswana; nearly all of the remainder are of European or mixed or South Asian descent.

Official languages

At least thirty-five languages are spoken in South Africa, twelve of which are official languages of South Africa: Ndebele, Pedi, Sotho, South African Sign Language, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Afrikaans, Xhosa, Zulu, and English, which is the primary language, though all official languages are equal in legal status. 

Xhosa language

Xhosa is a language spoken by about 8 million people as their first language. Many others in South Africa, especially in areas like Eastern Cape, Western Cape, Northern Cape, and Gauteng, speak it as a second language. It is also spoken in some parts of Zimbabwe and Lesotho. Xhosa is known for having many click sounds, which are a special part of the language.

Afrikaans language

Afrikaans is a language that comes from Dutch. It is spoken mainly in South Africa and Namibia, and a little in Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. It started when Dutch settlers and enslaved people in South Africa spoke their version of Dutch a long time ago, in the 17th and 18th centuries. Over time, it changed and became its own language, Afrikaans.

Braai

In South Africa, a braai is like a barbecue or grill. It’s a popular way for people to get together and cook food, especially grilled meat. The word braai comes from Afrikaans, and braaivleis means "grilled meat." Even though it started with Afrikaners, people from all different backgrounds in South Africa now enjoy having a braai.

Biltong

Biltong is a type of dried, cured meat that comes from Southern Africa. This includes countries like South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, and others. It can be made from different meats, like beef or game meats such as ostrich or kudu. The meat is cut into strips or flat pieces and then air-dried with spices. 
 The word "biltong" comes from Afrikaans, where "bil" means "buttock" and "tong" means "strip" or "tongue."

The Proteas

Cricket

The Springboks
Rugby

Freedom Day

Freedom Day is a public holiday in South Africa celebrated on 27 April. It remembers the first elections in 1994 where everyone over 18, no matter their race, could vote for the first time. It also marks the day South Africa’s new constitution was introduced, ending apartheid.

Task for your grade

Create a poster with 4 sections:

1. History;
2. Architecture;
3. People;
4. Culture.

In each section I want to see some relevant facts about and pictures of Singapore. 

You can draw, paint or print images and text.

You are free to use other facts that you find on the internet: the less information you use from this LessonUp, the better your grade. 

Everything needs to be in English of course.

Be creative and make sure it looks nice!

Things you can use

Here are some SUGGESTIONS:

• A Map of the country
• Foods
• Traditional clothing
• Entertainment (Art and/or Music from the country)
• Famous people from Singapore
• What languages/dialect do they speak? What is the word for “hello” or "goodby"?
• Climate/Weather
• The Country’s Flag
• Popular sports or games
• What kind of money/currency do they use?
• Holidays celebrated in Singapore
• The country’s capitol and/or most famous areas

GOOD LUCK!