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The Anthropology of Space and Place in the Afrikaner Volkstaat Of “PLACE OF OUR OWN”: The Anthropology of Space and Place In the Afrikaner Volkstaat of Orania by LISE HAGEN submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS in the subject ANTHROPOLOGY at the UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA PRETORIA Supervisor: Professor M. de Jongh Co-supervisor: Professor C.J. van Vuuren January 2013 Student number: 4107-018-6 I declare that “PLACE OF OUR OWN”: The Anthropology of Space and Place in the Afrikaner Volkstaat of Orania is my own work and that all the sources that I have used or quoted have been indicated and acknowledged by means of complete references. ___________________ _____________________ Signed Date (Lise Hagen) i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Dedicated to Hugo Hagen: father, artist & storyteller extraordinaire Carpe diem pappa Words are inadequate to convey the nuances and myriad facets to each and every step of this research journey. However, I humbly express my sincerest thanks to the following persons and institutions who contributed: The inhabitants, management and leadership of Orania for allowing me a glimpse into their lives. While there were many, many instances of assistance, collaboration and kindness, in particular I would like to thank Karel iv and Anje for food, and food for thought, the Strydoms, Lida and Nikke, for patience and Dr. Manie Opperman, Sebastian Biehl and Roelien de Klerk for their personal interest and support. Dankie Orania. My husband. Geliefde, thanks for accompanying me across the country and across the world, on roads certainly less travelled. To my supervisors Professors Mike de Jongh and Chris van Vuuren for their patient support and for fostering me, an anthropological cuckoo, above and beyond the call of duty. My parents, who instilled in me a curiosity about the world and how things work that just grows stronger the more I experience. In particular, I dedicate this study to my father, whose sudden, terminal illness just as I was completing this study was a heart-breaking but powerful affirmation of life. The Universe. For the adventure of life. ii SUMMARY "Place of Our Own": The Anthropology of Space and Place in the Afrikaner Volkstaat of Orania Student: L Hagen Degree: M.A. (Anthropology) Subject: Anthropology Supervisor: Prof. M. De Jongh Co-supervisor: Prof. C.J. Van Vuuren In anthropological studies place is often taken for granted, “just” the locale where other interesting, more significant things happen (De Jongh 2006:79). I argue that rather than a mere backdrop to activities, the landscape of Orania is significant and that physical place is essential for the construction of an Orania identity. I ethnographically examine whether the physical setting of Orania can be seen as a prime signifying system through which a particular Afrikaner ethnic identity, as well as a set of socio-cultural values is communicated. Occupying the physical land is a form of collective identity that helps create ethnic identities (Tilley 2006:11-13). Orania is an authentic place-bound expression of this quest for identity and Oranians define their identity through their model of space and of their land. The physical boundaries are expanded when support groups outside of the settlement become an integral part of the activities in the community, and socio-political boundaries are tested by an in- and outflux of community members and the constant presence of South African and international press, and visitors. iii Landscape does not merely comprise the land, but also includes the lived experiences and attitudes of the inhabitants. Landscape as text, “a medium to be read for the ideas, practices and contexts constituting the culture which created it” (Ley 1985:419) proves to be a legitimate and constructive way to make sense of the landscape. As with texts, the landscape as text is subject to multiple readings. The focus on textual landscape offers an expanded perspective on space and place, and in this case texts also amplify the Oranian space exponentially. Different types of landscapes - culturescapes, landscape as text and textual landscapes - are building blocks in the construction of an Orania identity. Finally, I would emphasise that Orania, and by extension this study, is not just an academic concept, but a product of the lived experiences and opinions of people who are closely connected to land of their own. Key terms: Ethnography, anthropology, place, space, landscape, textual analysis, Afrikaner, identity, Volkstaat, Orania. iv LIST OF AFRIKAANS TERMS Afrikaner White Afrikaans-speaking Christian South African Afrikanertuiste Home of the Afrikaner Afsaal Off-saddle Bakkie Pickup truck Bewarea (bewaararea) Conservation area Beeldetuin Statue garden Besoekersboek Visitor’s book Binne Inside Braai Barbeque Broodbome Cycads Buite Outside Dorp Town Dorpsembleem Town emblem Dorpskantoor Town office Dorpnuus Town news Dorpsraad Town council Flitslig Flashlight, small regional advertising publication Gemeenskap Community Gemeenskapsaal Community hall Groot Trek Great Trek Gedenkversameling Commemorative Collection Grootdorp Large town Grootpad Large road Geïntegreerde Ontwikkelingsplan Integrated Development Plan (IDP) (GOP) Hoofdorp Main town Hoofpad Main road Hoofweg Highway Inwoner Inhabitant Kaalvoet Barefoot Kartonhuis See papierhuis Kenweb (lit.) Know Web, computer assisted distance schooling programme Kermis Fair, fête Kleine Reus The little giant v Kleingeluk Small luck Kloof Ravine Koeksister Cruller Konsert Concert Koppies Hills Krummels Crumbs Mannetjie Little man Monumentkoppie Monument hill Omwoner People living in the area around Orania Onderdorp Downtown Oom Uncle Orania Beweging Orania Movement Papierhuis (lit.) Paper house, prefabricated house Platteland Rural Plek Place Prinsevlag Prince Flag, Dutch (1570) Randjie Ridge Selfwerksaamheid Self-reliance with regard to labour, performing your own work or people’s own labour Skou Show, exhibition Skinder Gossip Stad City Staat State Stoep Porch Tannie Auntie Tuisland Homeland Uitwoner (lit.) Outhabitant, interested parties Vaatjie Barrel, local pub Vader Father Valhek Boom Vierkleur (lit.) Four colours, the flag of the independent Boer republic of Transvaal Volk People, ethnic people, nation Volkskool School for a particular ethnic group Volkstaat State comprising single ethnic group, homogenous Volkstaatskou People’s show vi Volkstater Inhabitant of the Volkstaat/Oranian publication Voorgrond Foreground/Oranian publication Voortrekker Those who trek ahead/pioneers Wynhuis Wine House, local liquor store vii TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................ 1 1.1 Introduction ............................................................................................... 1 1.1.1 Aims and objectives of this study ...................................................... 2 1.1.2 Interwoven identities ......................................................................... 4 1.2 Research Design ...................................................................................... 6 1.2.1 Introductory remarks ......................................................................... 6 1.2.2 Participant observation ...................................................................... 8 1.2.3 Interviews ........................................................................................ 10 1.2.4 Focus Groups ................................................................................. 12 1.2.5 Unobtrusive methods ...................................................................... 13 1.2.6 Textual analysis .............................................................................. 14 1.3 Defining terminologies on and in Orania ................................................. 15 1.4 Literature review ..................................................................................... 19 1.4.1 Introductory remarks ....................................................................... 19 1.4.2 Landscape ...................................................................................... 20 1.4.3 Place and space ............................................................................. 22 1.4.4 Ethnic identity .................................................................................. 24 1.4.5 Afrikaner ethnic identity ................................................................... 27 1.5 Overview of previous studies on Orania ................................................. 28 1.5.1 Anthropology ................................................................................... 29 1.5.2 History ............................................................................................. 32 1.5.3 Geography ...................................................................................... 33 1.5.4 Political, Legal and Economic Studies ............................................. 34 1.5.5 Social welfare .................................................................................. 36 1.5.6 Film and media ............................................................................... 36 1.6 Conclusion .............................................................................................. 38 Chapter 2 LANDSCAPE .................................................................................... 41 2.1 Introductory remarks ............................................................................... 41 2.2 Orania in context: geographically and historically ..................................
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