“The Struggle To Become South African” National Identity And Collective Memory In South Africa: Reconciliation Day Table of Contents Preface And Acknowledgements.....................................................................................................................3 Abbreviations..................................................................................................................................................5 Introduction....................................................................................................................................................6 PART ONE..................................................................................................................................................13 Chapter One: Identity And Nation Building...........................................................................................14 1.1 The Construction Of Identity ......................................................................................................14 1.1.1 Essentialism........................................................................................................................15 1.1.2 Constructivism....................................................................................................................15 1.2 National Identity ........................................................................................................................18 1.2.1 Nationalism: Some Definitions..........................................................................................19 1.2.2 Conditions For National Identity.......................................................................................20 1.3 Conclusion...................................................................................................................................20 Chapter Two: Reshaping the Past: Collective Memory .........................................................................22 2.1 The Origin Of Collective Memory..............................................................................................23 2.1.1 The Social Framework Of Memory...................................................................................23 2.1.2 The Legitimation Of The Past ...........................................................................................24 2.2 History Versus Memory ..............................................................................................................25 2.2.1 The Difference Between History And Memory ................................................................25 2.2.2 Pierre Nora’s History Of Memory ....................................................................................26 2.3 Memory And The Nation.............................................................................................................27 2.3.1 The Nation As An Imagined Community..........................................................................27 2.3.2 The Invention Of Tradition................................................................................................28 2.4 Zerubavel's Mapping Of Collective Memory .............................................................................29 2.5 Conclusion...................................................................................................................................30 Chapter Three: Mapping the Past: the South African National Calendar...............................................31 3.1 The National Symbols ................................................................................................................32 3.2 The Politics Of Nation Building After 1994................................................................................33 3.3 The History Of A Calendar .........................................................................................................35 3.3.1 The First Offical Calendar: 1910.......................................................................................35 3.3.2 The Calendar During Apartheid: 1949...............................................................................37 3.3.3 A Calendar Of Change: 1980.............................................................................................38 3.3.4 The Post-Apartheid Calendar: 1994...................................................................................40 3.4 Conclusion...................................................................................................................................42 PART TWO.................................................................................................................................................44 Chapter Four: December 16: Dingaansdag.............................................................................................46 4.1. History Of The Great Trek 1836-1854.......................................................................................46 4.1.1 The Battle of Blood River .................................................................................................46 4.1.2 The Covenant With God.....................................................................................................47 4.2 The History Of A Commemoration............................................................................................48 4.2.1 Dingaansdag: 1864-1886...................................................................................................49 4.2.2 Further Centralisation Of Dingaansdag: 1886-1938.........................................................51 4.2.3 The Highlight Of Afrikaner Nationalism: 1938.................................................................51 4.2.4 Dingaansday Becomes Geloftedag: 1938-1952................................................................52 4.3 Conclusion..................................................................................................................................53 Chapter Five: December 16: Geloftedag................................................................................................55 5.1 The Reinterpretation Of History..................................................................................................56 5.1.1 Reconsidering History: 'The Myth of the Covenant'.........................................................56 1 “The Struggle To Become South African” National Identity And Collective Memory In South Africa: Reconciliation Day 5.1.2 Afrikanerdom And History.................................................................................................61 5.1.3 The Role Of The Church....................................................................................................66 5.1.4 The 'Other Race': The Black Historians' View ..................................................................68 5.1.5 Conclusion..........................................................................................................................71 5.2 The Public Perception Of The Reinterpretation Of History........................................................72 5.2.1 Different 0pinions: 'Verligt' Versus 'Verkrampt'.................................................................72 5.2.2 From Exclusion…..............................................................................................................74 5.2.3 …And The Interpretation Of History….............................................................................77 5.2.4 … To Inclusion And Reconciliation...................................................................................79 5.2.5 Conclusion..........................................................................................................................81 Chapter Six: December 16: Reconciliation Day.....................................................................................82 6.1 The National Question.................................................................................................................83 6.2 Mandela's Heritage: The Rainbow Nation..................................................................................84 6.2.1 “Unity And Diversity”........................................................................................................84 6.2.2 The Interpretation Of The Battle Of Blood River/Ncome................................................85 6.2.3 Afrikanerdom And Reconciliation: Loss Of Identity?.......................................................90 6.2.4 The Perception Of The Day Of Reconciliation..................................................................90 6.3 Mbeki's Heritage: African Renaissance.......................................................................................91 6.3.1 “I Am An African”..............................................................................................................91 6.3.2 The 'Home For All' Campaign...........................................................................................92 6.3.3 `Unity In Diversity`............................................................................................................96 6.4 Conclusion...................................................................................................................................98 Chapter Seven: The Road To A New Future.........................................................................................100 Literature....................................................................................................................................................108