Photograph: Nadine Hutton/PictureNET Africa Chapter 5 Arts and Culture The Department of Arts and Culture deals with The words of the first stanza were originally matters pertaining to arts and culture and written in isiXhosa as a hymn. renders State archive and heraldic services at Seven additional stanzas in isiXhosa were national level. later added by the poet Samuel Mqhayi. It became a popular church hymn that was later adopted as an anthem at political meet- Policy and legislation ings. It has been translated into most of South Africa’s official languages. The Council of Culture Ministers makes impor- tant decisions on policy matters of national impact, and consists of the Minister and National flag Deputy Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and The national flag of the Republic of South Technology and members of provincial execu- Africa was taken into use on Freedom Day, tive councils responsible for arts and culture. 27 April 1994. The design and colours are a synopsis of principal elements of the coun- try’s flag history. National symbols The central design of the flag, beginning at the flag-pole in a ‘V’ form and flowing into a National anthem single horizontal band to the outer edge of The national anthem of South Africa is a the fly, can be interpreted as the convergence combined version of Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika of diverse elements within South African soci- and The Call of South Africa (Die Stem van ety, taking the road ahead in unity. The flag Suid-Afrika) and is played at all State occa- was designed by the State Herald. sions. The Call of South Africa was written by When the flag is displayed vertically against CJ Langenhoven in May 1918. The music was a wall, the red band should be to the left of composed by the Reverend ML de Villiers in the viewer with the hoist or the cord seam at 1921. Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika was composed in the top; when it is displayed horizontally, the 1897 by Enoch Sontonga, a Methodist mission hoist should be to the left of the viewer and school teacher. the red band at the top. When the flag is dis- played next to or behind the speaker at a meeting, it must be placed to the speaker’s The Department of Arts and Culture will embark on a right. When it is placed elsewhere in the R180 million skills training programme over the next three years for the creative industries including crafts, meeting place, it should be to the right of the film, music and live events. audience. 97 South Africa Yearbook 2002/03 National Coat of Arms individual South Africans and eminent foreign South Africa’s Coat of Arms was launched on leaders and personalities. Freedom Day, 27 April 2000. The Order of Mapungubwe will be awarded A central image of the Coat of Arms is the to South African citizens for excellence and famous secretary bird with its uplifted wings. exceptional achievement. It reflects the Above the bird is the rising sun, a force that ancient Kingdom of Mapungubwe, which gives life while representing the flight of dark- existed in the northern corner of South Africa ness and the triumph of discovery, know- a millennium ago. ledge, the understanding of things that have The Order of the Baobab will be awarded to been hidden, illuminating also the new life South African citizens for distinguished service that is coming into being. Below the bird is the well above and beyond the ordinary call of duty. protea, an indigenous flower of South Africa, It will be awarded for exceptional contributions which represents beauty, the aesthetic har- towards the struggle for building democracy mony of all the cultures, and South Africa and human rights, nation-building and com- flowering as a nation. The ears of wheat munity service, and peace and security. are emblems of the fertility of the land while The Baobab tree is known across Africa and the tusks of the African elephant, reproduced its many legends and mysteries represent the in pairs to represent men and women, sym- spirituality of the South African nation. It is an bolise wisdom, steadfastness and strength. essential meeting place for communities and, At the centre stands a shield, which signi- among other things, plays an important role in fies the protection of South Africans from one the health of the people because of its medic- generation to the other. Above it repose a inal properties. spear and a knobkierie. Together, this asserts The Order of the Companions of OR Tambo the defence of peace rather than a posture of will be awarded to Heads of State and other war. This shield of peace, which also suggests personalities for peace, co-operation and an African drum, conveys the message of a friendship towards South Africa. people imbued with love for culture. Its upper OR Tambo was a great humanitarian, a self- part is a shield being imaginatively represent- less internationalist and a committed African, ed by the protea. who, among other things, developed an inter- Contained within the shield are some of the national movement of solidarity against earliest representations of humanity in the racism and apartheid throughout the world. world. Those depicted were the very first inhabitants of the land, namely the Khoisan people. These figures are derived from images National symbols on the Linton Stone, a world-famous example South Africa’s national symbols are: of South African rock art. The motto of the • national animal: springbuck Coat of Arms, !Ke e:/xarra//ke, written in the • national bird: blue crane Khoisan language of the /Xam people, means • national fish: galjoen diverse people unite or people who are differ- • national flower: king protea ent joining together. • national tree: real yellowwood. National orders The new national orders were unveiled by Arts and culture organisations President Thabo Mbeki on 27 April 2002 at the Freedom Day celebrations in Bloemfontein, National Heritage Council Free State. These national orders are the high- The National Heritage Council Act, 1999 est awards that the country can bestow on (Act 11 of 1999), established a framework and 98 Nationl bird: Blue Crane The Order of the The Order of The Order companions of OR Tambo Mapungubwe of the Baobab National animal: Springbuck The National fish: Galjoen National flower: King Protea National tree: Real Yellowood South Africa Yearbook 2002/03 institution that co-ordinates the heritage sec- Geographical Names Council Act, 1998 (Act tor, including archives, museums, heritage 118 of 1998). The Council advises the Minister resources, geographical names and libraries. on the transformation and standardisation of In addition to funding projects in these official geographical names in South Africa. areas, the Council also serves as a policy ad- The objectives of the SAGNC are to: visory body to the Minister, a lobby for and • facilitate the establishment of provincial raiser of additional funding, a strategy- geographical names committees determining and planning body and a pro- • ensure the standardisation, transformation moter of international liaison. and implementation of geographical names • promote the use of standardised South African geographical names at international South African Heritage Resources level • promote awareness of the economic and Agency (SAHRA) social benefits of the standardisation of The National Heritage Resources Act, 1999 (Act geographical names. 25 of 1999), has established SAHRA, which The Council has jurisdiction over all names of replaced the National Monuments Council. geographical features and entities falling with- This body manages the heritage resources of in the territories over which the South African the country in co-operation with similar new Government has sovereignty or jurisdiction agencies in the provinces, by implementing acquired by treaty. legislation that is in line with international The following principles are adhered to: trends in the heritage resources field. • each individual feature entity should have only one official name • the following types of geographical names South African Geographical should generally be avoided: - approved names of places elsewhere in Names Council (SAGNC) South Africa The SAGNC is an advisory body appointed by - names of places in other countries, and the Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and names of countries Technology in terms of the South African - names that are blasphemous, indecent, offensive, vulgar, unaesthetic or embar- Information rassing - names that are discriminatory or derog- The French National Assembly voted unanimously on 21 February 2002 to repatriate the remains of Sarah atory with regard to race, colour, creed, Bartmann to South Africa. gender, political affiliation or other social Born near the Gamtoos River in 1789, Bartmann was taken to London in 1810 by a British ship's doctor who factors persuaded her that she could make a fortune by - names consisting of personal names displaying her body to curious Europeans. without a generic element On arriving in Britain, she was paraded around circuses, museums, bars and universities, where she - names that may be regarded as an adver- had to show off her protruding posterior and unusual tisement for a particular product, service genitalia. or firm Bartmann died an impoverished prostitute in Paris in 1816. - names of living persons. Her remains were kept at the Museum of Mankind in The Council has commenced the review of Paris. The remains of Bartmann were returned to South names that have not previously been submit- Africa early in May 2002. ted for approval. Names that appear to have In August 2002, Bartmann was enrobed in traditional racist connotations have been referred to rel- clothing according to a sacred rite performed by the Khoisan as preparation for her burial, which took place evant authorities and communities for com- at Hankey in the Eastern Cape on Women’s Day.