Khoisan-This link discusses the Khoisan people. The native people of South Africa, which have been around long before the European Colonization, are called Khoisan. The group, Khoisan, consisted(s) of two different ethnic groups that had different responsibilities (hunting and gathering vs. pastoral), the San and Khoi. Both groups shared physical and linguistic characteristics that are quite distinguishable from people of other African tribes/groups.
The Apartheid- This link thoroughly explains the Apartheid. The National Party tried to maintain control socially and economically by creating the Apartheid. The laws resulting from the Apartheid institutionalized racism, and enforced segregation by dividing South African’s into three groups white, black, and colored (people of mixed backgrounds, usually black and white). These groups were treated very differently based on which group they belonged to, black or Africans being treated the worst of the three. Each group was also designated to different governments called homelands.
Nelson Mandela- Nelson Mandela is best know for his fight against the apartheid, which landed him in prison for what was supposed to be a life sentence. After serving 27 years of his sentence in prison, he remained dedicated in his activism. As a result, Mandela became the first president elected during South Africa’s first Democratic election. He has since retired (1999). Although retired, he continues to speak out against the injustices happening all over the world.
Map- This website of South Africa has a detailed map of the country. It allows viewers to view the different provinces, reserves, etc. Additionally, the website has a map of outdoor activities visitors of South Africa can engage in.
Climate- This website explains where and why different parts of the country experiences certain types of weather. It also explains the difference in temperature in the mountains and grasslands. The weather throughout South Africa varies depending on the location, but overall, the country experiences warm to hot days and cool nights.
Kalahari Desert- The Kalahari Desert is the largest desert in South Africa, the second largest, to the Sahara, in all of Africa. Encarta goes into detail about how far and where the desert stretches, as well as the history, economy and land of this desert. Also, it explains that there are actually people living in this desert.
Religion- Gives the history of the relationship between Christianity and South Africa. The San’s religion is the oldest religion in South Africa. Surprisingly, the main religion in South Africa today is Christianity.
Languages -This website lists the languages spoken in South Africa, it has 11 official languages. Also, if you click on the language it tells the history of the language and how many people speak it. It also lists the non-official languages.
Music - This link gives the history and importance of music in South Africa. It also explains the different genres.
Submitted by Felicia Turner on February 13, 2007.
