Culture in South Africa

1. Culture in South Africa The Modern and the Traditional

2. South Africa Overview • Estimated Population: 49,991,300 • Capital Cities • Executive Capital: Pretoria • Judicial Capital: Bloemfontein • Legislative Capital: Cape Town • Time Zone: UTC+2, CST+8 • Currency: ZAR (Rand) trades on avg R7 to $1 • Immunizations: Please refer to www.cdc.gov • Adult HIV/AIDS Prevalence Rate: 17.8% • 5.6 Million People Living with HIV/AIDS • Over 2 Million Orphan and Vulnerable Children

3. The Excluded Middle of the Western Worldview The Modern Worldview The Traditional Worldview • HIGH RELIGION • Creator • Formal religion • SPIRITUAL WORLD • God • Allah • Christian Witness • Personal Religion • LOW RELIGION • Shamans and magic • Ancestors and spirits • Curses and blessings • Folk religion THE EXCLUDED MIDDLE • PHYSICAL WORLD • Hear, see, feel & touch • Science and technology • Development • SEEN WORLD • Hear, see, feel & touch • Relationships, community & family • Folk science

4. The Biblical Worldview The Biblical Worldview The Traditional Worldview • Creator • Father • Trinity • HIGH RELIGION • Creator • Formal religion • Signs and Wonders • Angels and Demons • Prayer and Visions • Sacred Space • LOW RELIGION • Shamans and magic • Ancestors and spirits • Curses and blessings • Folk religion • Holy Spirit with Us • Christ in Us • The Word of God • Science with a Purpose • SEEN WORLD • Hear, see, feel & touch • Relationships, community & family • Folk science

5. A Melding of Worldviews It is possible to say that South Africa is a varying mixture of the modern, the biblical and the traditional worldviews. For instance, it is not uncommon for someone who is sick to go to the doctor for Western medicine, to the church for prayer and to the traditional healers for traditional medicines. Others hold to one or two of these worldviews.

6. Time • A modern view of time is primarily determined by the clock. When things start and end is set according to a schedule and people are expected to adhere to it. • A more traditional view of time is determined by events. When things start and end is according to when enough people arrive or leave • In Johannesburg there is a melding of more traditional and modern views of time, with many people living in both depending on the circumstances.

7. Personal Space • Cultures have varying degrees of personal space, the amount of space a person needs from another to feel comfortable (especially strangers). Most black South Africans have a much smaller area of personal space than Westerners. For Westerners, the average radius is 3 feet, more Africans it is almost non-existent. • It is not uncommon for South Africans to stand very close to you, such as pressing up against you while in line (queue) at the store. Also, while talking to you they may stand very close and hold your hand the entire time while talking. • Kissing is a form of greeting, even with strangers.

8. Community and Individualism • Many South Africans have a more communal view of life in which the group takes precedence over the individuals in the group. There is also usually a stronger concept of insiders and outsiders between one’s group and other groups. • However, there is also a more modern individualism present in South African life in which the rights and wants of the individual take precedence. • It is important to remember that neither viewpoint is better than the other. Rather there are good and negative aspects to each.

9. A Variety of Ethnicities • Black African 79% • White 9.6% • Colored 8.9% • Indian/Asian 2.5%

10. Religions • Protestant 36.6% • Other Christian 36% • Catholic 7.1% • Muslim 1.5% • Other Unspecified 1.4% • None 15.1% • The majority of Black South Africans attend African Independent Churches (AICs). These are churches started by Africans which have no connection to Protestant denominations or the Catholic Church. They are usually very charismatic and the pastor/founder of the church holds a place of great importance in the church.

11. The 11 National Languages • Afrikaans • English • Ndebele • Pedi • Soto • Swati • Tswana • Venda • Xhosa • Xitsonga • Zulu

12. Tswana: Common Phrases • Tswana is the most common South African tribal language spoken in the area around Refilwe. Here are some common phrases you can try when you meet people. • Hello or Welcome: Dumela • How are you?: Wareng? (What do you say?) • I’m fine: Gake re sepe • What is your name: O bidiwamang? • What’s your name?: O mang? (informal) • My name is…: Leina la me ke(Name)

13. Zulu: Common Phrases • Zulu is the most common language spoken in South Africa by nearly 23% of the population. • Hello: Sawubona (to 1 person) Sanibonani (to 2 people or more) • How are you?: Unjani? (to 1 person) Ninjani? (to 2 people or more) • I am well/fine: Ngikhona • We are well/fine: Sikhona • I thank you: Ngiyabonga • We thank you: Siyabonga • What’s your name?: Ngubaniigamalakho? • My name is…: Igamalamingu(Name)

14. English • English is South Africa’s lingua franca, which is a common language used by people who have different native languages to communicate. It is the primary language of government, business and commerce. Most schools use English in the classroom. • The majority of South Africans can speak English to one degree or another. It is important to remember however, that South African English is strongly influenced by British English so they often use different terminology than what Americans are used to. • Here are a few fun and interesting English terms in South Africa: • Traffic Light: Robot • Trunk of a car: Boot • Hood of a car: Bonnet • Diaper: Nappy • Truck: Bakkie

15. Seek to be Learners