Afrikaners are a South African ethnic group descended from predominantly Dutch settlers first arriving at the Cape Of Good Hope in the 17th and 18th centuries. They were originally known as Boers (Afrikaans for “farmers”), although the two terms are sort of used interchangeably these days. (There is a difference, but it’s complicated, as Steve Hofmeyr told me.)
Saving Afrikaans
Afrikanerdom is a descriptive word that encapsulates all things proudly Afrikaans.
Afrikanerdom is Afrikaner nationalism based on pride in the Afrikaans language and culture, conservative Calvinism, and a sense of heritage as pioneers.
Collins Dictionary
Afrikaner heritage is rich in culture, innovation, cuisine, music and a strong sense of community. As a result, I think it matters that it’s preserved in spite of strong anti-Afrikaner sentiment publicly sanctioned by the current government and perpetuated by the government’s PR wing the media.
Farm attacks
For example, most South African commercial farmers are Afrikaners and have, for many years, been frequent victims to very brutal “random acts of crime”. In fact, being a farmer in South Africa is probably the most dangerous profession.
Yet, the government and media turn a blind eye (probably because the farmers are white and the attackers are black, resulting in racialised optics that are tricky to navigate).
Spreading the word
Lauren Southern visited South Africa and produced a pretty good documentary called Farmlands.
Meanwhile, Katie Hopkins (who was on my podcast) did the same thing; her documentary is called Plaasmoorde: The Killing Fields. (“Plaasmoorde” is Afrikaans for “farm murders”.)
MMA champion, Dricus “Stillknocks” Du Plessis, spoke out against farm attacks after winning a fight.
The largest civil rights group in Africa, AfriForum, is founded upon the preservation of Afrikanerdom and, by extension, protecting and helping farmers.
Our conversation
Dan Roodt is an Afrikaner author, publisher and commentator. He has a vested interest in the future of Afrikanerdom and Afrikaners in general.
