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Anglo-African

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Anglo Africans number about 4 million, and are predominantly of English, Welsh, Scottish, Irish and French Huguenot descent who speak English. Some are descended from migrants from other parts of Europe and from other English-speaking states (Australia and Canada).

Contents

Terminology

The phrase Anglo African is today used, somewhat loosely, to refer to a person or people of British ethnicity, predominantly in South Africa, but also in smaller numbers in Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland and Zambia.

Unlike the Afrikaners, they have not constituted a coherent political or cultural entity in South Africa, hence the absence of a commonly accepted term, although 'English South African' or 'English-speaking South African' has also been used.

An Afrikaans term for Anglo African is 'rooinek', which means 'red neck' (derogatory when used in Afrikaans). It arose as a nickname in the early days of settlement, as a reference to the then red collars of British military uniforms, from the red markings the British farmers put on their imported Merino breed of sheep, or to the fact they were sunburnt easily, because unlike the Afrikaners, they were new to Africa and did not dress appropriately to the weather.

History

For a full history of the region see History of South Africa, History of Zimbabwe and History of Kenya
Scottish-born David Livingstone left Britain behind for Africa.
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Scottish-born David Livingstone left Britain behind for Africa.

Although there were small temporary British settlements along the West African coast from the 1700s onwards, British settlement in Africa begain in earnest only at the end of the eighteenth century, in the Cape of Good Hope. It gained momentum following British annexation of the Cape from the Dutch East India Company, and the subsequent encouragement of settlers in the Eastern Cape in an effort to consolidate the colony's eastern border.

In the late nineteenth century the discovery of gold and diamonds further encouraged colonisation of South Africa by Britons. British settlement in southern Africa began at the Cape of Good Hope in the late eighteenth century. It gained momentum following the success of the second British attempt to annex the Cape from the Dutch East India Company, and the encouragement of settlers in the Eastern Cape in an effort to consolidate the colony's eastern border following the Cape Frontier Wars against the Xhosa.

Rhodes planned to link Cairo to the Cape.
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Rhodes planned to link Cairo to the Cape.
Britain expanded the Cape Colony northwards into Khoikhoi and San lands. Many Britons settled in the region, but developed a culture distinct from Britain's; a culture which had similarities to Australian and the Afrikaner culture. Livingstone famously explored southern Africa, and was the first European to set eyes on Victoria Falls. He is a key character in Anglo African history, being one of the first well-known Britons to believe his heart was in Africa.

In the late nineteenth century the discovery of gold in the Witwatersrand and diamonds in Kimberley further encouraged colonisation by Britons. Following the defeat of the Afrikaners after the First and Second Boer Wars, Britain annexed the Boer Republics of the Transvaal and Orange Free State. Cecil Rhodes's dream of British Africa from Cape Town to Cairo and the BSAC conquered Mashonaland, Matabeleland and some settlements further north, which became known as Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe and Zambia). The search for gold drove expansion north into the Rhodesias (now Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi). Simultaneously, British settlers began expansion into the fertile uplands (often called the "White Highlands") of British East Africa (now Kenya and Tanzania). In all these colonies, a number of settlers remained to live following independence and the introduction of majority rule in the second half of the twentieth century.

Rhodesian national servicewoman takes aim with a Browning automatic, from 1976 army recruitment poster
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Rhodesian national servicewoman takes aim with a Browning automatic, from 1976 army recruitment poster
In most British colonies, Britain introduced and the settlers maintained a system of minority rule based on income. With settlers having the technology, and hence economic advantage, this limited the political power of black people. In the 19th century, Coloureds theoretically had similar rights to Whites in the Cape Colony (though income and property qualifications affected them disproportionately) but had few or no political rights in the Transvaal Republic or the Orange Free State. There were Coloured members elected to Cape Town's municipal authority (including, for many years, Abdurahman). The establishment of the Union of South Africa gave them the franchise. [link]

Following the wave of black power movements in Africa, and the rise of anti-colonialism many British protectorates and colonies were granted independence. However, in southern Africa (where there are significant populations of White Africans) and already independence, a shift to black-dominated rule was met with a bloody civil war in Rhodesia until 1980 and the fading of Apartheid in South Africa until 1994. During the Apartheid years in South Africa, many Anglo-Africans considered themselves to be more moderate than their Afrikaner compatriots, and generally supported the United Party rather than the National Party which established Apartheid in 1948.

Subsequently, many Anglo Africans have supported the Democratic Party (the renamed United Party) under Tony Leon. In Zimbabwe/Rhodesia, many have backed the MDC, of whom the Anglo-African politician Roy Bennett is a key leader.

Culture

See also: Culture of South Africa
Typical white Rhodesian farmhouse, Beit Bridge, circa 1940.
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Typical white Rhodesian farmhouse, Beit Bridge, circa 1940.
Anglo Africans generally enjoy an outdoor lifestyle and fondness for sport. The braai, although originally Afrikaans, is an important social occasion. Anglo-African culture is often likened to Australian culture. There is a fondness for trekking the Bush which is ideal for camping, and a hardy outlook.
A traditional Anglo-African storybook is Sir Percy Fitzpatrick's "Jock of the Bushveld", which describes his journey as a wagondriver with his dog Jock in the Bush.

Language

Main article: South African English
Anglo Africans speak a dialect of English unique to themselves. There are influences from Cape Malays, Afrikaners and the Bantu languages, as well as Europe and Asia. The common greeting 'Howzit!' comes from 'How is it?' and can be likened to the US 'Howdy', the Australian 'G'Day', the Irish 'Howya?' or the recent British 'All right?'. The considerable Afrikaans influence can be seen from words such as braai, trek, lekker and ja having become common usage centuries ago. In South Africa many Zulu and Xhosa words (such as shongololo, muti, ubuntu etc.) are used.

Famous Anglo Africans

See also

External links

Ethnic Groups of South Africa [Edit]
Afrikaner | Anglo-African | Asians | Bushmen | Cape Malay | Coloured | Griqua | Ndebele | Sotho | Tsonga | Swazi | Tswana | Venda | Xhosa | Zulu

 

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