Afrikaners find identity in new song

KRUGERSDORP – After struggling to find a voice in the post-apartheid era, South Africa’s Afrikaner population has latched onto an anthem about a long-dead general to express their identity.

From Amersfoort to Zeerust, at bars and barbeques, Afrikaners from all walks of life are electrified when they hear the rousing: “De La Rey, De La Rey, will you come lead the Boers?” “We are proudly Afrikaans, proud of our language, proud of our culture. Are you?” singer Bok van Blerk asked the crowd at a concert, eliciting a loud cheer of approval.The nostalgic, catchy tune musically recounts the tale of Afrikaners hunkered down on a dark, bloody battlefield in the pouring rain, hoping that Anglo-Boer General Koos De La Rey will lead them forward in war.That was in the early 1900s.But the scene and song have taken on contemporary significance for Afrikaners, who fear they might slip into political and cultural obscurity as the country transforms in the post-apartheid era.At the concert in Krugersdorp, outside of Johannesburg, a crowd of more than a thousand Afrikaners roared as the opening notes of the song fill the air.In unison they stood and punched the air, or held their hand over their heart.Above the sea of white faces, the old South African flag whipped in the wind alongside the orange, red, white and blue “Vierkleur” – literally four colours banner considered the official flag of the Boer.Van Blerk, who has said he is opposed to the flying of the old flags, said his song was meant to tell a story and pull the Afrikaans nation together – not to trigger this fierce show of nationalism.”Some people say it is a need for a leader, somebody to represent the Afrikaner and stand up for things they would like.Maybe people are fed up with the situation they find themselves in, with the crime, and it’s just the right time,” he told AFP before the show.Earlier this month, former president FW De Klerk said that non-blacks felt like second-class citizens in South Africa, a sentiment felt by many of the country’s roughly three million Afrikaners who believe they are being marginalised in terms of culture, language and history.Although he is against shows of nationalism, Van Blerk said he was happy his song has sent people back to their history books.”In South African history textbooks, there are only four lines about the Anglo-Boer war.It has been wiped away like it never happened.”Tim du Plessis, editor of the Afrikaans weekly, Rapport, said the song was a conduit for Afrikaner frustration that came at the right moment, with the right lyrics and the right tune.He said it was the Afrikaans people’s way of saying: “We are here, we are a bit sick and tired of being delegitimised and being seen as solely responsible for all the terrible things that happened under apartheid.”People are also saying, things are starting to go wrong in this country, the government’s capacity is diminishing and you cannot blame apartheid indefinitely,” he told AFP.Outspoken columnist Max du Preez disagreed with this explanation saying Afrikaners – traumatised at seeing their “once cosy white Afrikaner world collapsing around them” – were craving a sense of belonging.”I think they simply feel unwanted, isolated, insecure, confused, rudderless.”South Africa’s right-wing element has also latched on to the song, which has brought a warning from the Arts and Culture Department that it could be hijacked by extremists, who would see it as a call to arms.Afrikaner nationalism mostly disappeared after the fall of apartheid, save for a few oddball antics by right-wing organisations like the Boeremag, but the latest swell in tribal thinking is worrying to some.Despite the controversy, the song and the nationalism it has fired up has found support in some unlikely political quarters.Nampa-AFPAre you?” singer Bok van Blerk asked the crowd at a concert, eliciting a loud cheer of approval.The nostalgic, catchy tune musically recounts the tale of Afrikaners hunkered down on a dark, bloody battlefield in the pouring rain, hoping that Anglo-Boer General Koos De La Rey will lead them forward in war.That was in the early 1900s.But the scene and song have taken on contemporary significance for Afrikaners, who fear they might slip into political and cultural obscurity as the country transforms in the post-apartheid era.At the concert in Krugersdorp, outside of Johannesburg, a crowd of more than a thousand Afrikaners roared as the opening notes of the song fill the air.In unison they stood and punched the air, or held their hand over their heart.Above the sea of white faces, the old South African flag whipped in the wind alongside the orange, red, white and blue “Vierkleur” – literally four colours banner considered the official flag of the Boer.Van Blerk, who has said he is opposed to the flying of the old flags, said his song was meant to tell a story and pull the Afrikaans nation together – not to trigger this fierce show of nationalism.”Some people say it is a need for a leader, somebody to represent the Afrikaner and stand up for things they would like.Maybe people are fed up with the situation they find themselves in, with the crime, and it’s just the right time,” he told AFP before the show.Earlier this month, former president FW De Klerk said that non-blacks felt like second-class citizens in South Africa, a sentiment felt by many of the country’s roughly three million Afrikaners who believe they are being marginalised in terms of culture, language and history.Although he is against shows of nationalism, Van Blerk said he was happy his song has sent people back to their history books.”In South African history textbooks, there are only four lines about the Anglo-Boer war.It has been wiped away like it never happened.”Tim du Plessis, editor of the Afrikaans weekly, Rapport, said the song was a conduit for Afrikaner frustration that came at the right moment, with the right lyrics and the right tune.He said it was the Afrikaans people’s way of saying: “We are here, we are a bit sick and tired of being delegitimised and being seen as solely responsible for all the terrible things that happened under apartheid.”People are also saying, things are starting to go wrong in this country, the government’s capacity is diminishing and you cannot blame apartheid indefinitely,” he told AFP.Outspoken columnist Max du Preez disagreed with this explanation saying Afrikaners – traumatised at seeing their “once cosy white Afrikaner world collapsing around them” – were craving a sense of belonging.”I think they simply feel unwanted, isolated, insecure, confused, rudderless.”South Africa’s right-wing element has also latched on to the song, which has brought a warning from the Arts and Culture Department that it could be hijacked by extremists, who would see it as a call to arms.Afrikaner nationalism mostly disappeared after the fall of apartheid, save for a few oddball antics by right-wing organisations like the Boeremag, but the latest swell in tribal thinking is worrying to some.Despite the controversy, the song and the nationalism it has fired up has found support in some unlikely political quarters.Nampa-AFP