Culture and Customs of South Africa

(Hardback)

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Encapsulates South Africa - inclusive, balanced, packed with information on the diverse peoples of South Africa South Africa can be considered the newest of African nations, with the ending of Apartheid in 1994. It is one of the most ethnically, culturally, and linguistically varied countries on the continent, and is the economic powerhouse of southern Africa. This inclusive overview is a must-have for all readers wanting an introduction to South Africa today, in an historical context that pulls the strands of all South Africans, from Zulu to Afrikaner to Indian, together. Some highlights from the many topics covered are oral history, multi-religious traditions, wood sculpture, communal ties, cone-on-cylinder housing, changing roles of women, conjugal arrangements, and British and Boer influences. This timely work expands our knowledge of South Africa beyond the headlines. While the European angle - the story behind the Boers, the Afrikaners, and Apartheid - is made clear, the African angle is the strongest, with balanced insights into various traditions and ways of life. A chronology, glossary, photos, and map complement the narrative. Part of the Culture and Customs of Africa series The diversity of South Africa encapsulated in one volume

Reviews

[A] useful and comprehensive study of elements of South African history and society with an emphasis on a broad interpretation of culture....For those unfamiliar with South Africa, this book would be a good introduction to some of the major elements of the country's complex and rich history and cultures.-The International Journal of African Historical Studies
"A useful and comprehensive study of elements of South African history and society with an emphasis on a broad interpretation of culture....For those unfamiliar with South Africa, this book would be a good introduction to some of the major elements of the country's complex and rich history and cultures."-The International Journal of African Historical Studies
"[A] useful and comprehensive study of elements of South African history and society with an emphasis on a broad interpretation of culture....For those unfamiliar with South Africa, this book would be a good introduction to some of the major elements of the country's complex and rich history and cultures."-The International Journal of African Historical Studies

Author Bio

FUNSO AFOLAYAN is Associate Professor of History at the University of New Hampshire, Durham