Lecture Notes: Understanding the Roots and Evolution of Afrikaans

Introduction

• Speaker's Personal Reflection: Expresses a personal disconnect with forefathers and father.
• Cultural Heritage: Emphasizes the return of land and cultural identity to the Khoisan people.

Language and Identity

• Afrikaans Perception:
  • Afrikaans seen as a European language, yet has a suppressed Creole history.
  • Afrikaaps: A theatre production exploring the Creole roots of Afrikaans.
• Historical Dispossession:
  • 1950s: People lost not just language but also homes and identity.

The Creole History of Afrikaans

• Indigenous Influence:
  • Initial development influenced by Khoisan, Slaves, and indigenous people like Atyemawa, Kratoa, and Doman.
  • Kratoa: Linguist and cultural facilitator.
• Language Creation: Result of Khoisan and Slavs learning and adapting to Dutch.

Suppression and Rediscovery

• Suppression of Creole Roots: Many indigenous and Malay words excluded from official lexicon.
• Rediscovery Through Theatre:
  • Afrikaaps seeks to uncover these roots.
  • Music and Guma: Cultural expression reflecting slavery and rebellion history.

Contributions of the Khoisan

• Harry the Struntlooper: Misunderstood as a vagabond but was a multilingual facilitator.
• Cultural Impact: The Creole language was influenced significantly by the Khoisan community.

Modern Perspectives and Challenges

• Media Representation: Cape dialect often mocked, perceived as inferior.
• Youth Connection: Students at Lavender Hill High express pride in Afrikaaps despite societal pressures.

The Role of Theatre and Music

• Afrikaans Written in Arabic Script:
  • Surprising historical fact; early scholars used Arabic script for Afrikaans.
  • Not widely known even among Afrikaans scholars.
• Guma Music:
  • Often misunderstood, but integral to Cape Town’s cultural narrative.

Social and Cultural Impact

• Theatre as a Movement:
  • Afrikaaps: More than a show; a movement to educate and liberate.
  • Catharsis: Through theatre, audiences and performers confront and acknowledge historical truths.

Conclusion

• Legacy and Future:
  • The story and history of Afrikaaps aim to inspire pride and awareness.
  • Encourages embracing and understanding cultural roots and language heritage.