Page 28 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - South Africa

26  INTRODUCING SOUTH AFRIC A

Springbok captain Francois Pienaar
holding up the trophy together were
broadcast worldwide. South Africa won
the tournament again in 2007, defeating
England in the final.
Soccer, cricket, boxing, horse racing and
athletics also draw enthusiastic crowds. The
country hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Towards Democracy
Sindiwe Magona is the author of several books about her life as a The best point from which to chart the
black South African woman end of apartheid is President F W de Klerk’s
unbanning of the African National
In the cities, although the tunes are much Con gress (ANC), along with the
influenced by popular North American Communist Party and
music, jazz, soul, kwela (characterized Pan-Africanist Congress
by the piercing sound of the penny (PAC). On 11 February
whistle), kwaito (trans ient pop), 1990, ANC leader Nelson
rock and reggae all have a Mandela was released from
strong local flavour. the Victor Verster Prison near
The white Afrikaner’s cultural Paarl. He had been imprisoned
heritage, accum ulated over centuries since 1963.
of isolation from the European Amid escalating violence,
motherland, today embraces a pow erful negotia tions began for a peace ful
body of prose and poetry (see pp32–3), transition to democracy. Finally, on
and a distinctive musical tradition. 27 April 1994, all South Africans
Afrikaans songs tend to be nostalgic, voted. The ANC secured 63 per
often evoking gentler times. By Cape cent, and Nelson Mandela became
contrast, the black African music is minstrel the first black president of the
lively, dis tinguished by bouncy “New South Africa”. The new
melodies and cheerful, racy constitution, approved in May 1996,
lyrics that belie the sadness and has arguably the most enlightened Bill
indignities of the past. of Rights in the world, outlawing
During the dark years of apartheid, discrimination on the grounds of ethnic
oppression and suffering offered
ready-made source material for
the arts, but contemporary writers
have moved away from racial
introspection towards more
universal themes.
Most South Africans are
passionate about sport. The Rugby
World Cup, which was held in
Johannesburg and other cities in
1995 and won by a jubi lant South
Africa, probably did more than
anything else to unite the nation,
and poignant images of then
president Nelson Mandela and South Africa’s rugby team celebrates its World Cup victory in 2007

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