Introduction

People have been living in South Africa for more than 100,000 years! Around 1900, people found diamonds and gold, and this made some people greedy. A war broke out between farmers and the British Empire. The farmers lost the war and the Union of South Africa was created under the rule of the British Empire. But in 1961, South Africa was no longer under the rule of the British and became the Republic of South Africa. South Africa had a period of time in their history call apartheid, which is an Afrikaans word meaning “separateness.” During this time, there were laws that allowed racial segregation. But in 1994, apartheid ended, and South Africans have been making amends with each other since that time.  While the majority of South Africa is industrialized, there are still areas that live in harsh poverty, but in these areas, traditional culture is alive and well. South Africa has eleven official languages and most citizens speak more than one, English usually being the second learned, but most spoken, language.    

Personal Essay

Ajani loves playing soccer with his friends. This is his personal story on soccer's part in his life.

South Africa's national soccer team is called Bafana Bafana, meaning "the boys." Soccer has always brought people together, even in the worst poverty and war. The game reminds people that they matter, and that they can win.

Turning A Dirt Alley into My Field of Dreams

Soccer brings us together. Soccer is our livelihood. My friends and I know that our alley is not always the safest place to be, but it is what we have. When we're out there, it doesn't feel like a small dirt alley. It feels like we're playing under the lights in the World Cup. I just won a brand new soccer ball, like the ones bafana bafana use.

We set up the buckets as goals and the game begins. Jamal and me on one team, Keto and Badu on the other. Magubani sits on the roof as lookout. I feel like we have been playing for just a few minutes, but the sun is starting to set. Our foreheads are dripping with sweat, our bare feet caked with a layer of dirt, but we're happy. Pure joy: that is what soccer means to me. Pure joy!

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Although much of South Africa is industrialized, some people still live in rural areas farming for themselves and for others. Sometimes people farm to sustain themselves, meaning that they grow food and have animals, not to sell to other people, but to feed themselves. If there is extra to share, the farmer can sell what is left over, and make money to buy more animals to produce food.

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Journal Entry

In South African culture, respecting your elders is highly valued. The children are not rude to their parents because they understand the sacrifices made for them and appreciate it.

Malusi, or Songololo, as his family calls him, writes about his experience with his grandmother, Gogo, and the special relationship they share.

Today I went with Grandma into town to help her run some errands. My mom was worried that the hustle and bustle of the city would be too much for her and she would get confused, so she sent me with her. We walked to the bus stop together, although I walk a little bit faster than her and she runs out of breathe easily. When we get into town, we walked past a shoe store with a brand new pair of Tackies in the window. Oh, how I wanted them! I thought about asking Grandma for them, but money is so tight. I did not want to burden her with something else to buy. I helped her finish her errands, and on the way back to the bus stop, we walked past the store with the bright red tackies in the window. They were so pretty and new, but I kept walking. Grandma stopped me and told me to try them on.