The Founding Myth of Afrikanerdom

The Great Trek

The leaders of the various groups of Voortrekkers (like Piet Retief) are regarded as national heroes by the Afrikaners. As the Voortrekkers progressed northwards, they created several Boer Republics in order to consolidate their territory, thus shaping Afrikanerdom.During this consolidation, the South African Republic was formed.It came to be known popularly as the “Transvaal Republic.”

Routes followed by the 12,000 Voortrekkers (=pioneers) migrating from Cape Colony eastward and north-eastward away from British control in the 1830s and 40s.

The means of transport was the ox-wagon, drawn by ten to sixteen oxen. ( a yoke/ a span = une paire, un attelage)The ox-wagon has become one of the emblems of Afrikaner nationalism.

1836-1837 :The Great Trek is the major event in the history of the Afrikaner people.The arrival of the 1820 English Settlers in the Cape and increased pressure on the colonial front in the Eastern Cape, forced Afrikaner farmers to decide to look for new territory in the north.

The primary motivations included discontent with the British rule: its Anglicisation policies, restrictive laws on slavery and its eventual abolition, arrangements to compensate former slave owners, and the perceived indifference of British authorities to border conflicts along the Cape Colony's eastern frontier.(= Zulus at war)

The 'Battle of Blood River' on the Ncome River took place on the 16th December 1838, between the travelling Boers (led by Andries Pretorius) and Zulu tribes. The site now commemorates the former's victory, with a visitor's museum and 64 iron-cast Boer wagons.

Zulu King Dingane

The Battle of Blood River (1838)One of the best known Voortrekker leaders was Andries Pretorius (1798–1853)In February 1838, the Voortrekker leader, Piet Retief, had been killed by Zulu king Dingane’s warriors.On 16 December 1838, Pretorius’s commando of 470 Voortrekkers was attacked by over 10,000 Zulu impis (= regiments) in what today is KwaZulu Natal.The Voortrekker commando killed 3,000 Zulu impis. (Creation of a legend/epic tale)Pretorius and two other Voortrekkers were slightly wounded.The event has become known as the Battle of Blood River because the nearby Ncome River was said to have turned red from Zulu blood.Until 1910, the day had been commemorated as Dingane’s Day, the Day of the Vow or the Day of the Covenant.Today, with the end of apartheid, it is a public holiday (16th December) and is called the Day of Reconciliation.

The Voortrekker Monument outside Pretoria was completed in 1949. Inside a marble frieze contains 27 panels commemorating events of the Great Trek, between 1835 and 1854.

On 8 July 2011 the Voortrekker Monument, designed by the architect Gerard Moerdijk, was declared a National Heritage Site by the South African Heritage Resource Agency.

It is located on a hill, and is 40 metres high.

The frieze depicts the history of the Great Trek, but incorporates references to every day life, work methods and religious beliefs of the Voortrekkers. The set of panels illustrate key historical scenes starting from the first voortrekkers of 1835, up to the recognition of the Transvaal Republic by Great Britain in 1852.

Piet Retief , Voortrekker leader

Voortrekker woman and children

In the centre of the floor of the Hall of Heroes is a large circular opening through which the Cenotaph (= empty tomb) in the Cenotaph Hall can be viewed.

The sky oriented words: "WE FOR THEE SOUTH-AFRICA", are Moerdijk's focus point. These words are taken from an anthem, Die Stem: "We will live, we will die, we for thee South-Africa". The same anthem ends: "It will be well, God reigns."Thus the sun ray simulates a communication between God and man.

Surrounding the monument is a circular wall with reliefs representing 64 wagons pulled into a circle to form a laager (i.e a wagon fort).

The Myth of Afrikanerdom regarded as the Promised Land

The Hebrews• Held in bondage by the

Egyptian Pharaoh• Led to the wilderness under

divine guidance: Canaan seen as the Promised Land

• Battles against the Canaanites

• Covenant with God on Mount Sinai

• Sent to exile to Babylon• Able to return to land of

their fathers (Israel 1948)

The Calvinist Voortrekkers• Oppressed by the British

• Led by ‘divine providence to the Transvaal= the Promised Land’

• Battles against the Zulus• Blood river celebration= Day

of the Vow/ the Covenant• Suffered figurative exile• ‘Divine victory ‘Elections

won in 1948