British diaspora in Africa: Difference between revisions

The '''British diaspora in Africa''' is a population group broadly defined as English-speaking people of mainly (but not only) [[British people|British]] descent who live in or were born in [[Sub-Saharan Africa]]. The majority live in [[South Africa]] and other [[Southern Africa]]n countries in which English is a primary language, including [[Zimbabwe]], [[Namibia]], [[Kenya]], [[Botswana]], and [[Zambia]]. Their [[first language]] is usually [[English language|English]].

As a result of the rise of nationalist and anti-colonial movements throughout the [[British Empire]], in the aftermath of [[World War II]] [[decolonization of Africa|decolonisation of Africa]] took place. Ethnic Africans were overwhelmingly the majority of population in the British colonies and [[protectorate]]s and had long been denied equivalent political and economic power. These former colonies eventually became [[Self-governance|self-governing]]. The Cold War powers entered into the conflicts in this period. Often aided by [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] expertise and weapons, [[Black nationalism|black nationalist]] [[Guerrilla warfare|guerrilla]] forces such as the [[Mau Mau Uprising|Mau Mau]] in Kenya, [[Zimbabwe African National Union|ZANU]] in [[Rhodesia]] and [[Umkhonto we Sizwe|MK]] in [[South Africa]] fought for majority rule, which normally meant "[[one man, one vote]]".

In 1910, fourthe two separate [[British colonies]] and two [[Boer republics]] in Southern Africa united to form the [[Union of South Africa]], which was governed as a [[constitutional monarchy]] within the [[British Empire]] under [[Dominant minority|white minority rule]]. In 1926, the [[Balfour Declaration of 1926|Balfour Declaration]] ended the oversight from Britain, leading South Africa to become a founding member of the [[Commonwealth of Nations]], as a [[Commonwealth realm|realm]]. Five years later, the Act of the [[Statute of Westminster 1931|Statute of Westminster]] formalized this full sovereignty.<ref name=CommonwealthSA/> The majority of the British diaspora supported the [[United Party (South Africa)|United Party]], led by [[J. B. M. Hertzog]] and [[Jan Smuts]], while it was the ruling party between 1934 and 1948, and its various successors up to the [[Democratic Party (South Africa)|Democratic Party]], the predecessor of the [[Democratic Alliance (South Africa)|Democratic Alliance]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Hanf|first=Theodor|title=South Africa, the Prospects of Peaceful Change: An Empirical Enquiry into the possibility of Democratic Conflict Regulation|year=1981|publisher=[[Rex Collings]]|location=London|isbn=0253-35394-7|pages=108–114|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ugTO-eg84bcC|chapter=Ethnic Groups and Party Preferences: Political Subcultures from an Empirical Perspective}}</ref> The United Party favoured close relations with the [[United Kingdom]] and the Commonwealth, unlike the [[National Party (South Africa)|Nationalists]]. Many of the latter, such as [[B. J. Vorster|John Vorster]], supported [[Nazi Germany]] during the [[World War II|Second World War]].

Despite the high emigration rate, many people of British descent continue to settle in South Africa, including many South African-born people who have returned home since the late -1990s, especially after the [[Great Recession|2008 global economic crisis]].<ref name=Haynie>{{cite news|last=Haynie|first=Devon|title=More people returning to SA than leaving|url=http://mg.co.za/article/2008-07-27-more-people-returning-to-sa-than-leaving|access-date=28 July 2013|newspaper=Mail & Guardian|date=27 July 2008|quote=The South African Department of Home Affairs says it does not track South Africans who move abroad and then return. Anecdotal evidence, however, indicates more South Africans have been returning to the country since the late -1990s.}}</ref><ref name=Wende>{{cite news|last=Wende|first=Hamilton|title=Hope returns – behind high walls|url=http://mg.co.za/article/2011-01-07-hope-returns-behind-high-walls|access-date=28 July 2013|newspaper=Mail & Guardian|date=7 January 2011|quote=They are part of a growing number of mostly thirtysomething South Africans who have returned to the country in the past two years. Exact numbers are hard to find but a recent CNN report quoted a British employment survey which found that about 100 000 South African job-seekers were planning to return home ... The CNN report estimates that up to 20% of South African professionals, almost exclusively whiteWhite, have left the country since 1995—a loss of about 800 ,000 people, from a whiteWhite population of 4,.5- million.}}</ref> South Africa has been a top destination for British retirees,<ref>{{cite news|last=Conway|first=Daniel|title=The changing lives of expats in South Africa|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/expat/expatlife/7903228/The-changing-lives-of-expats-in-South-Africa.html|access-date=28 July 2013|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=26 July 2010|quote=Furthermore, with its 'retirement visa' scheme, South Africa is a topvery 10popular destination for British retirees.}}</ref> and many [[White people in Zimbabwe|whiteWhite Zimbabweans]] of British descent settled in South Africa after Zimbabwe'sZimbabwean independence,; some as a result of forced removal from their property. Over 200,000 [[British nationality law|British citizen]]s live in South Africa, including more than 38,000 people who are being paid a [[UK State Pension|state pension]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Brits Abroad|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/in_depth/brits_abroad/html/|publisher=BBC|access-date=28 July 2013|quote=An estimated 5.5m British people live permanently abroad ... South Africa: 212,000}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Osborne|first=Hilary|title=A UK expat's guide to South Africa|url=https://www.theguardian.com/money/2012/nov/27/uk-expat-guide-south-africa|access-date=28 July 2013|newspaper=The Guardian|date=27 November 2012|quote=The Republic of South Africa is home to more than 200,000 UK expats, drawn by a relatively lowlower cost of living, warmwarmer climate, beautiful beaches and amazing wildlife and game parks, as well as opportunities for an outdoors-focused lifestyle; amongplus the country's incredible scenery. Figures from the [[Department offor Work and Pensions]] show there are more than 38,000 UK citizens living in South Africa and drawingreceiving athe UK stateState pensionPension.}}</ref>

White Africans, including the British diaspora, generally enjoy anthe outdooroutdoors lifestyle and sports. The ''[[Regional variations of barbecue#South Africa|braai]]'' is a popular way to gatherget together with friends and family. Other popular pastimes include: visiting game reserves, hiking, camping and recreational anglingfishing. There is a particular appreciation of country life and farming. Farmers themselves generally prefer holiday houses at the coast. In other ways, the culture of the British diaspora derives from their British ancestry. Afternoon tea – in fact, tea at any time of day – is still widespread as are hobbies such as gardening and reading. Families who live in therural countryareas are usually familiar with horseriding and shooting. White South African culture was encapsulated in the 1970s [[Chevrolet]] radio [[jingle]] "Braaivleis, rugby, sunny skies and Chevrolet" based on the United States slogan "Baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and Chevrolet".<ref>{{cite news|title=Braaivleis, rugby, sunny skies and Chevrolet|url=http://www.cbn.co.za/motoring.php?motor_id=26|access-date=14 July 2013|newspaper=Cape Business News|date=February 2004|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130622212242/http://www.cbn.co.za/motoring.php?motor_id=26|archive-date=22 June 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Kimbrough|first=Bobby|title=Baseball, Hot Dogs, Apple Pie and Chevrolet – Worldwide Chevy Tunes|url=http://www.chevyhardcore.com/news/baseball-hot-dogs-apple-pie-and-chevrolet-worldwide-chevy-tunes/|access-date=14 July 2013|publisher=Power Automedia|date=8 March 2012}}</ref> Although nationwide [[television in South Africa]] was only introduced inas lately as 1976, many older South Africans of British descent had little exposure to British television and humour as a result of an [[Equity (trade union)|Equity union]] ban on British television programme sales to South Africa during apartheid.<ref>{{cite news|last=Macdonald|first=Marianne|title=Ban on sale of TV shows to South Africa lifted: Anti-apartheid blockade by actors' union dropped following reform of broadcasting, but opposition to touring remains|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/ban-on-sale-of-tv-shows-to-south-africa-lifted-antiapartheid-blockade-by-actors-union-dropped-following-reform-of-broadcasting-but-opposition-to-touring-remains-1503272.html|access-date=14 July 2013|newspaper=The Independent|date=10 November 1993}}</ref>

Many White Africans speak a unique dialect of English, developed by interaction with other local languages. [[South African English]] is influenced by [[Afrikaans]] and the [[Bantu languages]]. The considerable Afrikaans influence can be seen from words such as ''braai'', ''trek'', ''lekker'' and ''ja'' in common usage. Some [[Zulu language|Zulu]] and [[Xhosa language|Xhosa]] words, such as ''[[millipede|shongololo]]'', ''[[muti]]'', ''[[Ubuntu (philosophy)|ubuntu]]'' and ''fundi'' (meaning an "expert"), are also commonly used. Although South African slang is used by many younger South Africans, it would be unusual to hear it used amongst older people. The common greeting "howzit!" comes from the Afrikaans ''hoezit!'' (or "how is it?"); it can be likened to the US "howdy", the Australian "g'day", the Irish "howya?" or the recent BritishScottish "all rightawrite?".

[[Zimbabwean English]] (ZimEng) shares many similarities with southern hemisphere English dialects (Australian, New Zealand, South African) yet is distinct from its closest relative, [[South African English]]. Traditionally Zimbabwean English was predominately influenced by [[British English]], with the minor influence of Afrikaans (compared to South Africa) and African languages, generally used to describe flora and fauna, with terms such as [[kopje]], [[dassie]] and bundu (Shona for bush).<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|chapter-url=https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1057/9781137340399_4|doi=10.1057/9781137340399_4|chapter=Zimbabwean English and British English: A Case Study of Directness and Indirectness Across Cultures|title=Directness and Indirectness Across Cultures|year=2016|last1=Grainger|first1=Karen|last2=Mills|first2=Sara|pages=74–101|isbn=978-1-349-55871-1}}</ref> This dialect came to be known as ''Rhodesian English'', typified by speakers such as Prime Minister [[Ian Douglas Smith|Ian Smith]] and [[P.K. van der Byl]]. After Zimbabwean independence from the UK in 1980, this dialect sharply fell out of favour and came to be regarded as an archaic, non-productive dialect, only spoken by the oldest generation of [[White Zimbabweans]] and nostalgic [[Rhodie]]s and [[whenwe]]s. Zimbabwean English evolved with the changing social, economic and political conditions in which Blacks and Whites interacted in Zimbabwe; with the old, conservative Rhodesian accent being effectively replaced by the more neutral and prestigious sounding ''cultivated'' [[private school]] accent, which ironically retains some of its features.<ref>Peter Trudgill, "Lesser-Known Varieties of English." Alternative Histories of English, ed. by R. J. Watts and P. Trudgill. Routledge, 2002</ref><ref>Susan Fitzmaurice, "History, Social Meaning, and Identity in the Spoken English of White Zimbabweans." Developments in English: Expanding Electronic Evidence, ed. by Irma Taavitsainen et al. Cambridge University Press, 2015</ref> Today, the main languages spoken in are English, Shona and Ndebele. Only 3.5%, mainly the White, Indian, coloured (mixed race) and foreign-born minorities, consider English their native language. The vast majority of English speakers are Black Zimbabweans, who are [[bilingual]] or even trilingual with Bantu languages such as [[Shona language|Shona]] (75%), Ndebele (18%) and the other minority languages, and thus these speakers have an outsize role in influencing the direction of Zimbabwean English, despite traditional native speakers maintaining an important influence.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Zi4OThwjcZEC&q=zimbabwean+english|isbn = 9789042023765|title = Zimbabwean Transitions: Essays on Zimbabwean Literature in English, Ndebele and Shona|year = 2007|publisher = Rodopi}}</ref>

The British diaspora in Africa has a long literary tradition, and has produced a number of notable [[novelist]]s and [[poet]]s, including [[Doris Lessing]], [[Olive Schreiner]], [[Guy Butler (poet)|Guy Butler]] and [[Roy Campbell (poet)|Roy Campbell]]. A traditional South African storybook is [[James Percy FitzPatrick|Percy FitzPatrick]]'s ''[[Jock of the Bushveld]]'', which describes his journey as a wagon driver with his dog Jock. Other significant African writers of British descent are: [[Nadine Gordimer]], [[Alan Paton]], [[Peter Godwin (writer)|Peter Godwin]], [[Alexandra Fuller]] and [[Bryce Courtenay]].{{cn|date=March 2024}}

The British diaspora has influenced modern African arts, and has often incorporated other African cultures. [[Athol Fugard]] is a significant playwright. Born of an [[Irish Catholic]] father and an Afrikaner mother, he has always described himself as an Afrikaner but he wrote in English to reach a larger audience. [[Sharlto Copley]] is a significant film actor, producer and director. He starred in the [[Academy Award|Oscar]]-nominated [[science fiction film]] ''[[District 9]]'', which was an international box office hit and received widespread critical acclaim. ''District 9'' drew heavily on metaphoric references to South Africa's apartheid history as well as including many other more direct references to South African and African culture. Although English-speaking, Copley plays an Afrikaner bureaucrat who experiences a similar oppression to that he once imposed on alien refugees. He also starred in the [[The A-Team (film)|film remake]] of the 1980s television show ''[[The A-Team]]''.{{cn|date=March 2024}}

Notable African musicians of British descent include: [[Dave Matthews]], who emigrated to the United States, and [[Johnny Clegg]]. [[Wrex Tarr]] performed the distinctly [[Rhodesian]] comedy song "Cocky Robin" based on [[Fanagalo|Chilapalapa]]. [[John Edmond]] was a popular singer, songwriter, entertainer and storyteller during the [[Rhodesian]] [[Rhodesian Bush War|Bush War]]. [[Seether]] is a [[post-grunge]] band founded by South Africans, which now includes Americans.{{cn|date=March 2024}}

The British diaspora and their forebears have been extensively involved in the founding and development of numerous educational institutions across Africa.{{cn|date=March 2024}}

*[[Roger Whittaker]] (born 1936-2023), musician