This month marks 100 years since the Afrikaans language officially stood on its own feet, no longer just a “kitchen language”, but a voice that’s shaped from politics to poetry.
Born from a melting pot of tongues and tempered by history, Afrikaans has weathered controversy, celebrated culture and carved out its place as one of South Africa’s most powerful linguistic identities.
On 8 May 1925 Afrikaans was recognised as an official language of South Africa.
Today it is one of the country’s 12 official languages.
Last week, various celebratory events took place around the country to mark the milestone.
On Thursday 8 May, People’s Post attended a langtafel event organised by Afrikaans Amptelik 100, an organisation spearheding the festivities, in the Bo-Kaap.
The day also marked the launch of a year-long celebration that marks the centenary of Afrikaans.
The launch took place at the Castle of Good Hope.
Throughout the year, Afrikaans Amptelik 100 will be marked by public events, exhibitions, school programmes and artistic performances across the province and country.
Rene Arendse, national vice-coordinator for Afrikaans Amptelik 100, said: “Afrikaans is like a baby, it was shaped and formed before 1925. We want to celebrate that. We want to shift the narrative and perspectives about Afrikaans, if we can let our child see that Afrikaans is not the oppressor’s language, but our own.”
Celebrations elsewhere included areas like Paarl, Genadendal and in Pretoria.
Arendse said Afrikaans has been shaped by many people.
“We must see the power of everyone’s part who developed the language. It’s like a piece of a puzzle, a mosaic lappieskombers (patchwork blanket) and a pot of breyani.”
Arendse said more focus should be placed on preserving the language in the digital age.
“As a new generation we need to document more. If you speak in ‘Kaaps’ or Namaqua Afrikaans, write books or create music because without that digital platform we will have no proof of the variety of our language.”
She encouraged young people to take ownership of the language.
“If they take ownership then the opportunities open. The opportunities are endless. It comes from us. It started in the kombuis (kitchen) and later became a university language, look how far we have come. Afrikaans belongs to everyone who speaks it.”
Fatima Samsodien, administrator at Bo-Kaap Cultural Hub, said: “Arabic Afrikaans started in the Bo-Kaap by Achmat Davids, one of the co-founders of the hub.”
Samsodien said the hub is actively preserving the language through various programmes.
“We do cultural tours. At the hub we play a video clip to share our culture, not to convert anyone, but to share culture. The Bo-Kaap is unique for its various traditions and cultures. So, we are trying to hold on to that.
“Our country is so diverse, so we need to hold on to Afrikaans.”
She encouraged Capetonians and visitors to visit the hub. It is open seven days a week from 09:00 to 17:00.
Calvyn Gilfellan, chief executive officer of the Castle of Good Hope, said the celebration at the castle had personal, professional, and symbolic significance for him.
He believes the event offered Afrikaans the opportunity to “shed its baggage of exclusion, oppression”, and false origin-narrative.
“The Castle of Good Hope, where the Dutch colonialist prevented the Khoi to speak their own language, offers some redemption to this contentious language because their users and developers, the Khoi, San, enslaved people, and many others, gave content and meaning to this new language”.
Ricardo Mackenzie, provincial minister for cultural affairs and sport, said in a press statement: “We celebrate an inclusive Afrikaans. An Afrikaans that does not exclude but embraces. An Afrikaans that is not owned, but shared. An Afrikaans that is not bound by colour or class or political preference but is free to belong to anyone who loves it.”
