Volksargitektuur, Post-Apartheid South Africa, Afrikaans Language Monument, South Africa, political ideologies, nationalism, African circumstances, political challenges, Dutch Language Monument, symbolism, labor love, intentional integration
The 'architecture of the people or nation,' known as Volksargitektuur, is a term used to describe the political ideologies, cultural narratives, and architectural expression of Afrikaner nationalism in South Africa in the middle to late 20th century. This architectural idea represents ideological narratives in a concrete way in addition to aesthetic considerations. This essay will explore the Afrikaner nationalism structure named Afrikaans Language Monument, which is located in Paarl and made in 1975. The design, symbolism, and decorative program of the structure embody the Afrikaner identity and historical narratives, which are intricately linked to the wider political backdrop of South Africa during the apartheid era. This essay aims to explore the intricate relationships between nationalism, ideology, and architecture in the historical context of South Africa by carefully examining the building's design, symbolism, and decorative program.
[...] It serves as a tribute to the enduring legacy of Afrikaans language and culture in South Africa and symbolises cultural pride and resiliency. The Afrikaans Language Monument The Afrikaans Language Monument is a famous South African landmark, a prominent symbol of language, cultural identity, and political importance of Afrikaans, one of the official languages of South Africa, within the larger framework of Afrikaner nationalism (Huigen, 2011:127). The monument stands at Paarl Mountain built in 1975 in the Western Cape province, but it's important to understand that it was not the first of its kind. [...]
[...] This idea captures the intricate relationship that shaped the Afrikaans language and identity between indigenous African traditions and Western influences. The wall of the monument's stairwell depicts how Afrikaans developed as a result of the impact of Indonesian languages, particularly Malay. The wall has been erected as a distinct entity between the curves of Western Europe and Africa since Malay from the East. It unites with the two elements of Africa and Western Europe, "where the two curves of Western Europe and Africa meet, a bridge is formed, reflecting the inspiring fusion of the two continents' languages" (Taalmuseum, 2019). [...]
[...] Overall, the Afrikaans Language Monument located in Paarl is evidence of the Afrikaans language and culture's lasting influence in South Africa. Its symbolism and design capture the pride and emotions that come with being Afrikaner, making it an important landmark in the cultural landscape of the country at large. Shifting Significance in Post-Apartheid South Africa In addition to celebrating Afrikaner power in South Africa, the 1975 unveiling of the Afrikaans Language Monument on Kruger Day was also a symbolic response to the growing international criticism of apartheid (Huigen, 2011:132). [...]
[...] Some Afrikaners were disturbed by this inclusion because they felt it was an unjustifiable tribute to African culture. The Monument Committee's founder, or in other words, Loots, believed that these symbols crossed unacceptable racial lines, some claimed "these symbols were an impermissible overstepping of racial boundaries" (Huigen, 2011:128). The recognition of non-white contributions to Afrikaans was fiercely resisted by Loots, who saw it as unneeded and potentially polarising. He even threatened to use violent acts of sabotage to stop the celebrations around the monument's construction as a form of protest (Huigen, 2011:128). [...]
[...] Grundlingh, A.M. & Huigen, S. (eds.) Reshaping remembrance: Critical essays on Afrikaans places of memory. Amsterdam: Rozenburg Publishers. Huigen, S Language Monuments, in Grundlingh, A.M. & Huigen, S. (eds.). Reshaping remembrance: Critical essays on Afrikaans places of memory. Amsterdam: Rozenburg Publishers. [...]
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