INTERDISCIPLINARY 252

HISTORY AND RELIGION
IN SOUTH AFRICA

January Interim 2006

Instructors:

Helena Pohlandt-McCormick (History)
Office: Holland Hall 601B
Office Phone: 3212
E-mail: pohlandt@stolaf.edu

Eric Lund (Director of International Studies)
Office: Manitou Cottage
Office Phone: 3375
E-mail: lund@stolaf.edu

General Education Credit: Multi-cultural Studies (MCS-G)
Major Credit: History and/or Religion
Cost : $ 4990 Maximum enrollment: 24

COME LEARN MORE AT OUR INFO SESSION: MONDAY, APRIL 11 4:30 PM CHAPEL 101

South Africa is a richly diverse country, both culturally and environmentally.
Approximately 76% of its citizens are Black Africans , mostly related to two different cultural groups, the Nguni and the Sotho . These are further distinguished from each other by several distinct languages and many different social traditions. (There are 11 official languages in South Africa, 9 of which are African tribal languages: Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele, Pedi, Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana and Venda).

The next largest category is the white population of European background (12%). This racial group can be further subdivided, most notably into the Afrikaners (of Dutch origin, speaking primarily Afrikaans) who have been present in the region for more than three centuries and the English-speakers who arrived somewhat later. Other South Africans are considered Coloured (people of mixed racial origins, making up approximately 9%). They are most noticeably present in the area around the Cape Province. In addition, there is a small Asian population (3%), primarily from the Indian subcontinent.

Social relations between these diverse groups have been complicated, especially because, for most of the modern era, the minority white population always managed to monopolize economic and political power. Racial discrimination and cultural prejudice was widespread and reached its tragic culmination in the implementation, in 1948, of the apartheid system by an Afrikaner-dominated government. Fortunately, however, after several decades of costly social protest, the traditional political structures in South Africa were altered in a dramatic way, and, since 1994, a government more representative of the cultural diversity of the nation has begun to reshape the whole social order under the leadership of Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki. The formerly banned African National Congress is now the most powerful political party.

There is also considerable religious diversity in South Africa. This is especially significant because religion has often been a powerful factor in shaping the identity of various social groups and in influencing attitudes towards the political problems of the region. Christianity has become the most dominant 'organized' religion, but it appears in many different forms (ranging from the conservativeCalvinism of the white Afrikaners, to the liberation theology of black Christian leaders such as Nobel Peace Prize winner, Desmond Tutu, and also to unique indigenous

reinterpretations of Christianity promoted by Independent African churches etc.) African Traditional Religion has not disappeared. It continues to influence the world-view of black South Africans in many subtle ways - including those who have some association with Christianity. In addition, there are small communities of Jews , Muslims and Hindus that have influenced South African culture and politics in many significant ways.

This interdisciplinary course explores the multiple and contested histories of South Africa and analyzes the modern and ancient forces that have shaped its complex religious landscape. Through visits to a wide variety of sites and encounters with many different people, the course will expose students to the cultural diversity of South Africa and make explicit connections between the past and the present.

Course Description

Throughout the month, we will explore four time periods and four types of religious identity:

1. The History of South Africa before 1652 : Khoi/San and Bantu cultures Indigenous religion - spirits and ancestors, divination, modes of healing - expressions past and present

2. The Colonial Encounter between different racial groups in the 17 th and 18 th centuries The spread of new organized religions (Christianity, Islam) and their cultural impact

3. The Afrikaner-British rivalry and the Great Trek to the northeast territories in the 19 th century Afrikaner religious and cultural nationalism

4. The Apartheid System, the Resistance Movements and the Creation of a new multi-racial democracy
The use of religion to defend the discriminatory social order, to protest against it, and to create a vision of what the new South Africa might be.

The First Two Weeks of the program will be spent in the vicinity of Cape Town , seat of the national legislature, and the region where whites and blacks first encountered each other. The metropolitan area, with a population of almost a million, is set in a spectacular landscape at the very tip of the African continent. It has a mild Mediterranean style climate. We will be living in the safe compound of the University of Western Cape, located in Bellville, a northeastern suburb of the city.

Our initial goal will be to provide a general introduction to South African history and culture. We will study the history of social relations between different racial groups from the first encounters between European colonizers and the indigenous population to the development and dismantling of the modern apartheid system. We will make contact with South Africans of diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds so students can find out, first-hand, what it has been like to be part of different social groups. We will also do a weekend intensive visit to black and coloured urban townships with Western Cape Action Tours, an organization run by former Umkhonto we Sizwe freedom fighters. In addition, we will visit museums, places of worship, and sites of scenic beauty such as Table Mountain, the wineland region, and Cape Point.

For the Third and Fourth Weeks of the course, we will travel more than 800 miles northeast to Gauteng (elevation 4100 ft). Almost 9 million people live in this small province, clustered in three key cities: Johannesburg , the major economic center of the country, Soweto , its associated 'black city,' and Tshwane (formerly known as Pretoria) , seat of the executive branch of the government. We will also visit sites in Mpumalanga and Limpopo , two largely rural provinces, and Kruger National Park , the country's largest game reserve.

While in the Gauteng area, we will learn more about the Afrikaners who trekked to this region after the British took control of the Cape Colony and study the social impact of the region's gold mining industry. We will travel to famous sites associated with the resistance struggle against apartheid and visit various organizations that will help us understand the problems and prospects of the new multi-racial, democratic social order being implemented in the country. There will be opportunities to meet with various church leaders and discover the novel features of African Independent Churches. Near the end, we will also visit archeological sites to learn more about early African cultures and explore the continuing manifestations of ancient religious and cultural practices among various black tribal groups in both urban and rural settings.

Although students will have some leisure time to explore on their own, this is very much a group experience. Attendance at all scheduled events will be expected, and students' primary interest should be in the subject matter of the course. Individuals must be willing to cooperate with the group as a whole and need to be very sensitive to the different ways in which the foreign cultures we encounter function. It will be important to be in good physical shape.

Helena Pohlandt-McCormick , a professor in the history department, grew up in South Africa and taught St. Olaf interims there in 2001 and 2005. Eric Lund , a professor of religion, is director of international studies at St. Olaf. He has previously led fourteen study abroad programs for St. Olaf students, including three in South Africa.

For more information on the program see our website: http://www.stolaf.edu/people/lund/southafrica06.html

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION FOR INTERIM ABROAD APPLICATION

HISTORY AND RELIGION IN SOUTH AFRICA (INTERIM 2006)

Since we will be spending a month together in a different cultural environment, it is important for us to pick a group of students who will get along together well. Therefore, we would like to know more about you. You should type out your answers on another sheet of paper and send them to either Helena Pohlandt-McCormick or Eric Lund. Think a bit before you respond, and please submit this around the time you turn in your application form or shortly thereafter.

Important:Please also indicate if you are agreeable to the conditions for participation, listed at the bottom of this page.

NAME:___________________________ CLASS YEAR:_____

1) MAJOR(S) AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES (Also how you often use your free time)

2) ACADEMIC BACKGROUND: Have you studied any topics which would be relevant background for this course on history, religion and culture (e.g. familiarity with the history/political situation in Africa, knowledge of Christianity or other religions, work in the social sciences on the analysis of cultural differences)?

3) MOTIVATION FOR TAKING THE COURSE: What do you most want to get out of this overseas interim? What are your goals? Are there any particular aspects of the course which look most appealing to you?

4) WHERE THIS FITS IN YOUR PLANS: Why do this program as opposed to other St. Olaf offerings? Does this course fit in any way as a piece in the larger academic or personal plan you have for yourself or is it an adventure unrelated to your usual interests?

5) TRAVEL AND CROSS-CULTURAL EXPERIENCES: Have you ever traveled before in a foreign or different cultural setting? If so, where and in what kind of a program ( group ? by yourself?). Have you ever spent time traveling or living closely together with a group such that you know what it might be like to be with a group in South Africa for a whole month? Describe some relevant experience(s) which might let me know how you react to cultural diversity or cope with the challenges of long-distance travel.

6) PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS: Do a little self-analysis. How particular are you about what you eat? Do you plan out your days very carefully or are you more spontaneous in your time-management'? Do you like to be surprised or do you work best when you can anticipate what you are going to encounter? What do you do to relax and re-energize yourself when you feel stress or frustration? If you know the Briggs-Meyers Personality type categories - what are your tendencies? (E/I;extrovert/introvert, S/N:sensing/intuition, T/F:thinking/feeling, J/P:judgment/perception) [Note: There isn't a 'right' answer we are looking for. We just want to see, however, how well you 'know yourself' and have thought about what works for you as coping mechanisms in daily life. If some of these questions seem too invasive, you may bypass them.]

7) CONCERNS: In order to help you get the most out of this program, we need to be sensitive to your personal needs as well as your academic interests and qualifications. Do you have any worries or concerns about the program? Do you have any special needs or problems we should know about (physical, psychological, academic, familial, cultural)?

8) PREPARATION: What kinds of things would you like us to do by way of orientation before we take off? Do you hope to prepare yourself for the trip in any special way?

Check if you agree:

I understand that this is an academic program, and consequently I will be expected to attend classes, do assigned readings and prepare some writing assignments in addition to enjoying various experiential and touristic activities while in South Africa.

Although the program begins in January 2006, I will make my best effort to be involved in all orientation activities in prior months. I am also willing to put in some time to make myself knowledgeable about South Africa before the program begins.

I understand that I am agreeing to being part of a group and that it is possible that at times I may need to sacrifice some of my personal preferences in order to contribute to the welfare of the whole. I am willing not only to be tolerant of others and cooperative but also to look for ways in which I can take some initiative to make this a positive experience for all involved.

_______I will endeavor to keep the lines of communication open with the interim instructors and the people we work with in the field. I will let them know about concerns or complaints but will try to express these in constructive ways.

_______I will not knowingly engage in any activities that are detrimental to my own health, my full participation in this academic program or the reputation of the group. I will accept the advice of the accompanying professor if there are any questions about what is appropriate as we study abroad in a foreign culture.

Signed: _______________________________ Name:_________________________________

To: International Studies

From: Eric Lund

PROCEDURE FOR SELECTING STUDENTS FOR THE SOUTH AFRICA INTERIM

I have prepared a supplementary information sheet which students need to fill out in addition to the application form. I prefer that they submit the two forms to me together - although as times students have not picked up this sheet and I have had to give it to them when they come to get my signature. In any case, I will not accept a student who hasn't given me answers to the questions.

Any one who applies in the spring will get a definite decision from me before they leave campus. I will not be leaving a set number of places aside for fall applicants. If necessary, I will keep a waiting list and will consider people on it if a place opens up later on. I expect to accept a maximum of 24 students.

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