Abstract
In South Africa, there has been importance, and increasing use, of symbols and symbolism in the postapartheid social formation, both as a nation-building strategy and as a reminder to the people of the hegemonic mantle the current ruling dispensation wields. This is done through apotheosis of certain leaders to demigod status, erection of monuments, memorialization of “sacrifices” of the liberation struggle, which are apportioned to one political party and a single set of leadership. The nation and its associated phenomena, nationalism, the nation state, national symbols, histories and so on are based on social engineering, which is deliberate and always innovative.
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Notes
- 1.
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- 3.
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- 4.
Frene Ginwala in the documentary “Have You Heard from Johannesburg?” broadcast on SABC 1 on 26 June 2012.
- 5.
Sindiswa Sisanti, during a presentation at Jozi Book Fair, 7 August 2011, Museum Africa, Johannesburg.
- 6.
Haile Gerima, addressing SNI Durban, 23 September 2011.
- 7.
Adam, Heribert, van Zyl Slabbert Frederick and Moodley, Kogila, op cit.
- 8.
Ibid:223.
- 9.
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Adebajo, Adekeye, op cit.
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Ibid:196.
- 15.
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Ibid.
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Ibid.
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Ibid.
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Hobsbawn, op cit.
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Ibid:78.
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Ibid.
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Ibid.
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One may think of Die Stem being incorporated into the new South African national anthem.
- 33.
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- 34.
Quoted, in a Mail and Guardian article, “ANC Taps Government Funds for Centenary”, by Glynnis Underhill, 18–24 November 2011.
- 35.
This came to be known as the “Sobukwe Clause.”
- 36.
Rapule Tabane, “Spare a Thought, and a Place Name for Mangaliso Sobukwe,” Mail and Guardian, 9–15 March 2012.
- 37.
Comments responding to Percy Zvomuya’s review of the documentary, “Sobukwe, Picture of an Icon”, http://mg.co.za/article/2012-03-06-sobukwe-picture-of-an-icon.16 March 2012.
- 38.
Ibid.
- 39.
“Razing the Flag,” by Amukelani Chauke and Khetiwe Chelemu, http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/2012/03/22/razing-the-flag.
- 40.
Posted on Facebook, 14 June 2012.
- 41.
Chomee is a South African artiste who always performs at government and ANC assemblies.
- 42.
Haile Gerima, addressing the SNI Durban, 23 September 2011.
- 43.
Nyerere, Julius Kambarage. 1968. Freedom and Socialism. Uhuru na Ujamaa. Selection from Writings and Speeches 1965–1967. Nairobi: Oxford University Press.
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Nyerere, op cit.; Cabral, Amilcar. 1979. Unity and Struggle: Speeches and Writings. London: Heinemann; Ake, Claude. 1981. A Political Economy of Africa. New York: Longman.
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A contribution during NFT’s “Is Malema a Mugabe?” Museum Africa, 6 August 2011.
- 46.
A contribution from the floor during SNI Durban, 23 September 2011.
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O’Brien, op cit.
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Lacan cited in Zizek, op cit:36.
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Sharda Naidoo, “ANC High-Rollers Spare No Mail and Guardian, January 13-19, 2012.”
- 54.
Mbembe, 2001.
- 55.
Quayson, Ato. 2000. Instrumental and Synoptic Dimensions of Interdisciplinarity in Postcolonial Studies. In Laura Chrisman and Benita Parry, eds. Postcolonial Theory and Criticism. Cambridge: D.S. Brewer.
- 56.
Hall, op city.
- 57.
Facebook post, 23 May 2011.
- 58.
Hall, op cit.:26.
- 59.
Hall, op cit.
- 60.
A contribution by one elderly woman from Alexandra during an SNI meeting, 4 June 2011, Alex San Kopano, Alexandra, Johannesburg.
- 61.
Gramsci, op cit.
- 62.
Interestingly, some SNI members joined Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and campaigned for elections.
- 63.
Facebook post, 18 May 2011.
- 64.
Waldmeir, op cit.:269.
- 65.
Andile Mngxitama, “The People Versus Philip: How the ANC Sold Us for a Cup”, NFT 6, July 2010.
- 66.
Andile Mngxitama, “The People Versus Philip: How the ANC Sold Us for a Cup” NFT 6, July 2010. Mngxitama is a prominent BC and social critic.
- 67.
Workers World News, Issue 59, June 2010.
- 68.
In Cape Town, for example, people were dispossessed and dumped in Blikkiesdorp (Tin Town) in addition to general gentrification in major cities and towns. This was captured in the film “Tin Town” by Geoff Arbourne.
- 69.
Cohen, op cit.
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Tafira, H.K. (2016). Symbols, Symbolism and the New Social Order. In: Black Nationalist Thought in South Africa. African Histories and Modernities. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-58650-6_13
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