Beyonce’s “Black is King” Honors Long-Ago South African Composer
At one point in the narration of her new visual album, Black is King, Beyonce intones the following: “What a thing to be -- both universal and familiar. To be one and the same, and still unlike any other.” It was a reference to the central character in the tale, a...
Proposed Amendment to National Sports and Recreation Act Raises Concerns
The introduction on Dec. 11 of a draft amendment bill by South Africa’s Department of Sports, Arts and Culture has raised concerns of governmental overreach -- that athletics would essentially be nationalized, with the minister of sports free to oversee the affairs of...
Koech wins Cape Town Marathon; Chepchirchir shatters Women’s Record
Edwin Koech battled a strong field, and a strong wind. Celestine Chepchirchir, while hardly lacking for competition herself, was ultimately fighting the clock. The two Kenyans nonetheless found success en route to winning their respective divisions in the Cape Town...
Tourism Month Focuses on Free State
September is always designated Tourism Month in South Africa, though by all indications the other 11 months are giving it a run for its money. In all tourism contributed 1.5 million jobs and R425.8 billion (approximately $29 billion in U.S. dollars) to the nation’s...
Best Walking Safaris in South Africa
Rule No. 1 for anyone embarking on an African walking safari is this: When confronted by a wild animal -- like, say, a lion -- don’t run. The thinking is that if you act like prey, you will be treated as such. Which, of course, is easy to do in theory, but harder in...
South Africa teens attempting to fly home-made plane from Cape Town to Cairo
By air, it is some 7,455 miles from Cape Town to Cairo. But a group of South African teens now sees possibilities that extend far beyond that. Twenty of them, plucked from various backgrounds by an aviation initiative known as U-Dream Global, built the four-seat plane...
‘Nation’s Math Teacher,’ William Smith, Honored with National Order award
William Smith recalled that in his day, he was no more than “an average student.” But he believes that made all the difference in his teaching career -- a career that in turn made a difference in the lives of millions of South Africans. The 79-year-old Smith, who for...
Why Nonfiction Books Are All the Rage in South Africa
The popularity of nonfiction books in South Africa, brought into sharper focus by the incendiary reaction to author Pieter-Louis Myburgh’s recent book Gangster State, has long been a reality. Myburgh’s book explores the alleged malfeasance of current African National...
South African actress Pearl Thusi to Star in Netflix Series
South African actress Pearl Thusi believes her star turn on Queen Sono, the first African original television series ordered by Netflix, will “change the game for every artist on this continent,” as she tweeted when plans for the show were announced in December 2018....
Dumisani Kumalo, anti-apartheid activist and UN ambassador, dies
He once chuckled at the fact that there were those who regarded him as “a cheeky African,” but Dumisani Kumalo fully embraced that designation. Kumalo, who died Jan. 20 at age 71, was that, and much more. A native of KwaMbunda, South Africa, he was an anti-apartheid...
Kazungula Bridge to link, open up markets in eight African countries
Progress on the Kazungula Bridge, showcased during the 2018 Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) Week, continues to fuel optimism about the future of trade and travel in several African nations. Construction on the 923-meter-long span over the...
South Africa beats Pakistan in cricket test series
South African captain Faf Du Plessis could not help but be heartened when the Proteas earned a nine-wicket victory over Pakistan in the sides’ second test Sunday in Cape Town, clinching the three-test series. “I’m happy that we are dominating teams at the moment,” Du...
SA Golfer Louis Oosthuizen finishes third at Nedbank Golf Challenge
South African Louis Oosthuizen thought he played well in the Nedbank Golf Challenge, Nov. 8-11 at the Gary Player Country Club in Sun City. Others, however, played a little better. England’s Lee Westwood fired a final-round 64 to finish 15 under par and win the...
Oldest Known Drawing — or is it a Hashtag? — Discovered in South Africa Cave
The announcement on Sept. 12 that Homo Sapiens’ earliest known drawing had been discovered in South Africa’s Blombos Cave was hailed as history-making. It is also being viewed, to some degree, as evidence of an ancient hashtag. The New York Times described the drawing...
Pik Botha, South Africa’s Last Apartheid Foreign Minister, Dies at 86
Suffice it to say that longtime South African foreign minister Roelof “Pik” Botha, who died on Oct. 12 at age 86, danced to the beat of his own drummer. The Economist noted in his obituary that he liked to liven up governmental retreats by throwing live ammunition...
Springboks Split First Two Matches in Rugby Championships
The Springboks played unevenly (and sometimes less so) at the outset of the Rugby Championships, splitting their first two matches against Argentina. Aphiwe Dyantyi and Makazole Mapimpi tallied two tries apiece to lead the Boks to a 34-21 victory over the Pumas on...
Examining The New Book, “The Prison Letters of Nelson Mandela”
Nelson Mandela lost his freedom, but never his voice. It resonates even now, five years after his death at the age of 95, in the pages of “The Prison Letters of Nelson Mandela.” This collection of over 250 letters, most never before released, reflect the 27 years he...
New-Look Springboks Take Test Series From England
New Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus is literally changing the face of South African rugby, and the early results speak for themselves. The Boks emerged with a 2-1 test series victory over England in June, three months after Erasmus, a 45-year-old former Bok captain,...
South African Fossil Finding Suggests Human Ancestors Were Smarter Than First Thought
Discoveries made in South Africa over the years have bolstered the claim that humankind had its origins on the African continent, and another recent finding suggests our ancient ancestors were even more advanced than first thought. In May scientists revealed that...
Remembering Colin Bland, South African cricket’s ‘father of fielding’
Colin Bland, widely regarded as the finest fielder in the annals of South African cricket, died April 14 at the age of 80. Bland, who had waged a years-long battle against colon cancer, was nicknamed “the Golden Eagle” during his playing career in the 1960s, though...
South Africa’s role in Black Panther
While much about the Marvel blockbuster Black Panther is fanciful -- it is, at its core, a superhero movie -- there are real-life touchstones throughout the film that can be traced back to the African continent in general and South Africa in particular. They are as...
South Africa’s Indian Diaspora, in Film
In Russell Peters’ latest project, a Canadian-produced TV series titled Indian Detective, the Indian-Canadian comic plays a grandiose, ne’er-do-well, and utterly hilarious Indian-Canadian constable named Doug D’Mello. After Doug takes a sabbatical following a flawed...
The South African Indian Diaspora
The thriving, South African Indian community may well be the largest diaspora that you’ve never heard of. Today, some three million South Africans can claim Indian ancestry, and left an indelible, unforgettable mark on the nation. Durban, for its part, has even been...
Are Asian Travelers the Future of South African Tourism?
As much as it pains me to say it, South Africa’s economy has seen better days. For one, growth is down. In 2017, the South African Reserve Bank cut its growth forecasts, topping out at around 0.5 percent, the latest blow in a long series of economic setbacks that have...
South Africa’s Journey from Pariah to Tourism Superstar
In 1986, the United States sanctioned South Africa. This was some 40 years after the beginning of apartheid, the government-sanctioned policy of separating citizens into different facilities, schools, and institutions based solely on race. Today, three decades later,...
The Adrenaline Junkie’s Guide to South Africa: AIR Edition
You’ve scoured the land and sailed the seas, and now the sky’s the only limit left. There are few experiences to better get your adrenaline pumping than soaring through the open air, and the SA adventure scene has plenty of ways to feed that need. Whipping through the...
The Adrenaline Junkie’s Guide to South Africa, Water Edition
In our previous installment, we covered some of the land activities for you adventure-sports lovers, from sandboarding (a uniquely South African sport that blends snowboarding and sand dunes) to mountain biking the country’s vast, rugged expanses. Today, however,...
The Adrenaline Junkie’s Guide to South Africa: LAND Edition
In a land as ruggedly beautiful as South Africa, it’s no stretch to say that there are thousands of options for adventure sports. From rafting down fearsome, fast-moving rivers to biking twisting downhill trails meters away from sheer cliffs, South Africa is at once...
The Surprising Story of Afrikaans
Recently, I read an interview of Charlize Theron, where she revealed that at least once a day, she spoke Afrikaans in one way or another. Though Theron is perhaps South Africa’s most famous actress, I’d also go so far as to say that few people know that she’s South...
Braai, Glorious Braai
Summer is here in all of its humid, sweaty glory. And for South Africans, the arrival of the heat brings with it braai, our national style of barbecue--and a cuisine that is little-known, even in the meat-obsessed United States. Part of the reason is likely due to...
Afrikaans, English, and the Stellenbosch University Debate
Note: this will be the first in a series covering the languages of South Africa, and some of its complicated politics surrounding it. For a country of 55 million people, South Africa has a lot of languages: eleven official ones, along with a wide range of dialects...
Hops and Suds in South Africa
Brewery tours in cavernous warehouses past rows of stainless steel machines. The smell of yeast and ferment, a mild, slightly sour scent that recalls sunny days and cold drinks. Tiny microbreweries with a vast range of choices. This craft-brewery scene isn’t in a...
A Brief History of Springbok Rugby
What is your favorite rugby team? The only answer for this question is, of course, the Springboks. Clad in green and gold jerseys atop white shorts, the Springbok team’s mascot is the spry, long-legged antelope native to our country. Throughout their hundred-plus year...
An Introduction to Super Rugby
If you’re a new rugby fan, entranced by the spectacle that characterizes the sport, you must watch Super Rugby. What is Super Rugby? To put it simply, Super Rugby is the top transnational league for the Southern Hemisphere (and, recently, Japan). In a sense, it’s not...
Four South African-owned Businesses in NYC
As a South African expat in New York, I find myself missing the foods, wines, and goods of my home country from time to time. Luckily, New York is a diverse, large city with plenty of variety and choice; because the United States (and New York in particular) is home...
At the End of the World: Cape Agulhas and the Cape of Good Hope
Rocky, wild, and windswept, there are few places on earth as rugged and foreboding as either the Cape of Good Hope or Cape Agulhas. Long believed to be the intersection of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, the Cape of Good Hope possesses a dangerous, savage beauty, its...
The Best Brandy You’ve Never Heard of
From my previous articles, you’ve come to understand that South Africa is a world leader in wines and whiskies, two surprising vintages that have been little-known outside the nation–at least until now. But there’s another part of the picture: brandy. In fact, of the...
South African Whiskey
From wines to olive oils, we’ve already covered a number of South Africa’s top exports on this blog. South Africa’s varied, fertile lands, from rolling grassland to the lush greenery of the coastal regions, seem to produce new culinary delights by the dozen. We can...
The Three Sisters of Cape Malay Cuisine
Given that our last article centered around the untold, colorful, and painful past of South Africa’s Cape Malay population, it seems only fitting to discuss three Cape Malay specialties which have come to define South African cuisine today: bobotie, koeksisters, and...
South Africa’s Forgotten Minority: The Cape Malays
Were it not for their unique cuisine, vibrant traditions, and beautiful houses in the Bo-Kaap district of Cape Town, South Africa’s Cape Malay population would have easily been lost to history. But beneath the cheerful veneer of pastel homes and deliciously fusion...
What’s in a Name? The Story Behind the Rainbow Nation
The Rainbow Nation. Coined by Desmond Tutu immediately after the first open, fair elections that the nation had seen, the nickname quickly came to encompass the myriad peoples and cultures of South Africa, from black to white and everyone in between. The moniker...
Bunny Chow: A South African Original
Durban, the thriving, seaside heart of South Africa, is best known for three things: its sprawling, golden sand beaches; its bustling, humming port; and bunny chow, deliciously savory, slow-cooked lamb curry served inside a hollowed-out loaf of bread. I may be...
Gold Does Grow on Trees: A Look at South Africa’s Olive Oils
One of the best-kept secrets of South Africa, its locally-produced olive oils are slowly winning international attention.
12 Reasons to Visit South Africa, part 2
Learn about South Africa’s top historical, cultural, and natural attractions with this easy guide.
12 Reasons to Visit South Africa, Part 1
From soaring peaks to hidden wineries, here are some of South Africa’s greatest cultural, natural, and historical hits.
5 South African Travel Bloggers You Should Follow
I’ve searched high and low to find great resources for South African travel. By far, the best way to properly explore South Africa is through the eyes and ears of a South African. These five award-winning, native bloggers will have something for everyone’s tastes....
How One South African Artist is Destigmatizing Mental Illness
With his latest series, called “Abstract Peaces,” Maela takes a series of self portraits that shed light on his own depression and anxiety.
Test Tubes and IVF Preserve Endangered Species in South Africa
After three years and 20 failed attempts, South African scientists finally produced the first Cape buffalo using the in vitro fertilization (IVF) method. This technique will also help the southern white rhino population.
Blogger Spotlight: 5 Amazing South African Food Bloggers
From the daring to the comforting, the new to the experienced, you’ll find a wide range of influential figures in the blog world to deliver mouthwatering recipes to your screen, mouth, and stomach. Here are five South African food bloggers you should check out now!
Welcome Home Wayde Van Niekerk, South African Olympic Champ
When South African sprinter Wayde van Niekerk sprinted passed the finish line at the Rio Olympics, it was more than just a win. Seconds ahead of his competitors — a lifetime in sprinting — he set the world record for the 400m sprint.
Spotlight on 4 South African Lifestyle Bloggers
In South Africa, influential bloggers are as talented as they are plentiful. The nation is brimming with innovation and culture, so while it’s not hard to find great blogs, it can be tricky to pick out the best of the bunch. Getting to know South Africa’s network of...
An Innovative South African Artist Finding International Fame
The Cape Town native, known for creative thread drawings on unusual surfaces, has been making art since she was a young girl. Now, her art has reached the international stage.
South Africa’s Progressive Startup Culture
America is far from the only country with a reputation for innovation. There are Silicon Valley counterparts all over the world, and South Africa is no exception.
Cape Town’s Coffee Culture is Percolating
There’s something special about strolling into a coffee shop to enjoy a favorite beverage while reading the paper or chatting with fellow java lovers. So it’s no surprise that South Africa has experienced a resurgence in recent years as its coffee culture finds a...
The Big Birds Sustaining South Africa’s Economy
Did you know that ostriches are the largest living birds and that over 80 percent of the world’s population makes its home in South Africa? This is also home to 65 percent of the world’s market for ostrich related products, from feathers to eggs to the popular South...
Circus Lions Find Freedom in Emoya Big Cat Sanctuary
In what was its largest rescue mission to date, this past April the Animal Defenders International (ADI) orchestrated the transport of 33 former circus lions from South America to South Africa. The animal rights group works to place animals in their natural habitats,...
The Dwindling Rhinos of South Africa
The rhino population of South Africa has been in danger for years because of poachers killing for horns. Criminal groups are hunting down these endangered animals because an average rhino horn can fetch upwards of $150,000, or six times the price of a bar of gold.
How Social Media Is Driving Growth for American Rugby
As a South African, rugby is one of the first sports I recall becoming a fan of as a kid. Along with golf and cricket, rugby makes up a large chunk of my, and much of South Africa’s, sporting memories. In the U.S., however, rugby remains a fringe sport. Today, the sport is starting to catch on beyond college campuses.
Step Back In Time In South Africa’s Garden Route
The pretty town of Knysna is the tourist hub of South Africa’s Garden Route region, a 150km-long stretch of beach towns, ancient forests and mountainous scenery on the country’s southern coast. Its tidy streets bristle with travel agents while its guesthouses welcome honeymooners with flutes of South African bubbly.
South Africa’s First Female Owned Airline
Fly Blue Crane launched last September as the first airline owned by a black woman. In less than a year of service within South Africa, Fly Blue Crane is going to spread its wings and offer international flights to Swaziland and Mozambique. Soon they hope to further expand to Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Top 10 Hotels in South Africa
This article, written by Fiona Rossiter, was originally published on her lifestyle website: Inspired Living, SA South Africa is a stunning location, that serves as the perfect destination for a getaway, whether it is romantic, for the family, involving business, or...
South Africa’s Bright Cricket Future
Cricket has been an intrinsic part of South Africa’s identity since the early 1800s, when the sport first came to the country. Two centuries later, the sport is just as strong, and South Africa’s relationship to the sport has evolved into a global perspective.
7 Heritage Sites in Port Elizabeth
South African heritage is not something you can sum up or pinpoint to something specific. It’s a delicate, colourful and tangled mix of where we came from, where we are and where we are going. It’s a lot of old with a hint of new breaking through to joyously celebrate our arts, cultures, languages, food and people. It’s our chiefs, our settlers, our generals.
South Africa’s Top 10 Parks and Reserves
This article, written by James Bainbridge, was originally published on LonelyPlanet.com From snow-capped mountains to the Bushveld, and from sub-tropical beaches to the Kalahari, South Africa is a mind-bogglingly diverse country. Showcasing the best of its stunning landscapes, its parks and reserves are great places to experience African wilderness and see the continent’s famous wildlife.
How Social Media Helped South Africa’s Sylvester the Lion Escape Death
Like a real life Animal Planet drama, the saga of South Africa’s Sylvester the Lion swept the hearts of millions across social media. It all started last summer when Sylvester escaped from Karoo National Park in South Africa’s Western Cape Province. Park officials believed he escaped through a hole under a fence.
Cape Town’s Best Walking Tours
Cape Town’s beautiful city center—an easy-to-navigate grid brimming with historical monuments and quaint Victorian architecture aplenty—is in the throes of a revival. The streets have been cleaned up, hip new restaurants and boutiques keep opening, and a monthly art exibition and cultural program is one of the city’s star attractions. For those who want a closer look at all the vibrant city has to offer, read on for some of its best walking tours.
Gary Player Furthers His Legacy Into 80 Years
One of the greatest golfers in the history of the game, Gary Player is a legend across the world–but especially in his native South Africa…
The Desserts of South Africa You Need to Try!
It’s hard to find most of my favorites sweets here in the States. If you are going to be in South Africa and you have a sweet tooth like me, do yourself a favor and try these three desserts…
You Don’t Need to be an Expert to Enjoy South African Wine
Going from wine amateur to enthusiast can be a daunting challenge. Depending on your level of interest in immersing in the field, there is quite a bit to learn…
Jacob Zuma and His Controversial Presidency
A true lightning rod for controversy, South African President Jacob Zuma closed out 2015 with yet another scandal…
Rhino Poaching Runs Rampant in South Africa
Across Africa, two types of rhino roam the land–the black and white rhinos. Ranging from 2,000 to 4,000 pounds…
Checking in with Trevor Noah: How is The Daily Show Now?
Taking over for a legend is always a daunting challenge. Regardless of past success or stature, the new host of a nightly show in America faces endless challenges when starting out in their new role…
The History of Cricket in South Africa
In South Africa, two sports dominate the culture: Rugby and Cricket. Cricket, much like rugby, is now a global game that is enjoyed by the South African masses from all walks of life…
The History of South African Rugby
Rugby and South Africa share a storied history that deeply engrained itself in the fabric and healing of South Africa through the years…
How the Drinkable Book Could Change the World’s Water
The Drinkable Book has the potential to be the game changer the world needs in the effort for more clean drinking water in the world. Estimates project that…
The United States, South Africa Boast Rainbow Nations of Language
For South Africans, being bilingual is almost as common as having a single language in a homogenized country…
Comparing the Sustainability Efforts of the United States and South Africa
The sustainability showdown: South Africa v. The United States. One is focused towards global trends, the other towards localized emergencies…
Shark Attacks and Sentiment in South Africa and the United States
It’s no surprise that in the decades since the film “Jaws,” America’s fear of sharks has skyrocketed. But South Africans have a different relationship with these terrifying and majestic creatures…
Different, Yet Similar, Environmental Issues Plague U.S. and South Africa
Much like Americans fear the oil industry for large amounts of its environmental woes, South Africans set their sights on a different industry for the bulk share of its environmental troubles…
Comparing GDP, Imports and Exports of SA and USA
When comparing the GDP of South Africa and the United States you may think that the U.S. trounces South Africa in terms of money, imports and exports…
Comparing Wine Culture in South Africa and the U.S.
As a nation that is often overlooked by non wine enthusiasts, South Africa may sometimes get labeled as an emerging wine producer. But the nation’s wine tradition actually extends back 350 years…
Dunoon Residents Clean up Neighborhood in Spite of Xenophobia
In response to South Africa’s xenophobia problem, many have taken to the streets to voice their displeasure while making calls for peace…
Nando’s Anti-Xenophobia Advert is Perfect for South Africa Today
Interestingly enough, a banned 2012 advertisement for Nando’s chicken recently re-emerged as a leader in the anti-xenophobia movement…
Freedom Day 2015: Find Out How South Africa Celebrates
Across the nation each year, South Africans celebrate the day when democracy was established after decades of Apartheid…
South Africa’s Most Popular Wines
If you aren’t a wine connoisseur, you may not know that South Africa is a major player in the global wine industry. Here are the 5 most popular wines according to the experts at Wine Enthusiast…
5 South African Personalities Impacting Global Media
With Comedy Central’s recent announcement that Trevor Noah is replacing Jon Stewart as the next host of The Daily Show, it feels like the right time to highlight 5 more important South Africans changing the world…
Frankengame: Genetically Engineered Animals Now Hunted in South African Nature Preserves
Some of South Africa’s naturally-born big game are getting temporary stays of execution as ranchers breed genetically modified animals to hunt…
South Africa is known as the Rainbow Nation—an array of cultures and backgrounds that make it the great country it is. At HenriSteenkamp.org, you’ll find a true portrayal of the Rainbow Nation under a rainbow of topics ranging from wine to sports and beyond.
