“The young men must blacken their faces”: The Blackface Minstrel Show in Preindustrial South Africa

2013 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 66-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chinua Thelwell
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Racial Difference ◽  
Young Men ◽  
Racial Hierarchies ◽  
British Colonies

The blackface minstrel troupes who toured preindustrial South Africa contributed to the preservation of both the boundaries of racial difference in the British colonies of that country and the racial hierarchies of the Cape and Natal colonies.

Involuntary Circumcision of Males in Illegal Initiation Schools in South Africa: A Violation of African Customary Human Rights?

2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Porsche Makama
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Human Rights ◽  
Cultural Beliefs ◽  
Young Men ◽  
Cultural Tradition ◽  
Constitutional Rights ◽  
Topical Issue ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Human Right ◽  
Traditional Practice

The incidence of deaths associated with the practice of forced and botched circumcisions at initiation schools has become a topical issue in South Africa. In recent times, the number of deaths and injuries among initiates has risen at an alarming rate, most of them occurring at illegal initiation schools. The continuous rise in the number of injuries among initiates at these schools has elicited mixed reactions among community members, some referring to it as genocide in the case of fatalities and calling for its abandonment, while others argue that this traditional practice should be allowed to continue. The majority of young men who go to initiation schools do not make the decision on their own, nor do they have a choice in the matter. Instead they are compelled by parents or guardians, influenced by friends, and also coerced by others in the community who insist that they have to ‘go to the mountain’, as initiation schools are generally referred to in South Africa. It has been argued by those against circumcision that this practice infringes constitutional rights and contravenes the Children’s Act 38 of 2005. There have been numerous instances where young and even mature males have been taken from the streets, or even from the comfort of their homes, and forced into circumcision camps with or without their consent. This begs the question whether the continued practice of a cultural tradition that violates the fundamental human right and freedom to choose religious and cultural beliefs is justifiable.

scholarly journals Schooled for Servitude: The Education of African Children in British Colonies, 1910–1990

Genealogy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Malisa ◽  
Missedja
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
British Empire ◽  
Race And Ethnicity ◽  
History Of Education ◽  
African Children ◽  
History Of ◽  
British Colonies ◽  
Education In Africa

Our paper examines the education of African children in countries that were colonized by Britain, including Ghana, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. We show how education plays an important role in shaping and transforming cultures and societies. Although the colonies received education, schools were segregated according to race and ethnicity, and were designed to produce racially stratified societies, while loyalty and allegiance to Britain were encouraged so that all felt they belonged to the British Empire or the Commonwealth. In writing about the education of African children in British colonies, the intention is not to convey the impression that education in Africa began with the arrival of the colonizers. Africans had their own system and history of education, but this changed with the incursion by missionaries, educators as well as conquest and colonialism.

Gangs: Spatialities and Socialities in South Africa

Politeia ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Godfrey Maringira
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Young Men ◽  
Gang Membership ◽  
Gang Violence ◽  
Gang Members ◽  
Social And Emotional ◽  
Black Township

The “making” of gang relationships has remained at the periphery of research, yet it is critical in understanding the continuity and sustainability of gangsterism in different contexts. This paper examines the ways in which young men involved in gang violence forge and sustain their relationships in the streets of a black township in South Africa. I argue that the “making” of gang relationships is never easy; rather, it is characterised by violence within and outside gang membership. The article asserts that, within gangs, violence is a technique which sustains their relationships, as it acts as a source of social and emotional support—especially in a context characterised by fractured families as well as social and economic marginalisation. The paper draws from an ethnography of walking the township streets, being in gang streets, talking to gang members, engaging with and observing young men involved in gang violence.

scholarly journals Measuring sexual relationship power equity among young women and young men South Africa: Implications for gender-transformative programming

PLoS ONE ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (9) ◽  
pp. e0221554
Author(s):  
Kalysha Closson ◽  
Janan J. Dietrich ◽  
Mags Beksinska ◽  
Andrew Gibbs ◽  
Stefanie Hornschuh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Young Women ◽  
Young Men ◽  
Sexual Relationship ◽  
Relationship Power

scholarly journals Feeling Under Pressure: Perspectives of the Meaning of Love and Sexual Relationships Amongst Young Men in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 155798831983663 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thabang Manyaapelo ◽  
Sibusiso Sifunda ◽  
Robert A.C. Ruiter ◽  
Anam Nyembezi ◽  
Bart van den Borne ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Sexual Behaviors ◽  
Romantic Relationship ◽  
Young Men ◽  
Sexual Relationships ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Transmitted Infection ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
Prevention Interventions

This study aimed to explore perspectives on the meaning of love and sexual relations amongst young men in KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. Gaining insights into these perspectives will help to understand the sexual behaviors of these young men better and to eventually develop more effective HIV prevention interventions. Focus group discussions were conducted in two study areas using a predetermined semistructured discussion guide. The findings indicate that the phenomenon of romantic relationship try-outs together with the idea of “feeling under pressure” to propose love to more than one woman seem to be accepted practices that often lead to multiple concurrent sexual partners and therefore potentially risky sexual behaviors. The fear of impregnating a woman is seen to be of a more significant concern than acquiring a sexually transmitted infection due to the stigma and embarrassment associated with pregnancy outside marriage. Given these findings, it is recommended that future studies investigate perspectives on sexuality and reproductive health in male populations in great detail prior to the development of behavioral change interventions because failure to do so may hamper well-intended but poorly targeted health interventions.

scholarly journals Criterion Validity of Self-Reports of Alcohol, Cannabis, and Methamphetamine Use Among Young Men in Cape Town, South Africa

2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kodi B. Arfer ◽  
Mark Tomlinson ◽  
Andile Mayekiso ◽  
Jason Bantjes ◽  
Alastair van Heerden ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Cape Town ◽  
Young Men ◽  
Criterion Validity ◽  
Methamphetamine Use ◽  
Self Reports

Young men in post-apartheid South Africa talk about masculinity and suicide prevention

2016 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 233-245 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason Bantjes ◽  
Ashraf Kagee ◽  
Birte Meissner
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Young Men ◽  
Relationship Building ◽  
Political Transformation ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Gender Regime ◽  
Prevention Interventions ◽  
Racially Mixed ◽  
To Receive

We explored the experiences of a racially mixed group of young men in post-apartheid South Africa to investigate how they conceptualised suicide and document their suggestions for suicide prevention. Data were collected via in-depth semi-structured interviews and analysed using thematic content analysis. Findings suggest that in spite of socio-political transformation, young men in South Africa may not feel liberated to deviate from traditional gender norms. Participants described restrictive heteronormative gender roles that are akin to hegemonic masculinity and that create a rigid gender regime that prevents authentic relating, disconnects young men from each other, and makes it difficult to receive emotional support. Participants attributed suicidal behaviour to feelings of disconnectedness, thwarted belonging, pressure to conform to the gender regime, and feelings of shame when unable to achieve masculine ideals. They suggested that suicide prevention should be aimed at fostering connectedness, relationship building, and disrupting the gender regime. Furthermore, they suggested that in cyberspace, the gender regime was less rigid and stated that they felt more liberated online to express distress and access support, which has implications for suicide prevention interventions.

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