Expert Article

The Rainbow Nation

An all-encompassing piece of a multifaceted country.

“If you’re from Africa, why are you white?” “Do you live with lions?” “Is your house just a hut in the jungle?” These are surprisingly very common questions asked by foreigners that are unfamiliar with the African Sub-continent. It’s a shame that many people are uneducated about South Africa, a beautiful country filled with rich culture, natural resources, and diverse historical tales. It holds the name “The Rainbow Nation.”

South Africa is an enigma; it’s fascinating that such a diverse country with so much to offer is in shadows of the universal spotlight with few people knowing much about it. What most people see as a country with developmental issues, like many other parts of Africa, is actually a haven of culture and luxury.

                   

Yakira Matisonn

Hidden Treasure

Beneath the jungle-like shrubs of Sub-Saharan Africa, lies enormous amounts of gold. Before the end of the nineteenth century, South Africa was an agriculture-based country until the vast gold mines were discovered. This discovery offset the first gold rush, turning South Africa into the leading exporter of gold in the world. Unfortunately, today, China holds this esteemed position in gold exports even though South Africa still has the largest amount of gold reserves (Mafika). These valuable reserves contribute almost 20 billion Rand to the country’s economy, yet the Rand remains weak at around 15 Rand to 1 U.S. Dollar (Miner). The gold mines of Johanessburg greatly contributed to increasing the country’s quality of life and the overall infrastructure by employing more than half a million people (FSE).

However, gold is not the only natural resource that fills the South African soil. Primarily in Cape Town, South Africa’s mines produce 95% of the world’s diamonds (CTDM). The country has some of the most valuable elements and precious stones in the world. Isn’t that a sparkling shock? Who knew that a “poor” country in Africa could provide some of the world’s greatest riches? People fly in from all over the world to purchase these diamonds. They are also shipped to buyers across the globe seeking to reap the beauty of the country’s sparkling gems.

Let the Vacation Begin

Are you looking for something fun to get your Adrenaline rushing? Far from being a land of shrubbery, beautiful sunsets, mountain hikes, game reserves, and beach resorts also attract tourists from all over. Cape Town alone has so much to offer. You can spend a weekend in the Winelands of Franschhoek, Constantia, or Stellenbosch. Why not get turnt on a Tuesday, sipping local wine at Del-Air? These picturesque vineyards lie beneath some of the most beautiful mountains in Cape Town and offer a peaceful escape to spend time with the family or get away with a loved one. If you’re looking to tan, December holidays is the ideal time of the year to spend hours on the beach in 80-degree weather under the African sun. If you want to see and be seen, you spend the day and one of the four Clifton beaches where everyone from your neighborhood will be. If you’re a hipster and enjoy being off the beaten track, you go to Bakoven. If you want to just bask in the sun away from the usual crowd, you can go anywhere from Llandudno to Glen beach.

To experience the natural beauty of the country, you can have a picnic in Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens or challenge yourself to a hike up Lion’s Head or Skeleton Gorge. Skydiving off of the top of Table Mountain, shark diving, or surfing on the beach of Muizenberg are other ways to enjoy the outdoors.

Top of Lion’s Head Mountain, Yakira Matisonn

Cultural Foodie

South Africa wears the name “The Rainbow Nation” with pride as it represents the cultural diversity within the country. The Dutch colonists paved way for the bloom of the Afrikaans people. At a classic braai, they’d barbeque woers and chops. The four major ethnic African groups in the country are divided into many subgroups that speak countless languages and eat many traditional foods (SA Venues). They’d be happy to make you some pap and vleis — a staple food made from maize and meat — with delicious gravy and spinach on the side. Then in the Malay quarters where each house is painted a different color, you can find the colored community. While colored is a controversial word in many other countries, in South Africa it signifies a separate race of people that derived from the interbreeding of native Africans and Dutch coloners. The colored people are known for their vibrant personalities and natural rhythm which they share through their love for music and dance. They can cook spicy samosas and curry and tell you jokes till you laugh your head off. Other than these large prominent groups in the country there are French communities in the Winelands, Portuguese and Greek towns on the outskirts of Cape Town, and thriving Jewish communities that hail from countries such as Poland, Lithuania, and Norway.                                                                     

Aside from the cultural diversity that offers unprecedented cuisine, South Africans love food markets where you can enjoy a tasty meal to go while purchasing local artwork made from sandstone or paintings of the African sunset. A tourist’s favorite is the Hout Bay market. It’s open every Sunday on the Hout Back dock where you can enjoy a nice fish with slap chips and listen to a live band performance from a local group. If the cold wind on the water isn’t your vibe you can go the close by Oranjezicht Farmer’s Market and enjoy vegan food and healthy fresh fruit juice. If you haven’t booked your ticket by now, I’ll assume your idea of fun is laying in bed.

Pap and vleis, Cristo on Twitter

                               

More than You Thought

Still think it’s the bush? I hope not. Clearly, South Africa is a lively country with a wealth of cultural and economic offerings. Although there are areas of vast “jungle-like” landscape, they are enjoyed for safari tours, where you can see the animals Africa is so well known for, and lodging rather than everyday living. The people decorate the country with their various customs and traditions making it well known for their hospitality and friendliness. The luxurious neighborhoods are well known for their architectural innovation in building into the side of  the Cape Townian mountains. That’s right, not huts. Numerous celebrities love spending their summer holidays staying in one of these neighborhoods and partying in the beach clubs comparable to those in Ibiza and Mykonos. South Africa is an underrated country and deviates far from the “African” stereotype that comes to mind. Why not take a visit and I bet you’ll come back with a pissed off partner who is jealous that you fell in love with another: South Africa.

                                         Your soon to be tour guide, Yakira Matisonn

 

Yakira Matisonn              

Work Cited

Miner, Hardcore. “History of Gold Mining in South Africa.” How to Find Gold Nuggets, 23 Sept. 2018, howtofindgoldnuggets.com/history-gold-mining-south-africa/.

Mafika, Lorraine Kearney. “Mining and Minerals in South Africa.” Brand South Africa, 25 June 2017, www.brandsouthafrica.com/investments-immigration/business/economy/mining-and-minerals-in-south-africa.

“South Africa Languages and Culture.” Accommodation South Africa - SA-Venues.com, www.sa-venues.com/sa_languages_and_culture.htm.

“History of Diamonds.” Cape Town Diamond Museum, CTDM Http://Www.capetowndiamondmuseum.org/Wp-Content/Uploads/2015/12/Ctdm-Logo.png, www.capetowndiamondmuseum.org/about-diamonds/south-african-diamond-history/.

“The Impact of Mining on the South African Economy and Living Standards.” 10 February 2018,

http://fse.org.za/index.php/item/593-the-impact-of-mining-on-the-south-african-economy-and-living-