Under The Skin
Read
If you are travelling through the Garden Route and you are particularly interested in Knysna and the forests in the area you might like to read 'Fiela`s Child' written by well-known South African author, Dalene Matthee. It is a gripping story about a white boy found on a doorstep of, and adopted by a black woman living in the Knysna Forest. Years later the white family reclaim him and the boy is torn between the two families. The whole story unfolds in the Knysna Forest, at a time when the Knysna Elephant could still be found in abundance and woodcutters lived and worked in the forest.
JM Coetzee is South Africa’s most famous author. A recluse, he has still managed to put South Africa on the literary map of the world, with two Booker Prizes (the first person ever to win two) and a Noble Prize for Literature. His novels are often dark, with characters in extreme situations, and 'Disgrace', perhaps his best-known book, is no exception, telling the story of a professor in Cape Town who loses his job, his reputation, his ambitions through an ill-advised liaison with one of his students.
'The Power of One', by Bryce Courtney is the story of a young, English South African, Peekay, growing up in the early days of Apartheid. This is a powerful story about the inequalities and individual struggles at this time and the resilience of the human spirit. It has been made into a film, however this is nowhere near as good as the book.
Listen
Ladysmith Black Mambazo are probably South Africa’s best known musical export. This is largely thanks to their collaboration with Paul Simon on his Graceland album, and the use of their song “Inkanyezi Nezazi” in Heinz adverts in the UK. Over the 45 years of the group they have recorded over 50 albums. A good place to start is with the 1998 compliation album, 'The Best of Ladysmith Black Mambazo: The Star and The Wiseman'.
Johnny Clegg is a musician with widespread recognition in South Africa. He was born in the UK, but found himself at University in Johannesburg where an early interest in Zulu music flourished and he launched a musical career that always saw him singing alongside black musicians, often with an overtly anti-apartheid message. A great album to introduce yourself to 'Johnny Clegg is Best Of Live'. It features the track, Impi, which you will often hear played in bars in South Africa.
Watch
'Goodbye Bafana' is the 2007 film depicting the relationship between Nelson Mandela and his warder during his 27 years of imprisonment, based on the memoirs of the warder. It features Joseph Fiennes as the warder and Dennis Haysbert as Mandela, and the heart of the tale is the warders conversion from a devout racist to someone with respect and friendship for Mandela.
'Zulu' must be the most-watched film involving South Africa, thanks to its continual presence in the bank holiday television scheduling! It is an excellent film and takes very few liberties with events as they unfolded at Rorke’s Drift (with the notable exception of filming it about 100 kilometres to the west of the original battle site!).
'uCarmen eKhayelitsha' is a South African adaptation of Bizet’s opera, Carmen, translocated from Seville in medieval Spain to modern-day Khayelitsha, one of the townships bordering Cape Town. It is performed entirely by a local cast, and in the Xhosa language. The film won a Golden Bear at Berlin and was in official selection at Cannes.
Eat
Babotie is a traditional Afrikaner dish made more often in winter than in summer. It is made with mince, raisins, eggs and curry spices and served with rice with either a lush green salad or some steamed vegetables. Garnish that goes very well with this dish is Mrs Balls fruit chutney and a lovely glass of crisp and dry white wine.
Biltong: rather like beef jerky this is dried beef or game and is considered delicious by most South Africans, although not all Brits agree! Boerwors is an Afrikaans thick beef sausage always put on a braai (barbeque).
Ostrich steaks, whilst not unique to South Africa, are absolutely superb here and should be tried. A good ostrich steak is easily the equal of the best beef steak, and is much lower in cholesterol as well.
There is a multitude of game to try when in South Africa, especially on safari. Commonly you will have the chance to try kudu, springbok, and impala, and you should take this chance!
Drink
South African wines are at the forefront of new world wines, deservedly so. Wine production is centred on the Winelands region of Stellenbosch, Franscchoek and Paarl. In reds, the Pinotage grape was first created from the Pinot Noir and Hermitage grapes in South Africa, and is the signature wine for the country. Not to everyone’s taste, it is very earthy and goes well with the wide array of meat available in South Africa.
White wines are predominantly Chardonnays and Chenin Blancs, and the sparkling wines, known as Methode Cap Classique, are easily the equal of many champagnes. Rooibos tea is made from the fynbos plants of the Cape Floral Kingdom. Very high in antioxidants, it also tastes very nice. It should normally be drunk without milk. Castle is the local beer, although Windhoek, from neighbouring Namibia is widely available and is thought by many to be the superior brew.
Word
'Lekker' (Very good).
Trademarks
The Cape Region - idyllic and vibrant, Garden Route - lush and fresh, Eastern Cape - historic and peaceful, The Overberg & Klein Karoo - unspoilt and uncommercial, KwaZulu-Natal - bristling with highlights, Mpumalanga - green and spacious, The North – unexplored and wild.
African Art like rock sculptures, beaded necklaces and bracelets. Painted table cloths or place mats. Painted ostrich eggs, wood carvings.
