I reflected on this for the Afrikaans publication LitNet. A lot can be said on the topic, especially the religious logic of these gatherings. But I wonder if the resurgence is not a product of organised disillusionment along ethnic lines 4/4

🔗 shorturl.at/7okDy

32 000 Afrikaners rocked up at the Voortrekker Monument on 16 December 2023; currently celebrated as Reconciliation Day in South Africa. Last year it was 35 000 attendees. 3/4

Textbook nationalist myth-making. Attendance of these gatherings, particularly at the Voortrekker Monument, dwindled at the end of apartheid. Attendance therefore lost its ritualistic nature a long time ago. Why are we seeing a resurgence of attendance the last few years? 2/4

5/ If you’re interested in South African history, the dynamics of nationalism, or how religion intersects with politics, let’s connect! I’m excited to share ideas and learn from others here on Bluesky 🦋

4/ One of my ongoing projects focuses on Beyers Naudé, a prominent Afrikaner church leader who became a powerful voice for justice and reconciliation, challenging the apartheid regime from within.

3/ I’ve just published my first monograph:
📘 Christian Nationalism and Anticommunism in Twentieth-Century South Africa (Routledge, 2024). It’s a deep dive into how anticommunism influenced Afrikaner identity and political movements. shorturl.at/tZ9H5

2/ My recent work explores how Christian nationalism and anticommunism shaped the political and cultural landscape of apartheid-era South Africa. These ideologies played a pivotal role in justifying and sustaining systemic oppression during this period.

He has been galvanised in the struggle canon of South Africa, but the apartheid state, when arresting him in 1977, destroyed most of his personal documents. It’s an archival treasure hunt to construct his life now.

If I remember correctly, it started with grocery shopping specials, not consumer products, which also says something about our context!

Super useful. Thanks for sharing, Márcia! 👏

This is very helpful for new historians on here, thanks! 🙏