South African Culture

Family life: In the South African black communities, the prechristian marriage depended on bride’s wealth and polygyny. The wealth mostly livestock was transferred to the bride’s family in return in favor of her useful and reproductive services in her husband’s household. The altering social and economic conditions, christanity, all these have minimised the number of polygamies, even though polygamy is a legal one. At present, monogamy is adopted in all groups. The divorce rate is rising at more than 50%. In spite of the weakness in marriage ties, marriage is considered as a vital occassion of gettogether and expensive lengthy feast are conducted.

The domestic units in the rural South African communities were fundamentally homestead. The women sit with their children along the roadside with food. They are responsible for bringing up their children. They carry their kids on their backs. The family comprised of man, wives and kids. They were housed in a tiny home during the mid twentieth century, the family consisted of the older folks and young divorced people.

The nuclear family is adopted by the white people. The “extended family households” was followed by the Indians, colored and black people.

Food

The normal daily foods for the South African people consist of a simple starched and meat. The whites also included meat in their food. Spicy sausages, maize, pearl millet, porridge formed part of the staple food for the South African people.

The Indian food, curry is popular among the Indian communities, especially in Durban areas.

The Portuguese community in South Africa has the spicy beriberi chicken as their favorite dish.

Dress

The customary South African dressing differs among various tribes. However the general dress is a 2 piece animal hide skirt. This is usually made from buck hide. Long beaded necklaces are worn by some women. Likewise Slouch hat, Bermuda shirts, Khakis are worn by the Afrikaners and Anglo Africans. The Zulus and Xhosa people wear Dashiki, Madiba shirt Zulu crown (isicholo)

Sports

Soccer, Rugby and cricket are the most widely played games in South Africa. Other popular games are swimming, golf, athletics, netball and tennis.

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