Matthew+Gibson


 * __ South Africa - One city many cultures. __ **

The location of South Africa is at the southernmost tip of Africa. The population is about 50.587 million. Three of the eleven languages spoken are Afrikaans, Zulu and English. Their currency is called Rand [ZAR], 100 cents= 1 Rand. Main religions are mainly Christian and Hindu. The flag looks like a green sideways Y with a yellow and white outline, the triangle is black and the top and bottom are red and blue. The terrain is semi-arid/subtropical. It has sunny days and cool nights. Tribal costumes in South Africa are worn by Ndbele, Zulu, Venda, Xhosa, Basotho, and Swazi people. A woman's clothing can include beaded and woven skirts, blankets and cloaks with elaborate designs. The colourful jewellery are made from metal including copper, grasses and beads. The traditional food is mainly wheat, mealies (corn), kaffir corn (sorghum), livestock and biltongs. Their arts include painting, sculptures, jewellery and masks.

Traditional indigenous cultures are still strong outside of urban areas. Across the different groups, marriage customs and taboos differ, but most traditional cultures are based on beliefs in a male god, ancestral spirits and supernatural forces. In general, marrying more than one person is allowed and a lobolo (dowry) is usually paid. Cattle play an important part in many cultures, as symbols of wealth and as sacrificial animals.

Categories of age, gender, family, and status is still important to black Africans in their beliefs and etiquette. Particular honor and pride of place are granted to age, seniority, male adulthood, and political position. Rural Africans still practice formal and even elaborate forms of social greeting and respect. Sport is extremely important in South Africa - it is the one thing that unites the country. Popular sports and pass times in South Africa include soccer, cricket, rugby, football, golf and horse riding. Africa is the festival continent. Throughout the whole continent, festivals range through musical, religious, cultural and harvest to name just a few. For example, in Burkina Faso, the Fespaco African Film Festival is a week long festival and more than 40,000 people attend. In Ghana, Panafest is a festival of African dance, music and other performing arts that is held every 2 years. There are many other festivals held all around South Africa. Australia and South Africa share a competitive sporting history, and that spirit of competition creates common ground across our countries. Many South Africans have come to Australia to live, and bring their beliefs and culture with them. We work and live alongside them, and learn from each other. <span style="font-family: 'calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; msoansilanguage: en-au; msoasciithemefont: minor-latin; msobidifontfamily: 'times new roman'; msobidilanguage: ar-sa; msobidithemefont: minor-bidi; msofareastfontfamily: calibri; msofareastlanguage: en-us; msofareastthemefont: minor-latin; msohansithemefont: minor-latin;">** __ Bibliography __ ** <span style="font-family: 'calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; msoansilanguage: en-au; msoasciithemefont: minor-latin; msobidifontfamily: 'times new roman'; msobidilanguage: ar-sa; msobidithemefont: minor-bidi; msofareastfontfamily: calibri; msofareastlanguage: en-us; msofareastthemefont: minor-latin; msohansithemefont: minor-latin;">http://www.mapsofworld.com/south-africa/geography/location.html <span style="font-family: 'calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; msoansilanguage: en-au; msoasciithemefont: minor-latin; msobidifontfamily: 'times new roman'; msobidilanguage: ar-sa; msobidithemefont: minor-bidi; 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