The struggle to become South African

In the interaction of remembering and forgetting, of memory and oblivion, a sense of historical identity is constituted. Although historical facts lie in the past, the history itself is a construction by the present. History is being constructed by the historian and thus open to different interpretations. Collective memories are still created and reinvented and the socio-economic, political and cultural domain is changing rapidly and continuously. This Master Thesis deals with South African history and its interpretation. Throughout time identities were invented. This process is linked to collective memory. This memory has changed over time. One way of researching national identity and collective memory is by looking at the national calendars of a nation. Certain events are being commemorated, and this is top-down determined. In South Africa this is specifically interesting. A new national calendar was implemented in 1994 after the transition to democracy. Remarkable is that most of these days commemorate events that refer to the anti-apartheid struggle, and supports the new nation’s themes of reconciliation, heritage and rainbow nation. Reconciliation Day, celebrated December 16 every year is used as a case study to broaden this research with an example of a public day that was interpreted and re-interpreted throughout time. The central thesis is: How does the South African calendar of public holidays relate to the dynamic process of enhancing national identity and collective memory? In answering this question I focus on the commemoration of the battle of Blood River as a case study. The theories of national identity and collective memory serve as a framework to look at the public calendar. Part one deals with the theoretical framework that serves as a imaginary window to look at the nalional calendar. Part two looks into the case of Reconciliation Day as an example of reinventing the past and as a top down process of nation building through influencing collective memory. December 16 is one of the oldest public holidays on the South African national calendar – except for the Christian holidays – and its meaning has shifted many times. From a truly Afrikaner nationalistic holiday it is now considered a symbol of the reconciling capacity of South Africans. It refers to the day that victory of the Voortrekkers over the Zulus during the Great Trek in 1838, and has become the most important Afrikaner commemoration. Especially at the beginning of the twentieth century, its meaning was truly nationalistic with the centenary celebration as a highlight of Afrikaner nationalism. The day was called “Dingaansdag” (Dingane Day), referring to the victory over the Zulu king Dingane. In the 1960s its name changes to “Geloftedag”(Day of the Vow or Day of the Covenant), referring to the vow that was made during the battle at Blood River. The battle over collective memory continued in the 1970s and 1980s, within Afrikaner ranks the need for a reconsideration of the national past was necessary. Apartheid had lost its high appeal and the country was suffering from national and international strains on their exclusive policy. The history of the Battle of Blood River was deconstructed by South African historians and considered a national myth. If we consider the post apartheid commemoration of December 16, the memory of that day is one remembering the memory. It is not remembering an event, but the struggle for interpretation that is the true meaning of the day. How to achieve reconciliation and national identity is the most important issue for South Africa when dealing with the memories of the Battle of Blood River/Ncome.