In this post I have explored my chosen cultures representation in the media, and researched in to some of their current affairs. Having knowledge on these subjects will help me design a look to represent all areas of this culture, potentially including negatives as well as positives. This will help me represent my culture as true to form as possible.
When I was completing my research into cultural appropriation vs appreciation, I unintentionally came across an article with an example of appreciation connected to my chosen culture. During 2014, singer Pharrell Williams began a design collaboration with Adidas, with the goal of releasing his own sneaker collection. Pharrell’s intentions seemed good, as he wanted to represent all corners of the world, and titled the collection ‘human race’.
However, the release of a certain shoe, named ‘clear aqua’ quickly came under fire. The design of this sneaker drew inspiration directly from the Xhosa culture of South Africa. However, even though this South African tribal group’s symbols and wordings have been directly used for this collaboration, they shoe will not be sold in South Africa.
The shoes sported the word ‘uluntu’, an Xhosa word meaning human race, or humanity, yet would not be sold to or even seen by those it was inspired by. Even Though this may not have been intentional, this is a great example of cultural appropriation. This is because someone of extremely high social standing has taken something from a minority group, and used it to gain profits – without even correctly acknowledging its true origin.
During an interview, Mxolisi Mac Bhengu put it perfectly when he said that “The entire concept is wrong if it can’t be purchased in the country where the word originates. It’s all good and well to draw on inspiration from different cultures, but to capitalize on it and not allow those muses to enjoy the creations is another matter entirely.”
From reading this article I have further learned the importance of correctly researching different cultures, and ensuring to represent them in a way that is clearly celebrating their cultures, rather than taking from them. Therefore, I will ensure to research fully into the meanings of certain words and symbolism’s.
The second article I read was a round up of current issues in the country. From that article, I learned although South Africa may seem like a beautiful, and peaceful country from the outside they have many of their own struggles, including; increasing cases of inequality and unemployment, effects from the Covid-19 pandemic, a high profile trial accusing former President Jacob Xuma of fraud, corruption and money laundering. However, one of the topics I chose to look into further was women’s rights.
After speaking to multiple women I know who live, or have lived in the country, I am aware there are many issues surrounding the rights and safety of women. When researching I discovered in January, the South African government passed new laws such as; the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, the Criminal and Related Matters Amendment Act, the Domestic Violence Amendment Act, and the Criminal Law (Forensics Procedures) Amendment Act, in order to hopefully improve the disturbingly high rates of gender based violence reported across the country.
The police minister, Bheki Cele has previously reported that between April and June 855 women were killed and over 11,855 cases of gender based violence against women was reported. This number also includes a shocking 9,516 cases of rape.
With this evidence it goes without saying women in this country must feel terrified in many situations. I wanted to focus on this topic, and hope to create a piece that helps to empower women, and enable them to embrace their natural beauty and inner power.
In this post I will explore popular garments within South Africa.
The many ethnic groups making up South Africa, make for many different popular styles and trends between individual groups of people. Below I have explored some of the popular traditional clothing styles of multiple dominant groups.
Indian South Africans
South Africa is home to Durban, the largest Indian city outside of India. Its large Indian population causes many fashion trend crossovers. Within these groups, popular garments such as; embroidered saris, sherwanis, and traditional dresses are mainly saved for special occasions. Western clothing is usually worn on a daily basis.
Cape Malay
A minority group in South Africa, known as the Cape Malay, are a collection of followers of the Muslim belief. The people within this group commonly wear western clothing on a day to day basis, saving traditional wear for worship at the mosque, special events and celebrations.
Xhosa
In the Xhosa tribe, a persons dress represents their right of passage and social status, therefore signifying stages of life, age, marital status etc. For the women of this collective, long skirts and aprons made from embroidered and printed fabrics are most common. Beaded necklaces (ithumbu), and beaded bracelets and anklets (iqhiya) are popular accessories. Furthermore, married women show their relationship status by wearing head scarves, and embroidered capes or blankets around their shoulders.
On the other hand, men from this collective were traditionally either warriors, hunters or stickmen. Therefore, garments made from animal skin are popular for everyday wear, while embroidered shirts, rectangular cloths over the left shoulder, tunics and beaded necklaces are popular attire for special occasions.
Zulu
In the Zulu tribe, a woman’s clothing represents her stage in life. For example, a single woman is expected to keep her hair short, and wear a short skirt made from beaded reed. When a woman becomes engaged she is expected to wear a similar skirt, however she now must cover her breasts and she can also grow her hair to mid length. Then, when a woman is married she must cover her whole body, to show commitment and respect for her husband. Women usually cover up with a long skirt made from cowhide, a cotton vest, and accessories with a beaded necklace. A married woman may also grow her hair longer, and will usually wear a circular hat known as ‘izicolo’ made from a mixture of grass and cotton.
Men in the Zulu tribe often wear garments created from animal skins and feathers. The kind of skin a man is wearing helps to signify his status. Furthermore, tufts of cow tails are usually worn on the upper arms, and below the knee, to boraden the appearance – this is known as ‘amashoba’. These men also usually wear an apron made from calf skin to cover their private areas, known as ibheshu. Younger men often wear an apron to just above the knee, for practicality – as this allows freedom and movement for dancing, hunting and fighting. However, older men are usually retired from these activities, therefore wear an apron to the ankle.
Tsonga (Shangaan)
Men of the Tsonga groups often wear animal skins to cover their private areas. The kind of skin often helps to signify a man’s status.
Women however, wear bright beaded jewelry and colorful, gathered skirts known as ‘xibelani’.
Ndembele
The people of the Ndembele tribe are known for their colorful and intricate bead made garments. The women in this group often wear aprons to cover up. It is traditional for a younger girl to wear a short beaded apron until she reaches a certain age, where she will be gifted a longer version known as ‘isiphephetho’ by her mother, along with thick beaded hoops to be worn around the neck, arms, legs and waist. Married women often wear longer aprons that are made from hardened animal skins and decorated with bright geometric designs. They will also usually wear copper rings, known as ‘idzilla’, around the neck, ankles and arms. Furthermore, unmarried girls are not expected to cover their breasts, but a married woman should cover up with a striped or beaded blanket.
The men in this group are known to wear animal skin aprons, along with beaded breastplates, known as ‘iporiyana’ that hang from the neck. These are a symbol of manhood, and are gifted to a young man by his father once he has completed his initiation.
Venda
Girls in the Venda group often wear an apron, known as the ‘shadow’ to cover their pubic areas. Then, when breasts begin to develop a bright, striped fabric known as a ‘nuenda’ is worn either around the waist or across one shoulder, to cover up. Beaded necklaces, bracelets, bangles and headbands are popular accessories among this group.
The boys and men of this group are usually seen wearing a loincloth known as ‘tsindi’. This is a piece of animal skin that is used to cover the private area. In colder weather men also tend to wear a cloak around their shoulders. However, modernization means many men now wear fabric shirts and trousers in day to day life.
Street Fashion
South African street fashion is very very casual. You’re lucky to even find a restaurant who has a dress code stricter than smart casual. Due to a mixture of both the climate, and the fact there are a vast variety of ethnic groupings living in the country, it is easier to have fashions that may be followed by everyone in their own unique way. Some of the most popular street wear garments include; sunglasses, cross body bags, black skinny jeans, pumps, tank tops, walking shoes, maxi dresses, jackets, jerseys, boots, sandals, denim shorts, beach wear, hats, and high waist trousers.
In this document i will explore some of the biggest events in South African History.
The history of South Africa has many tales and turns within the last few hundred years. With a large range of occupants there are many tales to be told within the history of this country. However, I have decided to create a timeline of some of the most historically relevant events of the last 30 years. Then, I will explore one of the most historically significant times of South African history, the apartheid.
1994 – During South Africa’s first national democratic election, Nelson Mandela was sworn in as the first democratic President of South Africa. Mandela was also the first president of post apartheid South Africa.
1995 – Sporting history is made as Nelson Mandela awards captain Francois Pienaar the Webb Ellis Cup, after Springboks wins 15 -12 against New Zealand. This world cup match was held at the Ellis Park Stadium, in Johannesburg.
1996 – Adoption of the South African constitution on May 8th, marks a democratic milestone. With a bill of rights second to none, this is considered by many as the most advanced constitution in the world.
1997 – During this year the South African National anthem is born, curated with a blend of two existing pieces. The Anthem was first performed at the opening of parliament in February 1997.
1999 – iSimangaliso Wetland Park, KwaZulu-National, is named South Africa’s first national heritage site. Its title was given for its superlative natural beauty.
2002 – Mark Shuttleworth becomes the first ever South African in space, and the second ever self funded space tourist, when he travels to the International Space Station, on the 25th of April 2002, on board the Russian Soyuz ™-34 Spacecraft.
2004 – During this year Charlize Theoron won the Oscar for best Actress.
Furthermore, the South African swimming relay team won gold at the Olympics in Athens.
2006 – Tsotsi wins the best foreign language film Oscar.
2007 – In this year, the Springboks won the Rugby World Cup for a second time since 1994, when defeating England 15-6.
2009 – Archbishop Demond Tutu’s historic accomplishment and efforts to promote peace were finally recognised by the US, when President Barack Obama named him as the recipient of the highest civilian honor; the Presidential medal of freedom.
Furthermore, in this year Mandela Day was launched worldwide, when the UN declared July 18th Nelson Mandela day. This day was designed to reflect, remember and educate those on his values and dedication of service to humanity.
2010 – South Africa hosts the FIFA world cup.
Furthemore, the Graca Machel Trust – a Pan-African advocacy organization focused on; children’s health and nutrition, women’s empowerment, and education – is launched.
2012- Table Mountain is named the seventh natural wonder of the world.
2013 – National hero, Nelson Mandela, dies aged 95 at his home in Johannesburg.
2014 – Cape Town is named the design capital of the world.
2015 – Trevor Noah, a local turned international star, becomes the host of America’s The Daily Show.
2016– This year was huge for sports history in South Africa. During this year Wade Van Niekerk set a new world record at the olympics, while winning a gold medal.
Also, Temba Bavuma becomes the first black cricketer to make a test century for South Africa, as well as making his one day debut for South Africa against Ireland, before scoring his maiden ODI century – making him one of only 15 players in the world to have achieved this.
2017 – Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika is voted the best national anthem in the world. It is praised for its inclusivity , and ability to bring people together.
2018 – In this year Phetoyo Molawa becomes South Africa’s first black female helicopter pilot, before becoming the first woman and black person to take command of the South African Air Force.
The Apartheid – Overview
Below I have created an overview of one of the most significant times in the history of South Africa. The Apartheid took place between 1948 and 1994, and was a racial segregation act under an all white government.
The apartheid declared that all non-whites (therefore the majority of South Africa’s population) must limit their contact with whites. This act was dedicated to ensuring those of non-white skin tones were forced to live in separate areas, use separate facilities, and were restricted from certain areas, such as; beaches and public toilets.
Millions of non-whites were forcibly removed from their homes and placed restricted, and confined, in separate tribal homelands according to ethnicity. This left white people the only inhabitants of towns and cities.
During 1948, the National party was elevated into government, then the apartheid became a social project of theirs. They based the act on a series of laws that made it legal.
Firstly, it became illegal for South African citizens to pursue any inter-racial relations. Citizens were divided into four categories; Black, Indian, Coloured (mixed race), and White. Once placed into these categories, restrictions on locations and resources were put in place.
This intensified when Africaans became the official language of South Africa, used for all communication, including for work and education. Next, it was made illegal for blacks to vote or engage in any politics. This left their purpose reduced to labor for whites, causing many internal resistances to grow.
As a result of this resistance, political groups were formed, with the aim to fight the white ruthless rule. However, this was met with an armed response from the government, arresting and trying many activists and eventually leading to the ban of all political organizations.
During the 80’s, internal and external pressure to denounce the apartheid rose so high, as more and more people became aware of the brutal and unfair treatment of people, due solely to the color of their skin. The government became more and more brutal in their fight before eventually having no choice but to submit to its pressures, after years of isolation from international communities.
Finally, in 1994, all political prisoners were released and the freedom association was established. South Africa finally was able to celebrate all of its people, under a constitutional democracy based around non-racialism and empowerment of the minority.
In this post I will explore some traditions that are celebrated throughout South Africa.
South Africa is not a homogeneous country. Its land is home to a large variety of people, making for an incredible blend of cultures. Because of this, there are not many traditions for the whole of the country, instead there are many specific traditions for each group of people. Below are some examples of traditions within some of the major ethnic groups of South Africa.
Zulu
The Zulu people are known for their shield bearing warriors. Each shield can be used to identify the rank of its warrior. There are five different kinds of shield available.
Furthermore, their belief is largely based on that of ancestral spirits, that are known to appear as messengers in dreams, as well as a supreme being who is rarely involved in the activities of its mortal followers.
Finally, the use and belief of magic is huge among the Zulu people, with any tragedy, miss fortune, or illness being blamed on evil spirits.
Xhosa
The Xhosa people are known best for their dress. In this group, one’s dress is used to signify their social status, marital status, and position in society.
Xhosa are also believers in ancestral worship, and tell many tales of ancestral heroes.
Ndebele
Painting architecture is a huge part of Ndeble culture and tradition. Bright colors and geometric designs are used to decorate the interiors and exteriors of all kinds of buildings within their villages. The task of this decoration is left to women. It is a hereditary task and therefore mothers are responsible for teaching their daughters the trade.
Ndebele women can often be identified apart from other tribes, due to their use of neck rings and traditional blankets.
Sotho
The people of Sotho groups are often organized into villages, which are further organized into age groups. This is different from many other groups, as they usually live in scattered settlements.
Folk art forms are extremely popular within this group, and consist of mainly; pottery, bead work and weaving.
Venda
The Venda people are known for their mythical beliefs in water. They are known to believe that lakes and rivers are sacred, and that rain is controlled by the python god.
Traditional healers, known as Sangoma, are believed to have access to spirits and ancestors, reaching out to them in times of support and advice.
Cattle are also considered an important symbol of wealth to the Venda people.
Modern
In the modern day, people are much more likely to abandon their ethnic groups’ cultural traditions in order to seek a ‘better life’ in the city, therefore turning to a western culture and lifestyle. However core traditions have been carried over and a clear blend of western and native traditions are evident in modern day music, art and food.
Dancing
Dancing is a huge part of each cultural division within South Africa. Almost all cultural groups use dance as a form of expression during celebrations and ceremonies. Some of the most known and celebrated dances include; Ingoma,Indlamu, Imvunulo, Isicathamiya and Sokkie.
Important celebrations
The Royal Reed Dance
The Royal Reed Dance is a Zulu holiday and festival where women are required to create beads and reeds to be worn as a parade enters the King’s palace.
The Cape town international Jazz Festival
Taking place in March and April, the two day festival allows a space for both local and international Jazz artists to showcase their talent.
Cape Town minstrel Carnival
Cape Town Minstrel Carnival is known by Afrikaans as kaapse Klopse. The celebration is always held on the first and second days of January, but can last up to a week. This event consists of costumed minstrels parading through Cape town whilst performing and playing music.
Arts Alive Festival
The festival is celebrated as an expression of life through artistic form. During this festival, people promote their values through visual and performing arts. It is a ten day event, which also includes international performances.
Oppikoppi Bushveld Festival
Held in August, located in Pretoria, Northam, and Northern Johannesburg, this festival boasts a range of jazz artists, DJ’s and comedic performances.
Knysna Oyster Festival
This festival is home to over one hundred small events, such as; cycle tours, eating competitions and marathons. With over 65,000 attendees, the event is held in July at Garden Route town.
In this post i will explore some of South Africa’s native tribes.
As previously explored, South Africa is known as the ‘rainbow nation’, due to its large diversity of occupants. South Africa’s black population is divided into four major ethnic groups; Nguni (Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele, Swazi), Sotho, Venda and Shangaan-Tsonga. In this post I will explore each of these tribes, and what makes each of them unique.
Zulu
The Zulu are the largest tribal group in South Africa, with approximately 11 million members. Their language, Nguni, is one of the most widely spoken languages in the country.
Believed to have immigrated from the Great Central African Lake areas, in the 15th century, the Zulu have since lived in what is now known as the KwaZulu-National.
The group are regarded, among the people of South Africa, as the aristocracy- with extremely high moral standards and natural dignity.
Zulu is a branch of the southern Bantu, with close ethnic, linguistic and cultural ties to the Swazi and Xhosa tribes.Furthermore, they are also associated with the Matabele of Southern Zimbabwe, and Angoni of Malawi groups.
Traditionally, these groups were made up of gran and large chea farmers. However, wars with European settlers in the 19th century, over grazing and water resources, lead to a huge loss of money and resources for the Zulu people.
Modern changes have meant the Zulu people now depend on wage labor, from farmers of European descent, or work in the city.
This has made a huge change in cultural tradition. Originally, men were trained their whole lives to fight, and women were prepared for motherhood. However, modern roles are much less structured.
Xhosa
The Xhosa group is another large group, with around 8 million members.
Coming mainly from the Eastern Cape, the Xhosa group are known for their huge contributions towards the development of South Africa. The group was also recognized world wide, after Nelson Mandela (an Xhosa member) gained global recognition for his efforts opposing the apartheid system, gaining equality for all people.
This group is closely related to the Zulu, in terms of similarities in their culture, language, customs and symbolism.
The discovery of gold on the Witwatersrand, caused many men of this group to move and make up a large chunk of the mining and labor workforce. This caused huge disruption to traditional family and community life.
However, the group continues to organize its people into patrilineal clans, and continue work as agriculturists, keeping mainly sheep and cattle.
Ndebele
The origins of the group are mysterious, but they are now recognized as part of the Nguni tribe.
Based in Mpumalanga and Limpopo Provinces, these groups boast artistic talents and attractive dress, made up of mainly geometric designs.
Holiday makers in South Africa are encouraged to visit one of the Ndebele’s cultural villages, to explore and embrace their freedom and creativity.
Their unique customs and traditions have been disturbed due to urbanization, as men have had to move away for work. However, as just noted, women still continue to express their creativity by painting the interior and exterior of their village’s architecture.
Sotho
There are three main groups within the Sotho tribes, known as; Northern Sotho (Pedi), Southern Sotho, and Tswana.
Occupying the high grasslands, the people of this group are known for their exceptional horse riding skill, especially when herding cattle, and are often referred to as the Cowboys of the South African plain.
Sotho people are also renowned artisans, in the wood, metal and leather trades, as well as being known for their outstanding grass weaving skills.
Furthermore, their thick colorful blankets and conical hats are often used to identify people of this tribe.
However, the arrival of Christianity, urbanization and industrialization has caused a cultural tradition breakdown – especially as many men are now required to move away to work.
Swazi
As the main occupants of Swaziland – an independent country, another over half a million Swazi people also live in the Mpumalanga area of South Africa, that borders Swaziland. Many Swazi people have also moved into cities due to modernization and job seeking.
In this independent group, the highest political, traditional, economical, ritual power is held by the hereditary male ruler, and their mother (or a woman elected for the title queen mother). Royalty is a huge part of this group’s traditions, with separate Royal villages made for the ruler’s wives and children to inhabit.
Men are categorized into age groups, which are re-organized every 5-7 years. These categories identify the different roles, services and labors required of each man.
The Swazi group has a highly organized society, with beliefs of magic and witchcraft.
Venda
The Venda tribe is known to inhabit the Limpopo province. The ‘Bantustan’ (homeland) was incorporated into new South Africa in to 1994, but prior to this was an independent and self governing state.
The Venda are known as composite people, as their tribe usually consists of multiple culture groups.
Venda people are very reliant on agriculture, with it dominating their economy. They are known for farming crops such as; corn, peanuts, beans, peas, sorghum and vegetables, as well as animals such as; cattle, sheep, goat, pigs, and fowl.
For this unit, I have chosen to study further in to the culture of South Africa. I have always been amazed by the beauty of this country, and would love to use this opportunity to gain some detailed research in to their way of life. Therefore, I can create a love letter to the people of South Africa within my body art design, while also creating a platform for awareness and education.
Furthermore, I have family that live in South Africa, meaning I have the perfect opportunity to cross reference and fact check the information I find, as well allowing me to collect some valuable primary research.
In this post I have explored what semiotics is, and why its important.
The word semiotics describes the study of symbols and signs and their use or interpretation. The word originates from the Greek word; semantikos.
Semiotics is used to analyze all aspects of life, including; logos, gestures, music, literature, expressions, advertising, clothes, film and TV. This list helps to show literally everything can be used as symbolism.
T
herefore, the study of visual semiotics looks at meaning-making (symbolism and metaphors), and helps us perceive and understand visual codes. We also begin to understand the placement of certain colors and elements when we begin to look into this.
Denotation and connotation are huge parts of analyzing an object.
Denotation – The description of literal meanings (what is actually there).
Connotation – Exploration of suggested meaning (what is implied by the object).
Example
The Heart
Denotation – A muscle, blood, veins, arteries, pumping, life.
Using semiotics through my research will be hugely useful, as when studying my culture I will be able to identify any small details that may speak volumes to its people. Therefore, in my design I will be able to use symbolism to represent different areas of their culture, such as; location, music, colors, history and traditions. This will also allow me to include symbolism from more than one tribe, or religious group within my chosen culture, therefore representing as many people as I possibly can.
In this document I will explore some key features of Asian culture.
Asia is known for being a hub of cultural and religious diversity. It is a nest of 48 countries, including; China, India, Japan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Afghanistan. As implied, this large array of countries allows for a wide diversity of people.
Facts
Festivals are a huge part of this culture, some of the most famous are; china- Chinese new year, dragon boat festival, autumn moon festival. Hindu- Diwali. Japan – National foundation day, Emperor’s birthday. India- republic day, independence day.
There are over 1600 temples in Japan (Kyoto).
Asia covers ⅓ of the earth’s surface.
China produces 45 billion chopsticks per year.
South Korea holds a separate valentines day for single people.
South East Asia is home to the world’s largest flower, and world’s smallest mammal.
Indonesia is the world’s fourth most popular country.
Russia and Turkey sit among both Asian and European territory.
Asia hosts a varied climate.
Over 2300 languages are spoken throughout the continent.
These are 12 landlocked countries.
Asia is home to the world’s tallest mountain, Mount Everest.
Asia is the birth place of all major religions.
There are many countries that make up the Asian continent, I have listed them below.
East Asia; China, Japan, South Korea, North Korea, Mongolia.
South Asia; India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Maldives.
West Asia; Cyprus, Bahrain, Qatar, Armenia, Georgia, Kuwait, Palestine, Oman, Lebanon, Israel, United Arab Emirates, Azerbaijan, Jordan, Syria, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, turkey.
South Eastern Asia; Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, Singapore, Timor-leste, Brunei.
Central Asia; Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan.
China; Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao.
Some stereotypes that may be associated with Asia and its inhabitants are; cuisines, sharing food, street fashion, family, symbolism, tradition., greetings, bowing, pale or olive toned skin, chopsticks, rice, music, politics, population control, uniform and authority.
As previously explored, a culture is much more than the stereotypes it’s recognized by, below I will explore some other factors that play a part in making up Asian cultures.
As just noted, over 2,300 languages are spoken across Asia. The main, dominant languages are as follows; Mandarin (1.1 billion speakers), Arabic (The official language for 26 Asian countries), Malay (33.12 million speakers), Persian (62 million speakers), Bangala (300 million speakers), and Hindi (600 million speakers).
Additionally, there are a wide range of religions celebrated across the continent, including; Hinduism (26.1%), Islam (25.7), no religion (20%), Buddhism (11.3%), Folk religions (8.6%), Christianity (7.2%).
Due to the large area of this continent, and implied by the large range of regions followed and languages spoken, there is huge ethnic diversity. The ethnic make-up of the continent is as follows; overall population is 4,744,162,517 making up around 59.4% of the world’s population. The highest populated country in Asia is China, hosting 1,439,323,776, followed by India at 1,380,004,385, and in third place is Indonesia with 2,73,523,615 inhabitants.
Some popular fashion and beauty trends include; slender figures, pale skin, long dark hair, glass skin, light and neutral makeup, high SPF worn daily, V jawlines, big round eyes, slender noses, small faces, crochet, bohemian styles, cargo style clothing, tropical print, black and dark colors, long peplum, leather, pencil skirts, neon colors and lace.
Additionally, music is a huge part of Asian culture, some highly popularized genres include; K-pop, punk rock, J-pop, canto pop, classical music and hip hop.
Architecture is a huge part of Asian expression. Many influences in architecture come from ancient religions such as Hindu and Buddhist beliefs, as well as taking huge inspiration from nature. Many buildings are presented like temples, with large and complex spaces, as well as modern popularized open plan homes.
As for most countries, sport is a big part of Asian culture, but the music scene seems to dominate over any other entertainment industry. Some popular sports in Asia include; football, boxing, badminton, table tennis, basketball and cricket.
Famous faces
Bruce Lee
Icon in martial arts cinema, known for popularizing the martial arts genre within mainstream media worldwide. Also paved the way for the modern sport ‘mixed martial arts.’
Brandon Lee
Son of Bruce Lee, actor and martial artist. He got his big break with his role as Eric Draven in the Crow, however this also cut his career short – as he died an accidental death during the production of this movie.
Jet Li
(Li Lian Jie)Film actor, producer, retired Wushu performing martial artist, and five time gold medalist.
Jackie Chan
International movie star, stunt man and martial artist.
Michelle Yeoh
Renowned actress and Oscar winner.
Manny Pacqioa
Internationally successful boxer, nicknamed ‘pac man’. He is regarded one of the greatest professional boxers of all time, and also served as a senator for the Philippines from 2016-2022.
Archnie Panjabi
Actress, and feminist speaker.
Rain
International k-pop star and actor. He and his wife are known as the richest celebrity couple in Korea.
Kristi Yamaguchi
Author, Figure skater, Olympic gold medalist, two time World Champion and founder of the Always dream foundation. She was titled the first Asian American woman to win a gold medal in a Winter Olympic competition
Mindy Kaling
Pioneering actress, known mainly for her role as main character in the Mindy project. Her work is widely recognized, as evident by her two Screen Actors Guild Awards, Tony Award and nominations for six Prime time Emmy Awards
Chow Yun Fatt
International movie star.
Jeremy Lin
Professional basket ball player, signed with the NBA from 2011-2019.
Henry Golding
Actor, famous for his role in crazy rich Asians. He has also been a presenter on the BBC’s ‘The Travel Show’ since 2014.
Constance Wu
Actress known best for her work in crazy rich Asians, and Hustlers. Constance was included on Time magazines list of 100 most influential people, in 2017, and has earned several nominations for her work, including; a Golden Globe Award, four Critics’ Choice Awards, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and two TCA Awards
Steven Yeun
Actor, most famous for his role in the walking dead.
Gautam Adani
Author, billionaire industrialist and founder pf Adani Group.
Hwang Dong-hyuk
Film maker who gained international success in 2020 with his creation; Squid Games. He was included on the Times list of 100 must influential people, in 2022.
Xi Jinping
Current Chinese president. He has also previously served as the general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party and chairman of the Central Military Commission
Yoon Suk-yeol
South Korea’s current president. He previously served as the prosecutor general of South Korea.
Karunda Nundy
Supreme court lawyer, known for championing womens rights, and reforming anti rape laws.
Umar Ata Bandial
Chief of justice in Japan.
Peng Shuai
Now retired, professional tennis Player. Ranked world No. 1 doubles player by the WTA, in February 2014, becoming the first Chinese tennis player to achieve this ranking.
Hoda khamosh
Women’s rights activist, journalist and poet.
Shreya Ghoshal
Professional singer, admired for her wide and versatile vocal range.
Alia Bhatt
Known as Bollywood’s number one, and highest paid actress, she has appeared in Forbes: India’s Celebrity 100 list since 2014 and was awarded the TIME 100 Impact Award in 2022
Simone Ashley
Actress, most famously known for her roles in hit Netflix series; Bridgerton and Sex-Education.
In this document I have broken down my findings from my initial research into the key aspects of South African culture.
South Africa is often referred to as the rainbow nation, as it is made up of many diverse cultures and religions, such as; Zulu, Xhosa, Pedi, Tswana, Ndebele, Khoisan, Hindi, Muslim and Afrikaner people to name a few.
Facts
South Africa’s estimated population is around 59 million people.
They are the only country in the world with three capital cities; Pretoria – the administrative capital, Cape town – the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein – the Judicial capital.
Rand is their currency.
They are the second largest producer of fruits.
Tugela Falls are their tallest waterfall, at a height of 983 m (3,225 ft)
Over 2000 Shipwrecks can be found along the coast line.
South Africa is renowned for its cultural diversity.
Some stereotypes people may immediately think of when hearing South Africa, are; Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu, Good manners, Shopping markets, Food, Wine, Rooibos (tea), Family, Gifting, Dancing, Shows, Celebrations, music, and Natural beauty.
However, as previously examined, there is more to a culture than its stereotypes. Below I have explored some of the individual factors that may play a role in making up the South African culture.
Languages
South Africa is renowned for its cultural diversity, and hosts a collection of many tribal groups and foreign immigrants. There are 11 official languages of South Africa, including English, Afrikaans, Swazi and Zulu. English is used as an everyday communicative language, while Africans is also widely spoken and used on signs.
South Africa’s ethnic population is as follows; Black 75.2%, White 13.6%,Mixed race 8.6%, Asian 2.6%. With Tribal groups – Zulu 22.9%, Xhosa 16.5%, Sotho 17.4% and Tswana 7.8% making up 64.6% of the country’s population, and Afrikaners/Boers (descendants of Dutch settlers) making up 60% of the white population.
The main religion in the country is Christianity, with over 68% of the population as followers, followed by 28.9% with indigenous beliefs, 2% Muslim followers, and 1.5% Hindus.
Fashion and beauty are massive in some areas of South Africa, with South African fashion week being one of the most diverse in the world. Some popular fashion and beauty trends include; Long lashes, Natural hair, Bold hair colors, Neutral tones makeup with either a bold eye or bold lip, Nails, printed and embroidered fabrics, Bright and bold colors, Beaded jewelry, Headscarfs (for married women), long skirts and suits.
Music is a huge component of this culture, with popular genres being jive and folk forms. Zulu isicathamiya singing and harmonic mbaqanga are popular forms of folk music, followed by house, hip hop, rock, gqom and marabi styles.
Architecture in South Africa is very distinct and varies largely, with many buildings standing in round shapes. However style varies within different tribes such as Xhosa, Zulu, Venda and Colonial.
Rugby, cricket, soccer and golf are all very popular sports in South Africa. However these games are celebrated on a much smaller scale (less commercialized) when compared to places such as America- with the super bowl.
Famous faces
Nelson Mandela
First black president of South Africa, named father of the nation after becoming the first president of post apartheid south Africa. Also joint Nobel peace prize winner.
Christian Bernard
Pioneering heart transplant surgeon.
Mahatma Gandhi
Political activist, who succeeded in encouraging the use of non-violent resistance.
Nkosi Johnson
Child HIV/AIDS activist who died of the disease at age 12 – making him South Africa’s longest living child, born with HIV.
Winnie Madikizela Mandela
Politician, activist and second wife of Nelson Mandela.
Thabo Mbeki
Second post apartheid president of South Africa.
Gary Player
Professional golfer.
Desmond Tutu
South African Arch bishop and theologian, known for his work as an anti-apartheid and human rights activist. Also a Nobel Peace Prize winner.
Hansie Cronje
International cricketer and captain of the South Africa national cricket team in the 1990s.
Charlize Theron
Former model and current actress, named one of the highest paid actresses in the world. Academy Award and Golden globe winner.
Shaka Zulu
Founder of the Zulu nation.
Mangosuthu Buthelezi
Politician and Zulu prince.
Leon Schuster
Film maker, comedian and actor.
J.R.R.Tolkien
English writer born in Bloemfontein. Famously known for his creations; The Hobbit and Lord of The Rings.
Natalie du Toit
Paralympic swimmer and gold medalist.
Jeremy Mansfield
Radio and TV personality.
Harry Oppenheimer
Businessman who was ranked one of the wealthiest people in the world.
Felicia Mabuza-Suttle
Talk show host, public speaker and business woman.
Hector Pieterson
Young boy whose death became a symbol of the Soweto uprising of June 1976.
Jody Scheckter
Former Ferrari race car driver and Formula one world champion. He remains the only African to have won the F1 championship.
Jacobus Hendrik Pierneef
Landscape artist, considered to be one of the best old South African masters.
Tebogo Modjadji-Kekana
Globally recognized philanthropist and royal princess.
Elon Musk
Entrepreneur, engineer and industrial designer. Famous for his creation of companies such as pay-pal and SpaceX, as well as being the CEO of Tesla. The man best known for revolutionizing transport both on earth and in space, was born in Pretoria.
Candice Swanepoel
Model, known specifically for her role as a Victoria’s Secret Angel, and named one of the world’s top earning models. Also works closely with charity organizations such as Montehr2mother, a charity supporting and educating pregnant women with HIV.
Caster Semeya
Two time Olympic gold medalist mid distance runner. Known as an intersex woman for filing discriminatory complaints after being asked to take medication to lower her testosterone in order to take part in the Olympics.
Yolandi
Rapper for Die Antwood, and actress. Globally recognized for her outrageous beauty and fashion sense.
Kimbal Musk
Younger brother of Elon Musk, owner of community restaurant chain ‘The Kitchen restaurant group’. Also co-founder of the non profit organization big green – creating outdoor classrooms, square roots – specialists on urban farming, and is a prime Tesla shareholder.
Cyril Ramaphosa
The current South African president.
Sasha Pieterse
Actress, songwriter and singer. Best known for her character in Pretty Little Liars, and placing 10th place in the 25th season of Dancing with the stars.
Demi-leigh nel-Peters
South African model, who won the Miss universe title in 2017.
Reeva Steenkamp
Model, TV personality, and face of Avon in South Africa. Named South African of the year after her tragic death, by shooting, at age 29.
Princess Charlene of Monaco
Former Olympic swimmer, who represented South Africa in 2000. Then married prince Albert, becoming princess consort. Also owns the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation, which focuses on supporting causes related to AIDS, Sport, and underprivileged children.
Lucky Dube
One of the most influential reggae stars ever.
Sid James
Globally famous actor, best known for his roles in the carry on franchise.
Caspar Lee
Social media star, actor and entrepreneur. Rose to fame in the 2010’s after posting prank videos on YouTube, and now is co-owner of the student accommodation company, proper living.
Brenda Fassie
Dancer, singer, song writer and activist. Brenda won 5 South African music awards, 3 kora awards, and was named the queen of South African pop.
Sarah Baartman
A famous figure in feminist history, Baartman was made a freak show attraction, named the Hottest Venus in the 19th century. Her attraction was based around her large buttox, as she fell victim to the sexualisation and exploitation of African women by European men.
In this document I have described my findings from my research in to the key aspects of British culture.
There are four countries that fall under the bracket of British culture, these are; England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. However, most stereotypes seem to come from England, specifically its capital city London.
Facts
The average current population of Britain is 67 Million people.
London is the capital city of England, with over 9 Million inhabitants.
Although British and American people both speak English as their main language, there are huge variants in the spelling and pronunciation of certain words.
Britain hosts the 3rd largest coastline in Europe, at 12430 km long.
Britain has over 13 overseas territories.
Some stereotypes that people often think of when asked about British culture include; sarcasm, tea, pubs, fish and chips, roast dinners, full English breakfasts, the prime minister, corgis, gifting, sports, complaining, the royal family, posh accents, the word ‘sorry’, social classes, tanning, over exaggerated makeup, ques and varying weather.
However as previously explored there is much more to a culture then its stereotypes, below I will explore some of these factors.
In Britain, there are a huge range of languages spoken. The most popular language being English, with 98% of the population able to speak it, a huge number compared to the second most popular language – Scots, with 1.5 million speakers. As you may have guessed, Scots is mainly spoken in Scotland, and its founding language is Galec. Next, the third most popular language is Welsh, the official language of Wales, with 600,000 speakers.
Following Welsh is Polish, with 500,000 speakers – which sounds like a lot but this is only around 1% of Britain’s residents.However, this number is quickly rising, as Britain has seen more than half a million Polish Immigrants arrive in the last ten years.
Some other less spoken languages include; Punjabi, Bengali, and Gujarati, with around 250,000 speakers each. These languages are spoken on such a scale due to the large number of Indian immigrants, who made the move to Britain during the 19th and 20th centuries.
Other languages spoken on a much smaller scale include; Arabic, Spanish, French, and Portuguese. These languages are usually present in larger, tourist cities such as London, Manchester and Brighton.
As well as a vast range of languages, Britain is a cultural hub for many religions. Its main religion, with the monarch as head of the church, is Christianity, which is followed by 46.2% of the population. The second most popular religion is Islam, with only a 6.5% following, next comes Hinduism with 1.5%, Sikhism with 0.9%, and Judaism and Buddhism with 0.5%. The huge jump in percentages is due to the large 37.2% of the population who describe themselves to be non religious.
As just mentioned christianity is the official religion of the United kingdom, with churches of all denominations (catholic, Protestant, Baptist, Methodist) found all across territories of the UK.
Fashion trends are often changing in Britain, but some staple clothing items are; Trench coats, Tweed jackets, Jeans, leggings, Trainers, Suits, Bodycon dresses, Grey Joggers, Black colored everything, Wellies and Umbrellas. I can almost guarantee you will see nearly all of these items each time you leave the house. Compared to America, Britain has a much more dressy everyday style, but is not overly formal or business like.
Just like fashion, the hair and beauty trends are constantly changing in and around Britain, however some current dominant styles include; the wolf cut, graphic eyeliner, eyebrow lamination, manicures, copper hair, Y2K, warm tones in hair, face and body jewelry.
Britain boasts a huge music scene, with many world wide stars from all kinds of genres. Punk, Pop, R&B, Rock, Garage, House, Hip Hop and Drum and Bass are among the most celebrated throughout British history.
Furthermore, Britain’s wide range of modern and historical architecture makes it one of the most unique countries in the world. This is because it is home to some of the most significant, and an extremely large number of historic homes, with its dominating styles being; Tudor, Elizabethan, Baroque, Georgian and Post WW2. Britain also carries a huge number of castles, cathedrals, and royal residences.
Sports are a fundamental part of British culture, with Football being the most prominent. Cricket, Tennis, Rugby, and Badminton are also extremely popular. Although not everyone’s ideal, hunting sports, horse and dog eventing and racing are also huge events in British sport.
Below I have listed some of the most famous faces in Britain, from historical to celebrity figures.
Winston Churchill
Churchill was the British Prime minister twice, famously leading the country towards its victory against the NAZI’s during the second world war.
Isambard Kingdom Brunell
A mechanical and Civil engineer who was responsible for creating many bridges, ships, and tunnels, including the Clifton Suspension Bridge. He was an influential character during the revolution and changed public transport forever with the creation of the Great Western Railway.
Diana, Princess of Wales
First wife of Prince (now King) Charles, and mother to Prince William, and Harry. Dianna was admired by the British population for her kind nature.
Charles Darwin
Biologist, Geologist, Naturalist and originator of the theory of evolution through natural selection.
William Shakespeare
Poet and playwright, who is often referred to as the ‘greatest writer in the history of the English language’. His work introduced many new words and phrases into our language, and is so celebrated that it is still read and performed today.
Isaac Newton
Physicist, Mathematician, Astronomer, Theologian and Natural Philosopher. He was the originator of the universal gravitation theory, as well as the laws of classical mechanics and motion.
Queen Elizabeth I
Former Queen of England and Ireland from 1558-1603, she brought stability to Britain and led us to victory over the Spanish Armada during the Anglo Spanish war.
John Lennon
A pop/rock singer, song-writer, musician and activist, as well as a member of the hugely famous band the Beatles. John is considered one of the most famous, influential and most covered artists of all time.
Horatio Nelson
A naval commander famous for his time in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic wars. His victory at the Battle of Trafalgar prevented the invasion of Britain.
Margaret Thatcher
First woman prime minister, who also held office longer than anyone else in the 20th century.
Queen Elizabeth II
Former Queen of the UK and its territories, until her death last year in 2022, she was the longest reigning monarch in British history.
Freddie mercury
Singer, song-writer, and lead vocalist of legendary rock band Queen. Famous for his carelessness to break barriers in order to express himself, and being an openly gay man in a time where this wasn’t openly acceptable.
Kathryn Jenkins OBE
A Welsh singer, known for performing operatic arias, musical theater and hymns. She officially became world’s most successful singer after her title artist of the century was received from classical FM.
Kate Moss
World wide supermodel.
Stephen Hawking
Theoretical physicist and cosmetologist, who was the first to set out a theory of cosmetology explained by a union of the general theory of relativity and quantum mechanics, despite his physical limitations due to suffering motor neurone disease.
Dua Lipa
A singer songwriter whose career started at just 14 years old. She owns 2 Grammy’s and set history at the 2018 Brit awards as she was the first woman to be nominated for 5 Brits.
Emma Watson
Actress, model, activist and feminist. Known for speaking her mind and fighting for the rights of women, despite potentially damaging her career or reputation by doing this.
Tom Hardy
Actor and director who has been hugely successful his whole career and is currently one of the biggest stars in British cinematography. At age 45, Tom has spent almost half his life in the industry.
David Bowie
Singer song writer, and actor who is considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. Also named the greatest rock star ever by the rolling stone.
Ed Sheeran
Singer, songwriter, who has been hugely popular over the last decade of British music. Ed has broken multiple records in multiple countries, and is among one of the best selling artists, with over 150 million records sold world wide.
Sir David Attenborough
Broadcaster, biologist, natural historian and author, he was also previously a senior manager of the BBC. Best known for his presenting of natural and historic programmes, that changed the way Britain viewed nature and history.
Sir Richard Branson
Billionaire, entrepreneur, commercial astronaut and businessman. Creator of the Virgin group, which now owns over 400 companies.
JK Rowling
Author and philanthropist. Also the founder and president of Lumos, an international children’s charity. Best known for the creation of the Harry Potter series.
Dame Judy Dench
She is celebrated for her versatile work in film and TV, and named one of Britain’s best actresses.
Sir Paul McCartney
Singer song-writer and musician who gained worldwide fame as part of the Beatles – where he played guitar and shared songwriting and vocals with John Lennon.
Mo Farah
Long distance runner, made the most successful male track runner ever by his 10 global championship gold medals. He is also the most successful track athlete in modern Olympic history.
Sir James Dyson
Inventor, industrial designer, billionaire entrepreneur and farmer. Best known for founding Dyson LTD, and creating the dual cyclone, bag less vacuum cleaner.
Adele
Singer, songwriter known for her soulful and emotive songs. More recently she has been recognized for sharing her huge weight loss journey, but continuing to empower women.
Sir Ranulph Fiennes
Explorer, writer and poet. He is known for holding multiple endurance awards and most famous for being the first, and oldest Britain to conquer mount Everest.
Baron Alan Sugar
Magnate, media personality, author, politician and political advisor. Most famous for the creation of his consumer electronics business Amstrad, and star of popular TV series the apprentice.
David Beckham
World famous former professional footballer, and celebrity personality.
Andy Murray
Professional tennis player, who was ranked NO.1 by the association of Tennis Players, for 41 weeks in a row.
Stephen Fry
Actor, broadcaster, comedian, director and writer. Famous for his roles in TV shows Black adder II and Jeeves and Wooster, as well as his entries in the Daily Telegraph.
Simon Cowell
Television personality, record executive and entrepreneur. Best known as the creator of the X-Factor and Got Talent franchises that reached a world wide status.
Lewis Hamilton
Race car driver, who is currently competing in the formula 1 driving from Mercedes AMG.
Dame Mary Berry
Food writer, baker, chef and television presenter. Famous for releasing over 75 cookery books, and presenting multiple television series such as the Great British Bake off.
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Megan Hoff 