3 - Acculturation and Botswana Migrant Miners in South Africa, 1930–1980
Corresponding Author(s) : Wazha G. Morapedi
Afrika Zamani,
No. 15-16 (2008): Afrika Zamani: An Annual Journal of African History
Abstract
This paper analyzes the acculturation of Botswana mine migrants who worked in the South African mines between 1930 and 1980. It shows how the compound mine system affected Botswana cultural practices. The study argues that some Botswana men ended up living permanently in South Africa and taking up the languages and cultural practices of South Africans and they came to be known in Botswana as Makgweelwa. However, the paper reveals that Botswana men kept contact with their families and relatives back home and that complete acculturation was not pronounced. It argues that Botswana men in the South African mines maintained their language and cultural practices, and that no dominant language existed in the compounds. The compound system also helped lessen acculturation because men were housed separately according to their ethnicities.
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- Berry, John, (ed.), 1980, ‘Acculturation as Varieties of Adaptation’ in A. Padilla, Acculturation: Theory, Models and Some New Findings, Boulder, Colorado: Westview Press.
- Kerven, Carol, 1979, ‘Botswana Mine Labour Migration to South Africa’, National Migration Study, Gaborone, CSO: MFDP.
- Konsinski, A. Laszek and R. Mansell Prothero, 1974, People on the Move, London, Methuen and Co. Ltd.
- Moodie, Dumbar, 1994, Going for Gold: Men, Mines and Migration, Berkeley, University of California Press.
- Padilla, Amado, 1980, ‘The Role of Cultural Awareness and Ethnic Loyalty in Acculturation’, in A. Padilla, 1980, (ed.) Acculturation: Theory, Models and Some New Findings, Boulder, Colorado: Westview Press.
- Rantao, Paul, 2006, Setswana Culture and Tradition, Gaborone: Pentagon Publishers.
- Schapera, Isaac, 1947, Migrant Labour and Tribal Life: a Study of Conditions in the Bechuanaland Protectorate, London: Cambridge University Press, p.248.
- Schapera, Isaac, 1982, ‘The Effects of Migration on Agricultural Production’, in C. Kerven, (ed.) Migration in Botswana: Causes and Consequences. Final Report of the National Migration Study, Vol. 3 (Gaborone, CSO).
- Schapera, I., 1953, The Tswana, London: International African Institute.
- Taylor, John, 1981, ‘Mine Labour Migration from Botswana to South Africa’, PhD thesis, University of Liverpool.
- Thebe, Phenyo & James, Denbow, 2006, Culture and Customs of Botswana, Connecticut, London: Greenwood Press.
- Todaro, Michael, 1969, ‘A Model of Labour Migration and Unemployment in Less Developed Countries’, American Economic Review, 59, 1.
- Wilmon, James, 1992, Our Precious Metal, African Labour in South Africa’s Gold Industry, 1970-1990, London: James Currey.
References
Berry, John, (ed.), 1980, ‘Acculturation as Varieties of Adaptation’ in A. Padilla, Acculturation: Theory, Models and Some New Findings, Boulder, Colorado: Westview Press.
Kerven, Carol, 1979, ‘Botswana Mine Labour Migration to South Africa’, National Migration Study, Gaborone, CSO: MFDP.
Konsinski, A. Laszek and R. Mansell Prothero, 1974, People on the Move, London, Methuen and Co. Ltd.
Moodie, Dumbar, 1994, Going for Gold: Men, Mines and Migration, Berkeley, University of California Press.
Padilla, Amado, 1980, ‘The Role of Cultural Awareness and Ethnic Loyalty in Acculturation’, in A. Padilla, 1980, (ed.) Acculturation: Theory, Models and Some New Findings, Boulder, Colorado: Westview Press.
Rantao, Paul, 2006, Setswana Culture and Tradition, Gaborone: Pentagon Publishers.
Schapera, Isaac, 1947, Migrant Labour and Tribal Life: a Study of Conditions in the Bechuanaland Protectorate, London: Cambridge University Press, p.248.
Schapera, Isaac, 1982, ‘The Effects of Migration on Agricultural Production’, in C. Kerven, (ed.) Migration in Botswana: Causes and Consequences. Final Report of the National Migration Study, Vol. 3 (Gaborone, CSO).
Schapera, I., 1953, The Tswana, London: International African Institute.
Taylor, John, 1981, ‘Mine Labour Migration from Botswana to South Africa’, PhD thesis, University of Liverpool.
Thebe, Phenyo & James, Denbow, 2006, Culture and Customs of Botswana, Connecticut, London: Greenwood Press.
Todaro, Michael, 1969, ‘A Model of Labour Migration and Unemployment in Less Developed Countries’, American Economic Review, 59, 1.
Wilmon, James, 1992, Our Precious Metal, African Labour in South Africa’s Gold Industry, 1970-1990, London: James Currey.