Die Stem – celebration of heritage, culture, country boksburgadvertiser.co.za Trust Steve Hofmeyr to really upset the EFF! There is now a battle for the ages. boksburgadvertiser.co.za/203218/standing-up-for-god-and-country/ We are talking about the Innibos fees that took place in Nelspruit, during which Hofmeyr sang Die Stem (The Call of South Africa). What probably shocked the EFF was that around 45 000 concert-goers joined in singing the anthem with passion. The immediate reaction from the EFF was that Die Stem must be permanently removed as part of SA’s national anthem, calling it racist, and that it speaks apparently of loyalty to the Apartheid regime. Hofmeyr endured an immediate backlash from a myriad of other “cultural” and political voices across the board who deemed his action being insensitive and that it was a political statement. He has of course stood his ground, saying it contains no hate speech and it is his constitutional right to sing it. Quite recently I mourned the world’s obsessive nature when it comes to political correctness, and how we are drowning in our absurdity. Once again, the reaction to the singing of Die Stem proved my point as an anthem that seeks to uphold the culture of the Afrikaner now apparently becomes a political call to war. This anthem actually has very little, probably none what so ever, to do with racism or elitism. It is about being proud of being an Afrikaner, but this doesn’t mean it should be tagged with connotations of bloodshed, violence and cruelty. Here is a quick history lesson: In May 1918, CJ Langenhoven wrote an Afrikaans poem called Die Stem, for which music was composed by the Reverend Marthinus Lourens de Villiers in 1921. Die Stem by all accounts was therefore written by a South African for the country three decades before Apartheid even officially came into existence! It is probably for this reason that the Federation of Afrikaans Cultural Associations (FAK) said in reaction to Hofmeyr singing the anthem that Die Stem is a cultural song that has a place in a post-Apartheid South Africa. FAK managing director Danie Langner said the song remained a precious cultural heritage for many Africans. He affirmed cultural songs should have a proper place at cultural festivals and that nations are built through respect and recognition of both national and cultural symbols. Sadly, Die Stem has been twisted to become a political cry of intolerance because it seems this is what many “politically correct” people in this country has forced it to be, instead of embracing it as a song of patriotism, hope and courage. It was the same when Bok van Blerk wrote De La Rey. It was branded as political, racial and seeking to inspire hate instead of simply recognising it for being a tribute to the Afrikaner heritage. While many want to believe Die Stem speaks of injustice, it actually speaks about a commitment to the Father Land and to God. Langenhoven by all accounts was reminiscing about the The Great Trek (Die Groot Trek), which was an eastward and north-eastward emigration away from British control in the Cape Colony during the 1830s and 1840s by Boers. It was a landmark in an era of mass migration into the interior of southern Africa; it was a search by dissatisfied Dutch-speaking colonists for a promised land where they would be “free and independent people” in a “free and independent State”. Over the years, the determination and courage of these pioneers has become the single most important element in the folk memory of Afrikaner nationalism. They travelled with wagons over mountains and through valleys, all in search of freedom. It was a journey of remarkable faith. Yet, the anthem is disliked by those who see the Afrikaner as being a bully, forgetting their history of suffering. One forgets that it was by the insistence of Nelson Mandela that Die Stem retained official status after the advent of full democracy which followed the 1994 general election. The anthem shared equal status with Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika, which had long been a traditional hymn used by the ANC. It was only in 1997, following the adoption of a new constitution, a new hybrid anthem was introduced, which combined Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika and Die Stem. When is the last time people actually read the words of Die Stem? It is all about the beauty and celebration of the country, of a people that was triumphant against all costs, and it speaks of the enduring spirit of mankind. In some of the verses you find the following words: “At thy call we shall not falter, firm and steadfast we shall stand, at thy will to live or perish, O South Africa, dear land.” And also: “Be it life or death, to answer to live, to die.” This is what is so ironic about those who want to get rid of Die Stem: It speaks about a people who will be willing to lay it all down, even die, just to see South Africa thrive and survive. And for most Afrikaners, this means giving it all to stand side-by-side with all other ethnic groups and people in peace and liberty. Die Stem reminds us that while we strive for unity, diversity in culture must never be forsaken or forgotten. The Afrikaner is an integral part of the history of this country, along with every other ethnic group, and all people of this soil have collectively in one way or another helped to build the Rainbow Nation. And that building process has come at a price, and it also cost bloodshed, pain and tears for all, if we study the history of South Africa properly. No nation throughout the world is exempt from guilt regarding the past, which is also the case of all those living in the Rainbow Nation. In reality, no cultural or ethnic group can point fingers to another group, we all share in the history of the land and we all share in its past and present mistakes and faults. We tend to forget that Die Stem above all is a call of deep commitment to God, for it was by faith that the Afrikaner survived the Groot Trek and managed to survive the Anglo Boer Wars. How beautiful is not verse four (later added): In Thy power, Almighty, trusting, did our fathers build of old; Strengthen then, O Lord, their children to defend, to love, to hold; That the heritage they gave us for our children yet may be; Bondsmen only to the Highest and before the whole world free; As our fathers trusted humbly, teach us, Lord, to trust Thee still; Guard our land and guide our people in Thy way to do Thy will. To dismiss Die Stem is not only to deny the diversity of a unified country, but it is to deny the faith that build a nation that seeks to thrive in freedom. I am an African, but I am also a South Africa, but above all, I remain an Afrikaner. In my blood is the faith of the forefathers, and I hold a deep appreciation for their sacrifice, but at the same time, I will continue to endeavour to see this land with all its unique and wonderful people grow stronger in compassion and hope. For that reason, cultures cannot be dismissed, the ethnic people of this soil cannot be wished away, for we have all played our part, we have all erred along the way, but now is the time for all to take hands to secure a better future.
Posted on: Fri, 11 Jul 2014 09:05:58 +0000
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