The Bauernmission and the ironies of colonialism : the religio-cultural legacy of the Bauernsiedlung Philippi

Date
2009-11
Authors
Rabe, Lizette
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Sabinet
Abstract
The German immigrants who formed the three "waves" of Germans to settle at Philippi in the Western Cape (South Africa) in the 19th century, and their descendants, contributed not only to the agricultural well-being of the Western Cape by providing the growing population with fresh produce, but also to the diversity of the region with their German cultural heritage. The arrival in the Western Cape of specifically the last two "waves" of German immigrants was both the result of the Hermannsburg "Bauernmission" - "agricultural missionary society" - as well as a specific immigration drive by the British colonial government to recruit specifically Germans to populate various areas of the Western and Eastern Cape colonies, which coincided. This article discusses the history of the resultant Philippi German farming community - a typical "Bauernsiedlung" - and the irony of their religio-cultural legacy and a new generation of (im)migrants to the Western Cape. Translations of the German quotations are provided as footnotes.
Die Duitse immigrante wat die drie "golwe" Duitsers gevorm het wat hulle in Suid-Afrika by Philippi in die Wes-Kaap in die negentiende eeu gevestig het, en hulle nakomelinge, het nie net tot die Wes-Kaap se agri-welstand bygedra deur die groeiende bevolking van vars produkte te voorsien nie, maar ook tot die diversiteit van die streek. Die aankoms in die Wes-Kaap van spesifiek die laaste twee "golwe" Duitse immigrante was tegelyk die gevolg van die Hermannsburgse Bauernmission (Boeresending) en die immigrasieprojekte van die Britse koloniale regering wat spesifiek Duitsers gewerf het om die Wes- en Oos-Kaap te bevolk. Die artikel bespreek die geskiedenis van die gevolglike Duitse Philippi-boerderygemeenskap - 'n tipiese "Bauernsiedlung" - en die ironie van hulle religio-kulturele erflating en 'n nuwe generasie (im)migrante na die Wes-Kaap. Vertalings in Engels van die Duitse aanhalings word in voetnotas gegee
Description
The original publication is available at http://reference.sabinet.co.za/sa_epublication/culture
Please cite as follows:
Rabe, L. 2009. The Bauernmission and the ironies of colonialism : the religio-cultural legacy of the Bauernsiedlung Philippi. South African Journal of Cultural History, 23(2):78-98.
Keywords
German Immigrants -- South Africa -- Philippi -- Social conditions, Immigrants South Africa -- Philippi -- History -- 19th century -, Cultural property, Germans -- Foreign countries -- Agriculture -- History, Herrmannsburg Mission Society
Citation
Rabe, L. 2009. The Bauernmission and the ironies of colonialism : the religio-cultural legacy of the Bauernsiedlung Philippi. South African Journal of Cultural History, 23(2):78-98.