The significance of traditional afrikaans ballads in contemporary society

Burden, Matilda (2002) The significance of traditional afrikaans ballads in contemporary society. Acta Ethnographica Hungarica, 47 (1-2). pp. 225-235. ISSN 1216-9803

Preview

Text aethn.47.2002.1-2.23.pdf Download (86kB) | Preview

Abstract

The origin of many traditional Afrikaans ballads can be traced to Medieval German and Dutch songs. They arrived at the Cape from the Netherlands and were gradually adapted. Towards the end of the 19th century a number of these ballads appeared for the first time in printed form. However, the majority of traditional Afrikaans ballads originated locally and represent the typical cultural milieu of Afrikaans speaking people. The three examples used in this article are all traditional ballads which originated in South Africa. The first short ballad tells a love story, the second one gives a humorous account of a wedding in the countryside and the third ballad originated in the Anglo-Boer War and relates the incident of the capture of a British naval canon by the Boers. The importance of these ballads in today's society is, on the one hand, reflected by re-utilisation, especially for entertainment purposes and, on the other hand, by the application for the purposes of studying historical events which are of current importance.

Actions (login required)

Edit Item