African Identity and the Resolution of the "Native Problem" in South Africa

Abstract

Background: A few years ago, I was intrigued by my university’s colleague's frantic attempts to learn French. Upon inquiry he indicated that he was going to France for two weeks. "Just for two weeks?” I exclaimed after being unable to suppress my disbelief Yet it made sense - in France the French were not going to be at his service. This much we knew. Despite having spent all his youth and adult life in South Africa, the need for him to learn an African language had not dawned upon him