A very symbolic pair of Cape Sparrows

South Africa

(South Africa, at the bottom of Africa, from Wikipedia).

Archaeological evidence indicates that the San are among the oldest indigenous groups in Southern Africa, with their remains dating back approximately 20,000 years. Khoisan refers to the original indigenous peoples of Southern Africa, consisting primarily of the San, nomadic hunter-gatherers, and Khoikhoi, who practiced pastoralism. They are distinguished from neighbouring Bantu-speaking populations by their unique click languages, lighter skin colour, and shorter stature. Historically, the Khoisan were the predominant inhabitants of Southern Africa for over 15,000 years, maintaining a Stone Age lifestyle until the arrival of Bantu populations during the Iron Age. The San, known for their nomadic hunter-gatherer way of life, and the Khoikhoi, who practiced pastoralism.

The Khoisan were the first inhabitants of southern Africa and one of the earliest distinct groups of Homo sapiens, enduring centuries of gradual dispossession at the hands of every new wave of settlers, including the Bantu, whose descendants make up most of South Africa’s black population today.

The first European settlement in the history of South Africa was established by the Dutch East India Company in Table Bay (Cape Town) in 1652. Created to supply passing ships with fresh produce, the colony grew rapidly as Dutch farmers, called Boers, settled to grow crops.

South Africa has been, and still is, home to many cultural groups. Some of the more prominent of these include:

• Zulu: The Bantu-speaking people who inhabited much of sub-Saharan Africa. Not one unified group, Zulu are spread across countries ranging from Nigeria to Uganda to South Africa and over 700 languages and dialects.
• Xhosa: The second largest indigenous group after the Zulu. Although sharing many similarities, the groups have not always got along, sometimes at the instigation of others.
• The Boers: Europeans, including Dutch, German, French, Belgian, Danish, English and Irish. People originating in Europe who have coalesced into a culturally, and even ideologically, uniform group which has set them apart from others in Africa – including Whites who have not made the cultural shift.
• Afrikaner: mainly descendants of Dutch, French Huguenots and German settlers who had immigrated to the Cape of Good Hope from the mid-17th century. They have developed a unique cultural and linguistic identity, which is centred around the use of the Afrikaans language and Calvinism (a branch of Protestant Christianity) as their religious belief.
• British South African: In 1795, the British occupied the Cape of Good Hope, ending the Dutch East India Company dominance in the region. More British settlers arrived in the 1800s.

Note that while some group Boer and Afrikaner together as one ethnic group, others, such as boervolkradio are clear on the separation and individuality of each group. I had heard these names before, but I will admit I was not fully aware of who each group were. These are also not the only active cultures in the country. South Africa has twelve official languages. It is a country with a very long and diverse history from a range of cultures which have not always been united. Obviously a couple of sentences each is hardly a complete picture of each group, but hopefully gives a very small amount of context. And as always, do follow the links to more information on each.

Obverse

The obverse contains “South Africa coat of arms with the motto “Ex Unitate Vires” (Power Through Unity). Country name in English and in Afrikaans”. The coat of arms is described as:

“In a quartered shield appear the chief symbols of the arms of each province: the Lady of Good Hope, two wildebeest, an orange tree, and an ox-wagon. A wavy division of the shield per fess represents the Orange River flowing through the country. As crest was chosen a lion passant guardant, holding four bound staves representing the unity of the four provinces. This unity is also expressed in the motto ex unitate vires, a Latin translation of the Transvaal motto eendragt maakt magt. A springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis – Bovidæ) from the arms of the Orange River Colony was chosen as the dexter supporter to face an oryx (Oryx gazella – Bovidæ) on the sinister side.

In the achievement the crest was placed directly on the shield and the supporters stood on a simple ribbon as nor a helmet nor a compartment were mentioned in the grant.”

(1910 – 2000 South Africa coat of arms from Hubert Herald).

Note that the coat of arms is the 1910 – 2000 version. A new coat of arms was adopted in 2000. “The change reflected government’s aim to highlight the democratic change in South Africa and a new sense of patriotism”.

Following the Boer wars at the start of the 20th century, the Boer / Afrikaner and British, ignored the wishes of the majority indigenous peoples and created “The Union of South Africa”. This led to the formation of the African National Congress in 1912. This was a group formed to challenge the British government and give native people a say in their country. In 1991, Nelson Mandela was elected president of the ANC, and in 1994, following the country’s first multi-racial elections, the ANC won and Mandela become president, forming a Government of National Unity.

Reverse

The reverse contains a pair of Cape Sparrows above the denomination.

Ebird.org describes the Cape Sparrow as:

“A handsome, unstreaked, brightly coloured sparrow with different-looking males and females. The male has a distinctive black head and throat with a striking white crescent extending from the eye around the ear. The female has a pale gray head with a diffuse pale crescent, similar in shape to the male’s”

TBirdsGarden notes:

“He is quick, clever, and a bit cheeky—a feisty little bird who, despite his energetic nature, still tries to stay safe as much as possible. Although often overlooked, the Cape Sparrow (Passer melanurus), affectionately known as the “mossie,” is endemic to southern Africa and a constant companion, both in bustling cities and remote grasslands.

(Cape Sparrow, from eBird.org).

According to legend, during the second Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902), Afrikaans women imprisoned in British concentration camps found solace in a Bible verse. In the third-largest and most notorious camp, Bethulie in the Orange Free State, the verse they chose was Matthew 10:29-31: “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

After the war, the survivors petitioned General Jan Smuts, asking for a sparrow to be featured on the lowest coin as a symbol of their survival and a reminder of their inherent worth in God’s eyes. In 1923, the South African Reserve Bank issued the first South African Union coin featuring two sparrows on the obverse. The Cape Sparrow later appeared on the Halfpenny and, from 1961 to 1964, the half-cent coin of the Republic of South Africa. From 1965 onwards, the pair of sparrows adorned the reverse of the 1 cent coin until it was removed from circulation. Through a Bible verse, the Cape Sparrow gained prestige, becoming a symbol of love and forgiveness.”

That is extremely symbolic. What is the most symbolic imagery on a coin you have? Let us know!