Tell me about ordinary life in apartheid South Africa
September 2, 2016 1:58 AM Subscribe
I'm looking for books (or films, documentaries, blogs) that give an insight into ordinary day-to-day life in apartheid South Africa, particularly during the 1980s. Obviously much has been written about the great political ructions, but I'm interested in what ordinary daily life was like, for black and white. I've recently read 'Boyhood' by JM Coetzee, which is exactly the kind of thing I'm after; and although it's about Rhodesia rather than South Africa, 'Mukiwa' by Peter Goodwin was also very helpful.
Lauretta Ngcobo's And They Didn't Die is a very moving novel, particularly focussing on women and the impact of apartheid on the women in a village.
posted by goo at 3:42 AM on September 2, 2016
posted by goo at 3:42 AM on September 2, 2016
This isn't quite the time period you're looking for (it was written just before the passage of apartheid), but it might still scratch the same itch—Cry, The Beloved Country.
posted by cellar door at 4:18 AM on September 2, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by cellar door at 4:18 AM on September 2, 2016 [1 favorite]
The documentary You Laugh But It's True, available on Netflix I think, follows South African comedian Trevor Noah, current host of The Daily Show in the US, during the preparation and run-up to the first big on-stage comedy show/event he held in SA. (I don't know what the right term for it is... many comedians performed, but it was orchestrated by him and branded as his show. I don't know if it toured around multiple cities or just happened once?)
Anyways, the documentary repeatedly touches on his experiences being a child under apartheid and as the product of a prohibited relationship between a white man and a black woman, banned by the anti-miscegenation law.
posted by XMLicious at 4:32 AM on September 2, 2016 [1 favorite]
Anyways, the documentary repeatedly touches on his experiences being a child under apartheid and as the product of a prohibited relationship between a white man and a black woman, banned by the anti-miscegenation law.
posted by XMLicious at 4:32 AM on September 2, 2016 [1 favorite]
Sarafina. Granted, it's a movie based on a musical, and musicals aren't exactly known for historical accuracy, but watching it you can imagine what it's like to be living under these rules.
posted by Enchanting Grasshopper at 5:06 AM on September 2, 2016
posted by Enchanting Grasshopper at 5:06 AM on September 2, 2016
Beverly Naidoo is a White South African author who writes YA novels and non-fiction about apartheid South Africa. They are pretty uniformly excellent. Chain of Fire was my favorite.
Voices of Sarafina! is a documentary about the musical mentioned above, with lots of interviews with the South African actors and actresses (mostly teenagers) who were in the play and touring around the world. It's also excellent. Lots of conversations about what it will mean to return home after being on Broadway in a show which is basically about the Soweto uprising.
posted by ChuraChura at 6:17 AM on September 2, 2016
Voices of Sarafina! is a documentary about the musical mentioned above, with lots of interviews with the South African actors and actresses (mostly teenagers) who were in the play and touring around the world. It's also excellent. Lots of conversations about what it will mean to return home after being on Broadway in a show which is basically about the Soweto uprising.
posted by ChuraChura at 6:17 AM on September 2, 2016
I'm surprised nobody has mentioned this yet, but Booker-Prize-winning novel The Conservationist by Nadine Gordimer might fit your need.
posted by splitpeasoup at 8:23 AM on September 2, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by splitpeasoup at 8:23 AM on September 2, 2016 [1 favorite]
XMLicious wrote:
The documentary You Laugh But It's True, available on Netflix I think, follows South African comedian Trevor Noah, current host of The Daily Show in the US, during the preparation and run-up to the first big on-stage comedy show/event he held in SA.
Just for convenience, here’s the link to You Laugh But It’s True on Netflix. I haven’t seen it myself, but what with XMLicious’s recommendation, I think I’ll check it out.
posted by Handcoding at 8:41 AM on September 2, 2016 [1 favorite]
The documentary You Laugh But It's True, available on Netflix I think, follows South African comedian Trevor Noah, current host of The Daily Show in the US, during the preparation and run-up to the first big on-stage comedy show/event he held in SA.
Just for convenience, here’s the link to You Laugh But It’s True on Netflix. I haven’t seen it myself, but what with XMLicious’s recommendation, I think I’ll check it out.
posted by Handcoding at 8:41 AM on September 2, 2016 [1 favorite]
Haven't read it myself, but Teju Cole strongly recommended Double Negative.
posted by praemunire at 9:01 AM on September 2, 2016
posted by praemunire at 9:01 AM on September 2, 2016
The documentary series "Up" has a version that began filming in South Africa in 1992. At least one episode (21 Up South Africa) is currently available on Amazon streaming.
posted by odayoday at 1:46 PM on September 2, 2016
posted by odayoday at 1:46 PM on September 2, 2016
My Traitor's Heart by Rian Malaan
Lots of Andre Brink's books
Country of my Skull is a fucking magnificent, towering book. I don't know if it's 'every day life'ish enough for you. But it's a great book.
I've not read it but Not either an Experimental Doll sounds very much like what you're after as does You can't get lost in Capetown.
posted by smoke at 7:57 PM on September 2, 2016 [1 favorite]
Lots of Andre Brink's books
Country of my Skull is a fucking magnificent, towering book. I don't know if it's 'every day life'ish enough for you. But it's a great book.
I've not read it but Not either an Experimental Doll sounds very much like what you're after as does You can't get lost in Capetown.
posted by smoke at 7:57 PM on September 2, 2016 [1 favorite]
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posted by plep at 3:15 AM on September 2, 2016 [1 favorite]