South Africa

== Culture ==
{{Main|Culture of South Africa}}
The South African black majority still has a substantial number of rural inhabitants who lead largely impoverished lives. It is among these people that cultural traditions survive most strongly; as blacks have become increasingly urbanised and [[Western world|Westernised]], aspects of traditional culture have declined. Members of the middle class, who has historically been predominantly white but whose ranks include growing numbers of Black, Coloured and Indian people,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.fin24.co.za/articles/default/display_article.aspx?Nav=ns&ArticleID=1518-25_2117122|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070822120841/http://www.fin24.co.za/articles/default/display_article.aspx?Nav=ns&ArticleID=1518-25_2117122|archive-date=22 August 2007|title=Black middle class explodes|date=22 May 2007|publisher=FIN24|url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-04 |title=South Africa Black Middle-Class Demographic Study 2023 |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/south-africa-black-middle-class-131300018.html |access-date=2023-11-05 |website=Yahoo Finance |language=en-US}}</ref> have lifestyles similar in many respects to that of people found in Western Europe, North America and [[Australasia]].

=== Arts ===
[[File:San Rock Art - Cederberg.jpg|thumb|[[Rock art|Rock painting]] by the [[San people]], [[Cederberg]]]]
[[South African art]] includes the oldest art objects in the world, which were discovered in a South African cave and dated from roughly 75,000 years ago.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/apr/16/artsandhumanities.arts|title=World's Oldest Jewellery Found in Cave|publisher=Buzzle.com|access-date=16 April 2011|location=London|first=Tim|last=Radford|date=16 April 2004|archive-date=12 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210212095737/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/apr/16/artsandhumanities.arts|url-status=live }}</ref> The scattered tribes of the Khoisan peoples moving into South Africa from around 10,000 BC had their own fluent art styles seen today in a multitude of cave paintings. They were superseded by the Bantu/Nguni peoples with their own vocabularies of art forms. Forms of art evolved in the mines and townships: a dynamic art using everything from plastic strips to bicycle spokes. The Dutch-influenced folk art of the Afrikaner [[Trekboer|{{lang|af|trekboers|nocat=true}}]] and the urban white artists, earnestly following changing European traditions from the 1850s onwards, also contributed to this eclectic mix which continues to evolve to this day.

=== Popular culture ===
{{Further information|Music of South Africa}}
The [[Mass media in South Africa|South African media]] sector is large, and South Africa is one of Africa's major media centres. While the many broadcasters and publications reflect the diversity of the population as a whole, the most commonly used language is English. However, all ten other official languages are represented to some extent or another.
[[File:2014-11-26 traditional Zulu performance 02 anagoria.JPG|left|thumb|[[Zulus]] performing a traditional dance]]

There is great diversity in [[Music of South Africa|South African music]]. Black musicians have developed unique styles called [[Kwaito]] and [[Amapiano]], that is said to have taken over radio, television, and magazines.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2822/is_3_28/ai_n15648564/pg_5|title=South African music after Apartheid: kwaito, the "party politic," and the appropriation of gold as a sign of success|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130613074154/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2822/is_3_28/ai_n15648564/pg_5|archive-date=13 June 2013 }}</ref> Of note is [[Brenda Fassie]], who launched to fame with her song "[[Weekend Special]]", which was sung in English. More famous traditional musicians include [[Ladysmith Black Mambazo]], while the [[Soweto String Quartet]] performs classical music with an African flavour. South Africa has produced world-famous jazz musicians, notably [[Hugh Masekela]], [[Jonas Gwangwa]], [[Abdullah Ibrahim]], [[Miriam Makeba]], [[Jonathan Butler]], [[Chris McGregor]], and [[Sathima Bea Benjamin]]. Afrikaans music covers multiple genres, such as the contemporary [[Steve Hofmeyr]], the [[punk rock]] band [[Fokofpolisiekar]], and the singer-songwriter [[Jeremy Loops]]. South African popular musicians that have found international success include [[Manfred Mann (musician)|Manfred Mann]], [[Johnny Clegg]], rap-rave duo [[Die Antwoord]], rock band [[Seether]] and rappers such as [[AKA (rapper)|AKA]], [[Nasty C]] and [[Cassper Nyovest]] gained notoriety in other avenues like the BET Awards for best African acts.

Although few [[Cinema of South Africa|South African film]] productions are known outside South Africa, many foreign films have been produced about South Africa. Arguably, the most high-profile film portraying South Africa in recent years was ''[[District 9]]'' and its upcoming sequel, as well as ''[[Chappie (film)|Chappie]]''. Other notable exceptions are the film {{lang|fly|[[Tsotsi]]}}, which won the [[Academy Award for Best International Feature Film|Academy Award for Foreign Language Film]] at the [[78th Academy Awards]] in 2006, as well as {{lang|xh|[[U-Carmen e-Khayelitsha]]}}, which won the [[Golden Bear]] at the 2005 [[Berlin International Film Festival]]. In 2015, the [[Oliver Hermanus]] film [[The Endless River (film)|''The Endless River'']] became the first South African film selected for the [[Venice Film Festival]].

=== Literature ===
{{Main|South African literature}}
[[File:Alan Paton.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Alan Paton]], [[Internal resistance to apartheid|anti-apartheid]] activist and writer]]
[[South African literature]] emerged from a unique social and political history. One of the first well known novels written by a black author in an African language was [[Sol Plaatje|Solomon Thekiso Plaatje]]'s ''[[Mhudi]]'', written in 1930. During the 1950s, ''[[Drum (South African magazine)|Drum]]'' magazine became a hotbed of political satire, fiction, and essays, giving a voice to the urban black culture.

Notable white South African authors include [[Alan Paton]], who published the novel ''[[Cry, the Beloved Country]]'' in 1948. [[Nadine Gordimer]] became the first South African to be awarded the [[Nobel Prize in Literature]], in 1991. [[J. M. Coetzee|J.M. Coetzee]] won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2003. When awarding the prize, the [[Swedish Academy]] stated that Coetzee "in innumerable guises portrays the surprising involvement of the outsider."<ref name="Swedish Academy">{{cite news|url=http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/2003/press.html|title=The Nobel Prize in Literature: John Maxwell Coetzee|date=2 October 2003|publisher=Swedish Academy|access-date=2 August 2009|archive-date=7 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090307025506/http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/2003/press.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The plays of [[Athol Fugard]] have been regularly premiered in [[fringe theatre]]s in South Africa, London ([[Royal Court Theatre]]) and New York. [[Olive Schreiner]]'s ''[[The Story of an African Farm]]'' (1883) was a revelation in [[Victorian literature]]: it is heralded by many as introducing feminism into the novel form.

[[Breyten Breytenbach]] was jailed for his involvement with the guerrilla movement against apartheid. [[André Brink]] was the first Afrikaner writer to be [[banned book|banned]] by the government after he released the novel ''[[A Dry White Season (novel)|A Dry White Season]]''.

=== Cuisine ===
{{Main article|South African cuisine}}
{{See also|South African wine}}{{Multiple image
| direction         = horizontal
| total_width       = 280
| image1            = Bobotie, South African dish.jpg
| caption1          = [[Bobotie]]
| image2            = Melktert.jpg
| caption2          = [[Melktert]]
| image3            = The Potjie is ready.JPG
| caption3          = [[Potjiekos]]
| image4            = Koesisters Cape Malay South Africa.jpg
| caption4          = [[Koe'sister]]
| perrow            = 2
| caption_align     = center
}}

The cuisine of South Africa is diverse, and foods from many different cultures and backgrounds are enjoyed by all communities, and especially marketed to tourists who wish to sample the large variety available. The cuisine is mostly meat-based and has spawned the distinctively South African social gathering known as the {{lang|af|[[braai]]}}, a variation of the [[barbecue]]. South Africa has also developed into a major [[South African wine|wine producer]], with some of the best [[vineyard]]s lying in valleys around [[Stellenbosch]], [[Franschhoek]], [[Paarl]] and [[Barrydale]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thewinedoctor.com/regionalguides/southafrica.shtml|title=South African Wine Guide: Stellenbosch, Constantia, Walker Bay and more|publisher=Thewinedoctor.com|access-date=30 October 2011|archive-date=18 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130118223726/http://www.thewinedoctor.com/regionalguides/southafrica.shtml|url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Sports ===
{{Main|Sport in South Africa}}
<!--- Note to editors: per [[WP:ENGVAR]], do not change "soccer" to "football", at least not without prior discussion on the talk page. --->
[[File:South Africa - Cape Town Drieankerbaai from Lion's head.jpg|thumb|alt=Aerial view of the Cape Town Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa|[[Cape Town Stadium]] is the 5th-largest stadium in South Africa, with a capacity of 55,000]] 
South Africa's most popular sports are [[association football]], [[rugby union]] and [[cricket]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.southafrica.info/about/sport/sportsa.htm|title=Sport in South Africa|publisher=SouthAfrica.info|access-date=28 June 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100629152527/http://www.southafrica.info/about/sport/sportsa.htm|archive-date=29 June 2010}}</ref> Other sports with significant support are swimming, athletics, golf, boxing, tennis, [[rugby league]], [[ringball]], [[field hockey]], surfing and [[netball]]. Although football (soccer) commands the greatest following among the youth, other sports like basketball, judo, softball and skateboarding are becoming increasingly popular amongst the populace.<ref>[https://www.topendsports.com/world/countries/south-africa.htm Sport in South Africa] topendsports.com, accessed 3 December 2020.</ref>

Association football is the most popular sport in South Africa.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://businesstech.co.za/news/lifestyle/103113/blacks-like-soccer-whites-like-rugby-in-sa/|title=Blacks like soccer, whites like rugby in SA|access-date=27 May 2021|archive-date=25 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210525104157/https://businesstech.co.za/news/lifestyle/103113/blacks-like-soccer-whites-like-rugby-in-sa/|url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.enca.com/south-africa/sa-sport-not-unifier-it-once-was-survey|title=SA sport not the unifier it once was: survey|access-date=27 May 2021|archive-date=25 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210525101120/https://www.enca.com/south-africa/sa-sport-not-unifier-it-once-was-survey|url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://punditarena.com/football/thepateam/cant-south-africa-produce-better-football-team/|title=Analysis: Bafana Bafana Struggling To Make Needed Improvements|date=11 June 2016|access-date=27 May 2021|archive-date=25 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210525101142/https://punditarena.com/football/thepateam/cant-south-africa-produce-better-football-team/|url-status=live }}</ref> Footballers who have played for major foreign clubs include [[Steven Pienaar]], [[Lucas Radebe]], [[Philemon Masinga]], [[Benni McCarthy]], [[Aaron Mokoena]], and [[Delron Buckley]]. South Africa hosted the [[2010 FIFA World Cup]], and FIFA president [[Sepp Blatter]] awarded South Africa a grade 9 out of 10 for successfully hosting the event.<ref>{{cite web|last=Cooper|first=Billy|title=South Africa gets 9/10 for World Cup|url=http://www.mg.co.za/article/2010-07-12-sa-gest-910-for-world-cup|website=[[Mail & Guardian]]|date=12 July 2010|access-date=9 September 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100715063001/http://www.mg.co.za/article/2010-07-12-sa-gest-910-for-world-cup|archive-date=15 July 2010 }}</ref> Player Benni McCarthy is also a first-team coach for the English football club [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Benni McCarthy appointed as first-team coach|url=https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/benni-mccarthy-joins-manchester-united-as-coach|website=ManUtd.com |publisher=Manchester United |first=Adam |last=Marshall|date=30 July 2022 |access-date=30 July 2022 }}</ref> It hosted the [[1996 African Cup of Nations]], with the national team [[South Africa national soccer team|Bafana Bafana]] going on to win the tournament. In 2022, the [[South Africa women's national soccer team|women's team]] also won the [[2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations|Women's Africa Cup of Nations]], beating [[Morocco women's national football team|Morocco]] 2–1 in [[2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations Final|the final]]. The women's team went on to reach the last 16 at the [[2023 FIFA Women's World Cup]], beating [[Italy women's national football team|Italy]] and tying with [[Argentina women's national football team|Argentina]] in the group stage.

Famous [[combat sport]] personalities include Baby Jake [[Jacob Matlala]], [[Vuyani Bungu]], [[Welcome Ncita]], [[Dingaan Thobela]], [[Corrie Sanders]], [[Gerrie Coetzee]], [[Brian Mitchell (boxer)|Brian Mitchell]] and [[Dricus du Plessis]]. Durban surfer [[Jordy Smith]] won the 2010 Billabong J-Bay Open making him the highest ranked surfer in the world. South Africa produced [[Formula One]] motor racing's 1979 world champion [[Jody Scheckter]]. Famous active [[Grand Prix motorcycle racing]] personalities include [[Brad Binder]] and his younger brother [[Darryn Binder]]. Well-known active cricket players include [[Kagiso Rabada]], [[David Miller (South African cricketer)|David Miller]], [[Keshav Maharaj]], [[Quinton de Kock]], [[Rilee Rossouw]], [[Anrich Nortje]], [[Reeza Hendricks]] and [[Faf du Plessis]]; most also participate in the [[Indian Premier League]].

[[File:Bokke Webb Ellis-beker toer JHB 20191107 145608.jpg|thumb|The [[South Africa national rugby union team|Springboks]] on their tour of the country after winning the [[2019 Rugby World Cup]]]]
South Africa has produced numerous world class rugby players, including [[Francois Pienaar]], [[Joost van der Westhuizen]], [[Danie Craven]], [[Os du Randt]], [[Frik du Preez]], [[Naas Botha]], [[Frans Steyn]], [[Victor Matfield]], [[Bryan Habana]], [[Tendai Mtawarira]], [[Eben Etzebeth]], [[Cheslin Kolbe]] and [[Siya Kolisi]]. South Africa has won the [[Rugby World Cup]] four times, the most wins of any country. South Africa first won the [[1995 Rugby World Cup]], which it hosted. They went on to win the tournament again in 2007, 2019 and 2023.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/67252413|title=New Zealand 11-12 South Africa: Springboks win record fourth Rugby World Cup in dramatic final|date=28 October 2023|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=1 November 2023}}</ref>

Cricket is one of the most played sports in South Africa. It has hosted the [[2003 Cricket World Cup]], the [[ICC World Twenty20|2007 World Twenty20 Championship]]. South Africa's national cricket team, the [[South Africa national cricket team|Proteas]], have also won the inaugural edition of the [[1998 ICC KnockOut Trophy]] by defeating [[West Indies national cricket team|West Indies]] in the final. The [[2023 ICC Women's T20 World Cup]] was hosted in South Africa and the [[South Africa women's national cricket team|women's team]] came in second place. [[South Africa national blind cricket team|South Africa's national blind cricket team]] also went on to win the inaugural edition of the [[Blind Cricket World Cup]] in 1998.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.blindcricketsa.co.za/|title=Blind Cricket South Africa|website=www.blindcricketsa.co.za}}</ref>

In 2004, the swimming team of [[Roland Schoeman]], [[Lyndon Ferns]], [[Darian Townsend]] and [[Ryk Neethling]] won the gold medal at the [[2004 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games in Athens]], simultaneously breaking the world record in the 4×100 [[Freestyle Relay]]. [[Penny Heyns]] won Olympic Gold in the 1996 [[Atlanta Olympic Games]], and more recently, swimmers [[Tatjana Schoenmaker]] and [[Lara van Niekerk]] have both broken world records and won gold medals at the Olympic and [[Commonwealth Games]]. In 2012, [[Oscar Pistorius]] became the first double amputee sprinter to compete at the [[2012 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games in London]]. [[Gary Player]] is regarded as one of the greatest golfers of all time, having won the [[Grand Slam (golf)|Career Grand Slam]], one of five to have done so.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.golfmonthly.com/features/players-won-golf-grand-slam-154520|title=Which Players Have Won A Golf Grand Slam?|author1=Mike Hall|date=18 May 2022|website=Golf Monthly Magazine}}</ref>