Introduction
Conspiracies I’ve known - Part I, Part II, and Part III explored the relationship between the Afrikaans and the English in South Africa.
Conspiracies I’ve known - Part IV compared the local South African conspiracy, the Broederbond, with the international conspiracy of covid. It also brought up similarities and differences between the Broederbond and Q.
Conspiracies I’ve known - Part V and Part VI introduced the non-white population groups of South Africa.
Conspiracies I’ve known - Part VII described apartheid.
Conspiracies I’ve known - Part VIII described South Africa after apartheid.
Conspiracies I’ve known - Part IX recommended books about South Africa.
This post concludes the series.
Movies about South Africa
Zulu
Notwithstanding the movie’s title, the plot is not so much about the Zulus as it is about the relationships within a small contingent of British soldiers.
Nonetheless, the movie does provide us with insights into the Zulu tribe.
They were the most warlike tribe in Southern Africa. Shaka, who was King of the Zulus from 1816 to 1828, was the Genghis Khan or the Napoleon of Africa. He turned the Zulus into the Spartans of Africa.
By the time the events of this movie unfold, in 1879, Shaka has died, the Zulus have been ruled by Dingane and Mpande, and Cetshwayo now is on the throne. Though half a century has passed since Shaka’s death, the military machine that he created is still intact. I don’t know that “machine” is the right word. Zulu soldiers were armed only with spears and shields. But their training, fitness, and tactics made them a force to be reckoned with.
Near the beginning of the movie, we get a hint of the Zulu army’s annihilation of a British column at the Battle of Isandhlwana. Military historians call Isandhlwana the greatest defeat of a modern army by a primitive force.
The Zulus then turn their attention to the small contingent of 150 British troops at the outpost of Rorke’s Drift.
In the next few days, these 150 troops will fight 4,000 Zulus in one of the most courageous battles in history.
Contextual information not in the movie
Effect of the Zulu war machine on black Bantu tribes
Before whites entered the picture, the series of wars that the Zulu military machine had unleashed on surrounding tribes had created immense trauma among the black Bantu people of South Africa.
In previous posts we established that, before the pioneering Voortrekkers were set upon by black armies and before Afrikaans women and children were corralled into British concentration camps during the Boer War, the Afrikaans people’s Huguenot ancestors already had suffered from Catholic persecution in France.
Similarly, well before they were subjected to the ravages of apartheid, the black Bantu tribes already had suffered greatly from inter-tribal hostilities, with the Zulu having been the most notable aggressors.
Thus, both the black Bantu tribes and the Afrikaans people already had experienced collective trauma before they ever laid eyes on each other.
Human history appears to be replete with wave after wave of trauma.
Again and again, we see hurt people hurting people.
I believe that we humans are on the cusp of moving beyond that, and there are even examples of people who did so in the past.
The Zulus who opted out of war
I consider it fascinating that my home country of Swaziland (now eSwatini) was a breakaway kingdom, founded by a peace-loving Zulu leader, Mswati. He did not like his tribe’s aggressive attitude, and he took his followers in search of a peaceful land. When they reached what felt like the right spot, Mswati and his followers settled there.
I think the Swazi people’s preference for diplomacy over combat also could be seen in their appeal to Britain for protection when, during the latter half of the nineteenth century, the South African Republic / Transvaal Colony was trying to absorb Swaziland.
As I described in Part V, being a British protectorate spared Swaziland from the devastation of apartheid (Part VII). That was a very significant bullet to dodge.
During my childhood as well as during subsequent visits to Swaziland as an adult, I’ve experienced the Swazi people as unusually gentle. It seems that King Mswati I and his followers left a long-lasting legacy.
I feel supremely grateful, not only that I grew up amidst an African tribe, but that I grew up amidst that African tribe.
The Gods Must Be Crazy
This is a cute story about the misunderstandings as well as the cooperation between very different cultures that bump into each other.
On the one hand, there is a family of hunter gatherers belonging to the San (Bushman) tribe. On the other hand, there are white people with technology that is entirely foreign to the San people.
Though the story is sweet and funny, it’s also underpinned by philosophical depth.
Oh yes, I again should admit that the events don’t take place in South Africa. The movie doesn’t state the location, but my guess is that it’s Botswana. Still, as with The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency that was listed under books, there are enough similarities to make this movie relevant to South Africa.
Invictus
This movie covers the early part of Nelson Mandela’s presidency. It’s 1994, and apartheid has just been abolished. Tensions among South Africa’s racial groups are at fever pitch. Mandela uses the opportunity of the 1995 Rugby World Cup, which South Africa is going to host, as a rallying point to bring the country together.
The South African national rugby team, the Springboks, has its work cut out for it. Owing to sanctions against South Africa during the apartheid era, it hasn’t played at the international level for years.
Another sticking point is that rugby traditionally was the sport of the more privileged whites, while football (soccer) traditionally was the sport of the underprivileged blacks. The black population resents rugby. They’d be glad to see South Africa losing the Rugby World Cup.
Against formidable odds, Mandela infects the entire population with enthusiasm for South Africa’s participation in the Rugby World Cup.
It was a remarkable achievement. Mandela is widely credited with having averted a civil war between blacks and whites following the abolition of apartheid.
The scene in which the entire stadium erupts into singing Shosholoza gave me goosebumps.
In Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, rugby is not a sport. It’s a religion. The fact that the Springboks encountered the legendary All Blacks of New Zealand in the final was beyond dramatic. And, of course, the All Blacks’ starting any game with a performance of the Haka is enough to send shivers down one’s spine.
My observation about the movies
I selected these titles only because I was looking for movies about South Africa.
But, in reviewing this short list, I notice that all three movies are about men at their best.
In Zulu and Invictus, the protagonists have leadership positions and weighty responsibilities. They live up to them admirably, and I don’t want to detract from that.
But the man whom I find most touching is the father of the San family in The Gods Must Be Crazy. In my opinion, he shows great resolve in defending his family against what he perceives to be an existential threat to its fabric.
The end
Well, this concludes the series of posts entitled Conspiracies I’ve known.
Admittedly these posts have not tackled an exhaustive list. Rather, I’ve shared the conspiracies that have provided bookends for my musings — the first one, the Broederbond, and its recent counterpart, Q.
I have no idea which topic will be next.
I dare say something will pop up in due course.