South African cultures and their nuances

The San bushmen are one of the oldest groups of people in Africa. Their keen survival skills and ancient ways have been passed down from generation to generation | Credit: @Ghanzi

• South Africa has four main ethnic groups that comprises the entire population.

• There are 11 official languages that are spoken, with English being the most widely used.

• South Africa is affectionately known as the rainbow nation because of its diversity in its people, climates, geography and wide array of experiences.

• It covers 1,21 million square kilometers, making it roughly twice the size of France.

• South Africans are very warm and accommodating.

• The culture isn’t homogenous; rather it’s a collection of different cultures with different ones being predominant in different regions.

Zulu culture is expressed in dress and ritualistic dance

• The population is made up of a wide range of backgrounds, including people that are mixed African, Asian and European descent.

• There is also a significant Indian population living in South Africa.

• Eating with a knife and fork is the norm except at some traditional African eating occasions where eating meals with the right hand is the norm.

• South African society is fairly liberal, as everyone’s rights are protected under the constitution.

• South Africans usually express affection very openly, so shaking hands and slaps on the back are commonplace.