afrikan

Afrikan is a term associated with the Afrikaans-speaking community of southern Africa. In English usage, the more common labels are Afrikaner or Afrikaans-speaking person; Afrikan is found mainly in historical or non-English contexts and is not standard as a self-designation today.

Origins and language: The Afrikaans language developed from Dutch in the Cape Colony, shaped by contact with Khoisan languages, Malay, and other European tongues. It became a distinct language in the 19th century and is now one of South Africa's 11 official languages, widely used in education, media, and government; it is also spoken in Namibia and by diaspora communities.

Culture and society: The Afrikaans-speaking community includes descendants of 17th-century Dutch settlers and other speakers who adopted Afrikaans. It has a rich literature, music, and culinary tradition, and religious life has been shaped by Reformed churches.

History: The community was central to the 19th- and 20th-century history of South Africa, including the establishment of Boer republics, the Great Trek, and later federation under the Union. In the 20th century many Afrikaners were associated with the apartheid system; since 1994 South Africa has pursued multiracial democracy while Afrikaans remains widely used.

Diaspora and contemporary status: Today Afrikaans-speaking people remain a minority with cultural institutions in South Africa and abroad, maintaining language and heritage while participating in a diverse society.