Speaking for themselves

Speaking for themselves

Kaaps is a language widely spoken in the bleak townships of Cape Town, South Africa. It’s often denigrated as a lesser form of Afrikaans – the language that was used as a tool of white supremacy during the apartheid era. Spoken predominately by working class people on the Cape Flats, Kaaps is associated with negative stereotypes – its speakers denigrated as uneducated, "ghetto" layabouts involved in gang culture.

But a new, burgeoning movement led by hip-hop artists, academics, writers and film makers is actively changing that perception. They want to reclaim Afrikaaps to restore the linguistic, cultural and racial dignity of a formerly disenfranchised people. The writer Lindsay Johns travels to Cape Town to meet the activists determined to assert the worth and pride of the people who speak Afrikaaps.

Presenter: Lindsay Johns Producers: Audrey Brown and Tim Mansel Mixed by Neil Churchill Production coordinator: Helena Warwick-Cross Series Editor: Penny Murphy

(Image: Children in Lavender Hill, a township on the Cape Flats in Cape Town, South Africa. Credit: Brenton Geach/Gallo Images via Getty Images)

Episoder(2000)

Heart and Soul: Seeking justice from Opus Dei

Heart and Soul: Seeking justice from Opus Dei

Opus Dei is a controversial Catholic organisation with schools and conference centres across the globe. Close links to the Vatican mean members are highly influential within the Catholic church. Opus ...

25 Okt 202426min

Iraq's secret women's shelters

Iraq's secret women's shelters

There is virtually no state provision for victims of domestic abuse in Iraq. As a result, Iraqi women have been left to protect and support each other, organising secret shelters for survivors and try...

24 Okt 202426min

BBC Trending: Meet the anti-witch hunter

BBC Trending: Meet the anti-witch hunter

In many parts of the world there is still a fear of witches and witchcraft. Those accused are often vulnerable, yet they are blamed for a variety of afflictions, from disease to infertility and povert...

23 Okt 202418min

Assignment: Singing in Gaza

Assignment: Singing in Gaza

Amid the rubble, in makeshift tents, children in Gaza are singing - and practising the violin, guitar and traditional instruments such as the ‘oud. The sessions are organised by the local branch of th...

22 Okt 202426min

In the Studio: Jonny Banger

In the Studio: Jonny Banger

Sports Banger is a fashion house, rave organisation, and London community centre run by Jonny Banger. The cornerstone of their work is bootleg T-shirts which mix satire and humour with a sportswear ae...

21 Okt 202426min

Caught at the helm

Caught at the helm

Katy Fallon tells the story of the refugees and other migrants ensnared in Greece’s legal crossfire. Greek authorities routinely prosecute those found near the controls of boats carrying people trying...

20 Okt 202426min

The Fifth Floor: Who runs Russia's African Initiative?

The Fifth Floor: Who runs Russia's African Initiative?

What do a graffiti festival, a first aid training and a football match have in common? These are all events set up by African Initiative, a Russian media organisation which defines itself as 'an infor...

19 Okt 202420min

BBC OS Conversations: Living alongside Mexico's drug gangs

BBC OS Conversations: Living alongside Mexico's drug gangs

When she was sworn in as Mexico’s new president, Claudia Sheinbaum pledged to tackle the country’s drug gangs. In the past couple of months, local civilian groups have reported hundreds of deaths and ...

19 Okt 202422min

Populært innen Samfunn

rss-spartsklubben
giver-og-gjengen-vg
aftenpodden
aftenpodden-usa
konspirasjonspodden
rss-nesten-hele-uka-med-lepperod
popradet
grenselos
rss-henlagt-andy-larsgaard
wolfgang-wee-uncut
lydartikler-fra-aftenposten
fladseth
synnve-og-vanessa
min-barneoppdragelse
rss-dannet-uten-piano
frokostshowet-pa-p5
rss-dette-ma-aldri-skje-igjen
alt-fortalt
relasjonspodden-med-dora-thorhallsdottir-kjersti-idem
den-politiske-situasjonen