Today is the Day of Reconciliation, a public holiday in South Africa, held annually on December 16th. The intention is to celebrate the end of apartheid and foster reconciliation between different racial groups. The holiday came into effect in 1994 after the end of Apartheid.
Under the rule of apartheid, December 16th was commemorated as the Day of the Vow, also known as Day of the Covenant or Dingaan Day. The Day of the Vow was a holiday commemorating the Afrikaner victory over the Zulus at the Battle of Blood River in 1838.
In the first part of the 19th century, many Afrikaner farmers left the eastern cape and moved inland. One group of farmers was the Voortrekkers, Afrikaners who were protesting against British colonialism and seeking their own independent republics on what they saw was empty land. But the land was not empty and clashes with the indigenous people were inevitable. In 1837 the Voortrekker leaders entered into negotiations for land with Dingane, the Zulu king.
In terms of the negotiations, Dingane promised the Voortrekkers land on condition they returned cattle to him stolen by Sekonyela (the Tlokwa chief). This Retief did and apparently he and Dingane signed a treaty on February 6th 1838. During the ceremony Dingane had Retief and his entourage murdered. In ensuing battles between Zulus and Voortrekkers over the next few months numerous lives were lost on both sides. On December 16th 1838 about 10,000 troops under the command of Dambuza (Nzobo) and Nhlela attacked the Voortrekkers, but the 470 Voortrekkers, with the advantage of gun powder, warded them off. Only three Voortrekkers were wounded, but more than 3,000 Zulus were killed during the battle.
December 16th is also the founding date of Umkhonto We Sizwe, the armed wing of the African National Congress, co-founded by Nelson Mandela in 1961 in the wake of the Sharpeville massacre. With the advent of democracy in South Africa, December 16th retained its status as a public holiday and was first celebrated as Day of Reconciliation in 1995.
Budget storage solution – only costs a quarter
Slow down, Kathleen!!
Hmmm…
Today is the birthday, in 1946, of Benny Andersson, Swedish musician, composer. In October 1964 he joined the Hep Stars as keyboardist and they made a breakthrough in March 1965 with their hit ‘Cadillac’, eventually becoming the most celebrated of the Swedish 1960s pop bands. With ABBA they scored the UK 1974 No.1 single ‘Waterloo’, followed by 8 other UK No.1 singles and 9 UK No.1 albums and the 1977 US No.1 single ‘Dancing Queen. Andersson was co-composer of the musicals Chess, Kristina från Duvemåla, and Mamma Mia!. For the 2008 film version of Mamma Mia!, he worked also as an executive producer. Since 2001, he is active with his own band Benny Anderssons orkester. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-crgQGdpZR0
