Oor Krygers, Korrelkoppe en Konkelaars
by Max du Preez
(Random House/ Struik, R220)
The National Party government abused history for the sake of “nation building”. As a result, history became a profoundly unpopular subject at schools and universities. Now an ANC government is in charge and there is every likelihood of it perpetrating the same abuse.
What is needed at both the academic and the popular level is an exploration of the diversity of the cultures in our country and the excitement of uncovering new dimensions of our complex past, rather than the repetition of tired generalisations and platitudes that bolster someone’s political agenda.
At the academic level, much revisionist writing, ante-dating the advent of democracy, has blazed new trails. At the popular level, Max du Preez’s delight in diversity is a healthy corrective to stifling ideology in historical guise.
The present collection of articles about remarkable people brings together the best of those previously published in two English volumes, Of Warriors, Lovers and Prophets and Of Tricksters, Tyrants and Turncoats. There are also three new stories to please the general reader’s palate.
History desperately needs to be revitalised in South Africa and Du Preez’s investigative and journalistic skills make him an important contributor to this worthy cause. – Tonight