The Embodiment of the Indigenous People by European Travel Writers at the Cape Colony, Southern Africa

Abstract

This article analyses how European travellers depicted the bodies of indigenous people in their travel narrations. Three travel writers, Peter Kolb, Anders Sparrman and Sir John Barrow, were selected to investigate how the bodies of indigenous people were perceived at the Cape Colony. Grosfoguel’s theoretical framework of the coloniality of power, the coloniality of knowledge and the coloniality of being was used to ground and investigate the coloniality of the body in the Colony. The findings suggest that the portrayal of indigenous people’s bodies by Europeans in their travel accounts has connotations of racial stereotypes, which are characterised by a colonial power matrix of subjugation, hierarchisation, Eurocentrism, dehumanisation and objectification of indigenous people. European travellers used the notion of Eurocentric power, the epistemology of the West and the degradation of “being” to depict the bodies of the indigenous people.

Societal factors impacting young Black men in South Africa

“…Regarding the second objective, which was to explore the societal factors that contribute to the struggles young Black men face, going beyond individual experiences to analyse the broader social context and its impact on this particular group, it becomes evident that these challenges are deeply rooted in historical factors, such as apartheid and colonialism, shaping a complex landscape marked by racial inequalities and diverse ethnicities (Seroto, 2019;Amira, 2023;Chaka and Adanlawo, 2023). The intersectionality of race, age, and gender introduces unique layers of challenges distinct from other groups (Knox, 2023;Reeves et al, 2020).…”

“…In the light of other studies in the literature, the challenges faced by young Black men in South Africa are deeply rooted in historical factors, such as apartheid and colonialism, manifesting in a landscape marked by racial inequalities and diverse ethnicities, languages, and traditions (Seroto, 2019;Amira, 2023;Chaka and Adanlawo, 2023). The intersectionality of race, age, and gender adds unique layers of challenges, necessitating a holistic approach and targeted interventions to empower young Black men and create a more inclusive society (Knox, 2023;Reeves et al, 2020;Gumede, 2021;Hofman and Katuu, 2022;Madhavan and Crowell, 2014;Ratele et al, 2021).…”

“…The intersection of race, age, culture, economics, and health creates unique obstacles that demand in-depth exploration. South Africa's history, affected by colonialism and apartheid, has had a profound effect on the nation's social fabric (Amira, 2023;Seroto, 2019). While equality and freedom were emphasised during the transition to democracy in 1994 (Pistorius, 2023), the country's rich cultural diversity remains a source of both pride and complexity (Chaka and Adanlawo, 2023) and affects its coexistence and integration.…”